New Mexico (3-4, 2-1 in MW) at Colorado State (4-3, 2-0 in MW)
When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium
TV/Radio: Altitude Sports/Rams Radio Network
BetMGM Line: CSU +7.5, O/U 65.5
Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy
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Three storylines
Slowing the Lobos: New Mexico’s offense is explosive. The Rams must find a way to defuse it. Last week, the Lobos outscored Utah State 27-7 over the final 25 minutes en route to a 50-45 shootout victory. A week prior, UNM beat Air Force 52-37, marking the Lobos’ first back-to-back 50-point games in 108 years. So the Lobos have scored 50-plus points in three straight going back to a 50-40 win over New Mexico State. UNM boasts a top-20 offense in scoring (37.4 points per game), rushing (218.9 yards per game) and total offense (470.3 yards per game). The Rams’ defense, especially its secondary, was vulnerable in the second half of a 21-13 victory at Air Force last Saturday. The Rams must find a way to slow receiver Devon Dampier, who grabbed 10 passes for a career-high 156 yards at USU.
Run to daylight: If CSU can run the ball as it has been, it should win. The Rams’ running game has made a 180-degree turn. Last season, the Rams averaged just 92.2 yards rushing per game — ninth-worst in the nation. The Rams have nearly doubled that output this season, racking up 180.6 yards per game. Anchored by center Jacob Gardner, the offensive line has been opening big holes for running back Avery Morrow, who’s rushed for 100-plus yards in four straight games. He should make it five against a UNM rushing defense that is yielding 240.1 rushing yards per game, the third most in the nation.
Streaking: The Rams, tied for the lead in the Mountain West Conference and playing for their first bowl appearance since 2017, must keep winning the games they should win. Saturday’s game qualifies as that kind of game. However, the Lobos have been snapping losing streaks of late. They had lost five straight to Air Force before beating the Falcons. They had lost seven straight to Utah State before beating the Aggies. But now comes the hard part: UNM has lost 12 straight games against CSU, and the last time it won in Fort Collins was in 2006.
Predictions
Patrick Saunders, sportswriter: CSU 41, New Mexico 21
The Rams will cut out the mistakes that prevented them from blowing out Air Force and they’ll control this game from the outset. Don’t be surprised if CSU rushes for close to 250 yards at Canvas Stadium. And don’t be surprised if its running game sets up some big-yardage passes from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Caleb Goodie, who made a sensational one-handed grab and turned it into an 85-yard touchdown reception vs. Air Force.
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Sean Keeler, sports columnist: CSU 35, New Mexico 31
Ah, Bronco Mendenhall, CU’s current football coach in an alternate timeline and another universe. The Lobos have already forged an identity as a wacky, wide-open team that can score on anybody … and can’t stop a soul. They’re the anti-Air Force, a bunch who’ll dare Jay Norvell and CSU to engage them in a track meet. Don’t take the bait. If the Runnin’ Rams don’t rush for 220 on these guys, they ain’t trying. And after a fourth quarter at Air Force left some CSU fans grumbling about game management again, they really, really need to try.
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: CSU 34, New Mexico 20
The Lobos are riding a three-game win streak, having scored 50 or more in each of those victories, but the momentum stops here. Avery Murrow runs for over 100 yards for a fifth straight game, helping CSU get out in front early and run their win streak to 13 over UNM. Meanwhile, a few takeaways by the Rams’ defense allow it to quell some of the Lobos’ firepower on that side of the ball and pull away in the second half.
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There will be a father and son in the Big East, and they’re both named Pitino!
Richard Pitino, the son of St. John’s head coach and Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, is leaving New Mexico to take the same position at Xavier, sources confirmed to Fox Sports on Tuesday night.
After the 42-year-old took New Mexico to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, beating Marquette this year in the first round after a 26-7 regular season, Pitino increased his stock significantly and was in the mix for both the Villanova and Xavier positions.
Musketeers athletic director Greg Christopher was enamored by the upside of Pitino, who tried the high-major route at Minnesota but was let go in 2021 after eight seasons on the job. Going to Albuquerque led Pitino to reignite his career, going 88-49 over the last four seasons, winning the Mountain West Tournament in 2024 and charging the program to a regular-season title this year.
This move only adds to the family atmosphere and tradition of the Big East. The fact that we will see at least two (and perhaps three) showdowns between Rick and Richard Pitino is phenomenal for the league and its storylines. Father has outdone son in their four meetings, with Rick owning a 3-1 record, including St. John’s beating the Lobos this past November.
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But Richard was well in position for a high-major job in this cycle. After Villanova did not extend an offer to him despite being very much in the mix – with Maryland’s Kevin Willard and a mystery candidate out there for the Wildcats – Christopher extended the offer to Pitino. And now he’s heading to the state of Ohio to take over a Xavier program that has been a staple in the NCAA Tournament the majority of the last two decades.
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.
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A sign reading “measles testing” is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas, on Feb. 25. Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 370 today, the states’ health departments said, an increase of 19 infections since their previous reports four days ago, as the United States deals with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
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Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 370 today, the states’ health departments said, an increase of 19 infections since their previous reports four days ago, as the United States deals with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
Cases in Gaines County, the center of the current measles outbreak in the U.S. that started in late January, rose to 226 from 211 cases, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.
The total from the two states has surpassed last year’s nationwide count of 285 infections, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since March 21, New Mexico has reported one additional case, bringing its total to 43, while Texas reported 18 more cases, totaling 327 in the state.
Most of New Mexico’s cases were reported in Lea County, which is adjacent to Gaines County in Texas.
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In Texas, 325 cases were among people who were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, up from 307 reported previously. The latest New Mexico case is among the 31 infected individuals from the state who were not vaccinated.
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“It’s going to take time (to control this outbreak), unfortunately, because there are still people who are resistant to receiving a vaccine,” said Tammy Camp, a pediatrician in Texas.
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In a health advisory on March 7, the CDC said that the risk for widespread measles in the U.S. remained low.
Diego Hijano, infectious disease specialist at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, said he agrees with the CDC’s assessment as a lot of areas still have a high vaccination rate.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has for years sown doubts about the safety and efficacy of immunization, said last month he recognizes the serious impact of the current measles outbreak in Texas and that the government is providing resources, including vaccines.
FARGO — Put whatever initials you want on the tournament, it looked like women’s postseason basketball Monday night at Scheels Center. It sounded like it, too.
North Dakota State, like it’s done so often this season, grinded out a second round win over New Mexico State in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, a 68-65 victory that will have them hosting another one.
It will be almost April and the Bison are still playing.
“Honesty, super grateful for it,” said forward Avery Koenen, who led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds. “Any chance we get to play together and spend time together every day is something to be thankful for. It’s something not a lot of teams get to experience at this point in the season.”
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North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen goes for a two-pointer against New Mexico State’s Fanta Gazzama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
The Bison will host Washington State at 7 p.m. Thursday in the round of 16 at Scheels Center.
“I’m really happy for our players that they got to experience that tonight,” said NDSU head coach Jory Collins. “Hopefully we get to experience it again. That’s what college basketball is all about. This time of the year you get to watch a game on TV and you want that.”
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Koenen’s two free throws with 38 seconds left gave the Bison a 64-61 lead. With NDSU’s fans that sounded like more than the 1,016 that were there, the Aggies’ Fanta Gassama paid no attention driving to the hoop and it was 64-63 with 15 seconds left.
Abby Krzewinski followed with two free throws, but Gassama responded with a jumper just inside the 3-point arc at 5.1 seconds and it was still a one-point game. Two more free throws from Krzewinski made it a three-point game, but the Aggies, out of time outs and looking confused, opted to go the length of the floor for a layup instead of trying a 3-pointer to tie. That didn’t work either.
“They were super loud,” Koenen said of the Bison crowd. “When you hear that on defense especially, it gives you more momentum.”
North Dakota State’s Abby Krzewinski goes up against New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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NDSU will take win No. 20 into the next round, the second straight season it’s reached that goal.
“Yeah, it’s a big deal,” Collins said. “I think that’s the benchmark that a lot of teams talk about. I was nervous a few weeks ago that it was going to be hard to get there. It’s what we want to become, a normal thing and not a special team. That needs to become the norm here.”
The Bison were off for a week for spring break after the early Summit League tournament exit and then practiced for several days — and it was evident in the first quarter the speed of the game was something they weren’t used to. The Aggies brought quicker players and a full court press to the arena than the Bison practiced against.
“We hadn’t played a basketball game in a hot minute,” Krzewinski said. “I think us picking it back up in the second half showed who we are as a team.”
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Still, NDSU withstood 12 first half turnovers to take a 34-31 halftime lead, getting six players to score between four and seven points. The balance continued in the second half and the Bison maintained their advantage, getting a 9-2 run to take an eight-point lead.
North Dakota State’s Claire Stern goes up against New Mexico State’s Imani Warren (left) and Fanta Gassama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Like several Bison games this season, where extending leads wasn’t easy, this was no exception.
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“It wasn’t our cleanest game,” Collins said.
It was 55-51 heading to the final 10 minutes. At that point, the Aggies led for only 4:35 of the game and that was in the first half. That four-point lead remained heading to the final two minutes in a dogfight that never let up.
NMSU leading scorer Molly Kaiser, who came in averaging 20.5 points, fouled out with 1:19 remaining after missing a shot that would have tied it. Abbie Draper hit 1 of 2 free throws and it was 62-59.
It was a lead they would not give up.
“Yeah, my good teams, you start when it’s warm out and you finish when it’s warm out,” Collins said. “That means you had a good year in basketball.”
North Dakota State’s Marisa Frost takes the shot as New Mexico State’s Imani Warren tries to block during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen wrestles for the ball against New Mexico State’s Lucia Yenes (left) and Fanta Gassama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Molly Lentz tries to get away from New Mexico State’s Loes Rozing during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte sends the ball soaring for a basket as New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser looks on during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte makes the shot against New Mexico State during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Marisa Frost goes up against New Mexico State’s Sianny Sanchez-Oliver during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte makes the shot against New Mexico State during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State players exit the court smiling after defeating New Mexico State 68 to 65 during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
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Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he’s covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995. Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU’s Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: “Horns Up,” “North Dakota Tough” and “Covid Kids.” He is the radio host of “The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack” April through August.
