New Mexico
Gameweek Central: Everything you need to know before NM State basketball starts the season
New Mexico State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will begin their 2024-25 seasons this week.
NM State’s men’s team plays New Mexico Highlands at home on Monday and Utah Tech on the road Saturday to open its season. The Aggies finished 13-19 (7-9 Conference USA) last season in coach Jason Hooten’s first year after he departed Sam Houston. This season, NM State brings in over 10 new players, including recruits and transfers, but returns its leading scorer from last season in senior guard Christian Cook. The Aggies were picked to finish seventh in CUSA this season in a poll from conference coaches.
NM State’s women’s team starts on the road against UC Irvine on Monday and plays its home opener against Utah Tech on Thursday. The Aggies are entering their third season under coach Jody Adams after finishing 13-18 (6-10 CUSA) last season. NM State returns graduate student guard Molly Kaiser and senior guard Jaila Harding after receiving first-team All-CUSA and All-CUSA honorable mention selections, respectively, in 2023-24. The Aggies were picked to finish sixth in CUSA this season in a poll from conference coaches.
Here’s everything you need to know before the Aggies take the court:
Men’s basketball
New Mexico Highlands at New Mexico State
Location: Pan American Center, Las Cruces, NM
Tip-off time: Nov. 4, 7 p.m.
Network: ESPN+
Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ
New Mexico State at Utah Tech
Location: Burns Arena, St, George, UT
Tip-off time: Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Network: ESPN+
Radio: 104.9 FM KMVR
Things to know
- The Aggies defeated Western New Mexico 77-56 in a home exhibition game on Oct. 28, with four players scoring in double figures. NM State held the Mustangs to 28.3% shooting.
- Graduate student forward Peter Filipovity has been injured for around a month and is questionable to play against Highlands. If he plays, Hooten says he “won’t play much.”
- NM State last played the Cowboys in November 2022, defeating them 101-52 at home. The Aggies last played the Trailblazers in January 2023, with UT earning its first win in five tries against NM State 89-76.
Women’s basketball
New Mexico State at UC Irvine
Location: Bren Events Center, Irvine, Calif.
Tip-off time: Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Network: ESPN+
Utah Tech at New Mexico State
Location: Pan American Center, Las Cruces, NM
Tip-off time: Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
Network: ESPN+
Things to know
- The Aggies defeated Division II Cameron 87-54 in a home exhibition game on Oct. 27. All 13 players who entered the game for NM State scored a basket.
- The Aggies played the Anteaters last season, falling 61-55 at home. NM State is 3-2 all-time against UCI, and are 1-3 against the Trailblazers since the 2001-02 season.
- The Aggies have seven international players on their roster, including four Spanish players. Adams says Dutch senior guard Loes Hozing and Spanish senior forward Fanta Gassama could play key roles this season.
Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.
The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.
Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.
ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.
April 19
Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.
April 22
Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
April 23
Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.
Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.
Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.
April 24
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.
April 25
Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.
Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
Good morning!
Heading out the door this morning? Bundle up! Cold air has settled into the Land of Enchantment after two cold fronts passed through New Mexico within the last 24 hours. Temperatures have fallen to the teens, 20s and 30s throughout northern New Mexico. The metro area is just as cold with Moriarty falling to the teens and several other cities bottoming out near the freezing point. The National Weather Service (NWS) has Freeze Warnings in place until 9 a.m. for several locations in northern and central New Mexico. However, one of the aforementioned cold fronts is still moving through eastern New Mexico this morning. That back door cold front has brought 30-45 mph wind gusts, or more, in southeastern New Mexico. The front will push west further west this morning bringing breezy winds to far south and southwestern New Mexico this afternoon. Otherwise, much calmer weather will be on tap for the state compared to the majority of this week.
The colder air this morning will bring cooler and seasonable weather to the Land of Enchantment later on Saturday. Afternoon highs will range from the high 50s, in sections of the northern mountains, to the 70s in southern New Mexico. Throughout the weekend into early next week a warming trend is expected as a ridge of high pressure builds on Sunday, which is forecasted to last through at least Tuesday. By next Tuesday, high temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, and even warmer for some locations by next Wednesday with breezy conditions returning to the state.
Moisture does stream back into the state early next week across New Mexico. Tomorrow’s forecast is expected to have cloud coverage increase with warmer weather. On Monday sufficient moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere will bring the chance for showers; however, moisture levels toward the surface will be lower. That will also bring the chance for dry showers and thunderstorms throughout the state. Have a great weekend and stay warm this morning!
-
World10 minutes ago
Oil prices rise anew after a US-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz strands tankers
-
News16 minutes agoVideo: 8 Children Killed in Louisiana Shooting, Police Say
-
Culture52 minutes agoPoetry Challenge: Memorize “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden
-
Lifestyle58 minutes agoPhotos: How overfishing in Southeast Asia is an ecological and human crisis
-
Technology1 hour agoBlue Origin successfully reused its New Glenn rocket
-
World1 hour agoDistress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors
-
Politics1 hour agoTrump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
-
Health1 hour agoExperts reveal why ‘nonnamaxxing’ trend may improve mental, physical health
