LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KTSM) – New Mexico State men’s basketball (9-14, 2-9 WAC) is coming off a big week where they’ve string together a pair of wins in Western Athletic Conference games.
On Wednesday, February 1, NMSU picked up their first league victory and ended a 9-game losing streak. Three days later, NMSU picked up a second straight victory by defeating Seattle U, 82-75. Both games were played at the Pan American Center and now the Aggies are hoping for the same result on the road.
“Well, now we have to pull the monkey off the back for a road win. I think the focus of Wednesday is that we don’t have a road win in conference games,” NM State head coach Greg Heiar said. “So we have to have a different dominant mindset of going into a hostile environment, a rival game, but more importantly we have to get our first win on the road.”
New Mexico State is yet to win a WAC game away from the Pan American Center this season. NMSU is 0-5 in WAC away games this season.
The Aggies will be aiming for their first road win this season when they take on Grand Canyon University (15-8, 6-4 WAC) on Wednesday at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
Whether you call it a rivalry or not, both teams are set for an intense game in their first meeting of the season.
“It would be a huge win because of the rivalry, because of the environment and because we didn’t win on the road in conference,” Heiar said. “We have to have that type of grit and hunger and fighting mentality with every possession.”
Grand Canyon is 15-8 overall and 6-4 in WAC play so far this season. The Lopes are coming off an 86-83 win over Stephen F. Austin at the GCU Arena on Saturday (February 4th). GCU dominated at home as they currently have an 11-2 record when playing at GCU Arena this season.
Ray Harrison is the team’s leading scorer with an average of 16.9 points per game. Gabe McGlothan is the second leading scorer with an average of 10.7 points per game. Chance McMillian is the other player averaging double-digit scoring averaging 10.0 points per game.
GCU have been without one of their best players in their last eight games and it will stay that way for the rest of the season.
Jovan Blacksher Jr. injured his right knee in a game against Sam Houston (January 5) while dribbling in the first half. A magnetic resonance imaging test revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will require surgery and several months of rehabilitation, according to GCU Athletics.
Grand Canyon has gone 4-4 since losing Blacksher.
The Grand Canyon will be the first task for New Mexico State in the team’s two-game road trip. GCU and NMSU will face off for the first time this 2022-23 season on Wednesday, February 8 at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
After the GCU game, New Mexico State will travel to Riverside, Calif. for a rematch against California Baptist at the CBU Events Center on Saturday, February 11. The last time NMSU and CBU met, the Aggies fell 70-61 at the Pan Am Center on Jan. 7.
