NM State Men’s Basketball January 27-30, 2018

1-27-18

I was typing up the Women’s game this evening while listening to this game between the Aggie Men and the UMKC Roos.  I wasn’t paying the closest attention, in other words.  During the pre-game, Jack Nixon conducted an impromptu interview with a former Aggie football player now in the military who was in attendance.  Jack mentioned that Johnny McCants was starting tonight with a couple of starters hurting.  The Roos only had eight players available for the game.  Several Aggie fans were in Kansas City for the game, along with some friends of Coach Jans from Wichita St, his former school.  The arena there was historic as it hosted many early NCAA tournaments.  

First Half

McCants started the game with a jam.  On the change of possession, there was a long review on a possible shot clock violation by the Roos, “This very important possession 53 seconds into the game,” drawled Jack.  McCants put in another jam.  The Aggies were leading early 15-6 with under 10 minutes left, before the Roos went on a six-point run.  McCants got another jam to make it 17-12.  Next year, this kid is going to be an offensive force.  Right now, he’s mostly in for defense.  Zach Lofton’s first points came on consecutive shots with two minutes left to make it 27-15.  Jemerrio Jones got a layup, 29-15 Aggies.  Zach got a steal, a basket, and a free throw.  It was 32-15 with under a minute, after a 13-point Aggie run.  However, it was 32-20 at half after a three and a layup by the Roos.

Second Half

The next 20 minutes weren’t hugely interesting.  12 minutes in, after the Aggies built up a huge lead, the Roos went on a run for five points.  Timeout Aggies.  From there, the Aggies dominated and started putting in the reserves.  Aussie Gabe Hadley hit a three to make it 58-34.  Joe Garza came in to the delight of the fans back in Las Cruces.  Zach hit an open three to make it 61-40, which really ended it.  73-48 Aggies was the final.  The Aggies shot 40% and were +15 in rebounds.  Zach Lofton led the team with 19 and the team is now 6-0 in the WAC.

1-30-18

Tonight’s game was a non-conference match versus the Northern New Mexico Eagles.  The Aggies played the Eagles in Rio Rancho the last two years.  Jack Nixon interviewed the Eagles’ coach Ryan Cordova.  He was glad to be in Las Cruces to do some recruiting here and in El Paso.  It’s also a “money” game for them, as NMSU pays them to play them (not a lot though).  Athletic Director Mario Moccia planned for this game to be at home this year, since there’s a new coach here (again).  NMSU likes visiting other parts of the state to increase the university’s prestige in New Mexico.  They’re hoping to visit Hobbs someday for a game.  Jack also talked to Aggie Baseball coach, Brian Green.  He drew some parallels with football team, where a few years in, everything came together.  The baseball team’s lost some great players to the draft, but Coach Green has parleyed that into another nationally ranked recruiting class.  I’m eager for baseball to start. 

First Half

Zach Lofton was out for this game because of a couple of bad knees.  Coach said he could have played if absolutely necessary, but not for this game.  The Eagles went up early 8-4 about four minutes in.  After a media timeout, the Aggies came back to outscore the Eagles 10-2, but the score was just 14-11 Aggies with 11 minutes left.  Jack sounded disappointed.  Here’s Johnny McCants to boost everyone’s spirits with a jam, 21-17 with seven minutes left.  A couple of minutes later, it was 21 all.  The Aggies might have been trying to figure things out without their leading scorer, Lofton.  McCants got the crowd back into it with one-hand jam with three minutes left as the Aggies started to pull away, 30-21.  Before the end of the half, all three Las Cruces players were out on court, McCants, Joe Garza, and Kevin Moore (on the Eagles).  Garza hit a three at the buzzer.  Jack and the crowd went wild, 39-21 Aggies.

Second half

I started watching the President’s State of the Union address during halftime and during the second half, but with subtitles so I could still listen to the game.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t multitasking well and missed writing several highlights.  Aggie fans were having a good time anyway as the team piled on, 56-30 with 11 minutes left.  At 60-35 and five minutes left, the crowd was grumbling over bad call.  Jack lightly chastised them.  But soon enough, they were cheering as an Eagle missed two free throws, meaning free Chik-fil-a for the fans.  Jack got in a “Hello Neumann,” as Elijah Neumann of the Eagles entered the game and took a shot.  The final was 71-45 Aggies. Jemerrio Jones led the way with 14 points and 16 rebounds.  Coach Jans was not happy in the post-game, specifically over the team’s 24 turnovers.  Well, this game was better than letting the Aggies go cold for a week waiting for the next game on Saturday.