LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State men’s basketball team enters the WAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and is set to play No. 6 seed San Jose State, Thursday, March 11, at 9:30 p.m. at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. The game is available on KGRT 104 FM with the ‘Voice of the Aggies’ Jack Nixon. With a win, the Aggies meet the Nevada/Idaho winner Friday, March 12 at 10 p.m. on ESPN2. The WAC Championship game is slated for Saturday, March 13 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 for a berth to the NCAA Tournament.
New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies tied for second place in the WAC this season with an 11-5 conference record and are 19-11 overall. Junior guard Jahmar Young posts a team-high 20.9 points per contest while senior guard Jonathan Gibson adds 17.8 points per game and sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater provides 14.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Junior forward Wendell McKines supplies 10.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest while sophomore center Hamidu Rahman is contributing with 10.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Scouting San Jose State
The Spartans are 14-16 and tied for sixth in the WAC with a 6-10 record this season. Junior guard Adrian Oliver has a team-high 22.5 points per game and he was named to the first team All-WAC this season. Senior guard Robert Owens and senior center Chris Oakes are contributing with 10.6 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
Series Notes
The Aggies lead the all-time series, 28-11, after splitting the regular season series with the Spartans. Each team won on its home court this year. The Spartans won the first meeting of the season, 93-84, Jan. 23, in San Jose, Calif., and the Aggies won the rematch, 94-82, in Las Cruces. NM State has met San Jose State in one previous tournament game. The Aggies lost to the Spartans, 71-54, March 5, 1987 in the PACC Tournament.
Previous Meetings
Junior guard Jahmar Young posted a team-high 25 points for the Aggies in the 94-82 win over San Jose State, Feb. 6 in Las Cruces. NM State had five players in double figures in the victory. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson added 20 points while sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater had 19 points and 11 rebounds in his season debut.
NM State suffered its first WAC road loss of the season at San Jose State, 93-84, Jan. 23, and the Aggies’ four-game winning streak was snapped. Junior guard Jahmar Young scored a career-high 34 points and senior guard Jonathan Gibson added 19. The Aggies made a season-high 14 3-pointers on, a season-high and school record, 38 attempts. NM State also recorded a season-low six turnovers in the loss.
WAC Tournament History
2005-06 (Reno, Nev.)
March 9 defeated Hawai’i, 58-57
March 10 lost to Nevada, 70-59
2006-07 (Las Cruces)
March 8 defeated Louisiana Tech, 77-70
March 9 defeated Boise State, 88-69
March 10 defeated Utah State, 72-70
2007-08 (Las Cruces)
March 13 defeated Idaho, 73-53
March 14 defeated Nevada, 83-75
March 15 lost to Boise State, 102-107 (3OT)
2008-09 (Reno, Nev.)
March 12 defeated Boise State, 80-70
March 13 lost to Utah State, 70-71
Young, Gibson, McKines Earn All-WAC Honors
Junior guard Jahmar Young, senior guard Jonathan Gibson and junior forward Wendell McKines earned All-WAC honors in 2009-10. Young was named to the first team for the second consecutive year. Gibson garnered second team accolades and McKines was an honorable mention selection. This is the first year since the 2005-06 season that the Aggies have had multiple all-league honorees.
Scouting Nevada
The Wolf Pack is 19-11 and the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament. WAC Player of the Year, sophomore forward Luke Babbitt paces Nevada with a team-best 21.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Junior guard Armon Johnson adds 16.0 points per game while senior guard Brandon Field and senior forward Joey Shaw are supplying 14.6 and 10.4 points per contest, respectively.
Series Notes
NM State has a 16-14 advantage in the all-time series despite Nevada taking the series this season, 77-67, Jan. 4, in Las Cruces, and 100-92, March 4 in Reno, Nev. The last time the Aggies faced the Wolf Pack in tournament action, NM Sate won 83-75 in the WAC Tournament semifinals, March 14, 2008, in Las Cruces. The first time the two teams met in the WAC tournament, Nevada won, 70-59, March 10, 2006 in Reno.
Previous Meetings
The Aggies fell at Nevada, 100-92, March 4, inside the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. Junior guard Jahmar Young scored a team-high 22 points while senior guard Jonathan Gibson and sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater added 17 each. Junior forward Wendell McKines posted the lone double-double of the contest with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
NM State suffered its first WAC loss of the season with a 77-67 decision to Nevada, Jan. 4, in Las Cruces. All five Aggie starters scored in double figures and junior forward Wendell McKines had a team-high 16 points.
Scouting Idaho
The Vandals enter the WAC Tournament as the No. 7 seed with a 15-15 record. Idaho has three players with double-figure averages. Senior guard Mac Hopson leads the way with 14.4 points per game. Senior guard Kashif Watson provides 10.7 points per game and senior guard Steffan Johnson adds 10.2 points per contest.
Series Notes
The Aggies have a 17-3 advantage in the all-time series after sweeping the Vandals this year. NM State won, 75-72, Jan. 11 in Moscow, Idaho, and 74-57, Feb. 24, in Las Cruces. The two teams have met only once in the WAC Tournament and the Aggies won, 73-53, March 13, 2008 in Las Cruces.
Previous Meetings
Junior guard Jahmar Young scored a game-high 23 points in the 74-57 win over Idaho, Feb. 24, at the Pan American Center in the Aggies’ first nationally televised game of the year on ESPN2. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson added 15 points while junior forward Wendell McKines had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman posted a career-high seven blocks against the Vandals, Feb. 24. The Aggie defense held a team under 60 points for the second time this season.
Junior guard Jahmar Young scored a then season-high 32 points to lead NM State to a 75-72 win at Idaho, Jan. 11, inside Cowan Spectrum in Moscow, Idaho. Young was the first player to record a 30-point game in WAC play this season. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson added 18 points for the Aggies.
Double Trouble
Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman and junior forward Wendell McKines lead the Aggies in double-doubles this season with seven each. Sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater also has a pair of double-doubles this year.
Scoring Machines
With two players entering the 1,000-point club this season, senior guard Jonathan Gibson and junior guard Jahmar Young continue to climb the all-time scoring list at NM State. Gibson is currently No. 7 on the list with 1,479 career points while Young is No. 10 with 1,416 career points.
Aggie All-Time Leading Scorers
- Eric Channing 1,862
- Albert ‘Slab’ Jones 1,758
- Jimmy Collins 1,734
- George Knighton 1,660
- James Moore 1,651
- Richard Robinson 1,540
- Jonathan Gibson, 1,479
- Sam Lacey 1,448
- Ernest Patterson 1,419
- Jahmar Young 1,416
Currently, Young is ranked No. 18 in the NCAA in points per game (20.9) while Gibson is No. 73 (17.8). In addition, Gibson is No. 15 in the country in 3-point field goals made (3.2) and 26th in 3-point percentage (41.0). Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman is No. 76 in rebounds per game (8.4) and sophomore guard Hernst Laroche is No. 83 in assist to turnover ratio (2.02). As a team, NM State is No. 11 in 3-pointers made per contest (8.6), No. 22 in scoring offense (78.5), No. 57 in point percentage (45.9) and No. 66 in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7) as of March 7.
Hitting the Century Mark
Sophomore guard Hernst Laroche recorded his second 100-assist season with the Aggies when he tossed a pair of assists in the win at Pacific, Feb. 20. He now has 113 assists this season after he recorded 139 in his freshman campaign. Laroche is the first Aggie to record back-to-back 100-assist seasons since Billy Keys accomplished the feat in 1998-99 and 1999-00.
Stacking Up Against the WAC
The Aggies have two of the top five scorers in the WAC. Junior guard Jahmar Young ranks third in the league with 20.9 points per game while senior guard Jonathan Gibson is fifth with 17.8 points per contest. Gibson has a conference-best 3-point field goals made per game (3.20). He is seventh in steals per game (1.40), seventh in free throw percentage (84.0) while Young is fourth in 3-point field goals made (2.27) and sixth in free throw percentage (84.4).
Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman is contributing as he ranks second in offensive rebounds per game (3.72), eighth in field goal percentage (56.3) and fourth in rebounds per game (8.4) along with sixth in blocked shots (1.38). Sophomore guard Hernst Laroche is fourth in assist to turnover ratio (2.02) while he is seventh in assists (3.77) and steals per game (1.40). As a team, the Aggies rank first in 3-point field goals made (8.63 per game) as of March 6.
In WAC games only, Young finished third (21.1) and Gibson was sixth (16.6) in scoring while junior forward Wendell McKines ranked first (9.8) and Rahman was fifth (8.2) in rebounding. Laroche was fifth in assist to turnover ratio (2.36) and sixth in assists (4.13). At the free throw line, Young was seventh (76.2). Gibson ranked No. 1 in 3-point field goals made (3.19) and junior guard Gordo Castillo was second in 3-point percentage (48.0). In blocked shots, Rahman was fourth (1.44). As a team, the Aggies ranked first in turnover margin (+2.44), 3-point field goals made per game (9.00) and scoring offense (78.6) following the conclusion of conference play.
On the Line
The Aggies are taking advantage at the free-throw line this season and posting a 691-595 advantage in attempts. As a team, NM State currently has a 69.9 free throw percentage. Junior guard Jahmar Young posts an 84.4 percentage, and he ranks No. 58 in the NCAA, while senior guard Jonathon Gibson is No. 68 with an 84.0 percentage.
Trends and Tidbits
The Aggies are winning close games this season. In 2009-10, NM State is 7-0 in games decided by five points or less. The Aggies are also 17-0 when they have a better field goal percentage than their opponents and 10-0 when they shoot better than 50 percent from the field.
As a team, NM State is a lethal threat from the 3-point line and the Aggies average 8.6 makes per game. Ironically, twice this season the Aggies have gone 3-for-20 from beyond the arc and they have won both games (at UTEP and Hawai’i).
Gibson is Making the Most of His Senior Campaign
Senior guard Jonathan Gibson is currently averaging 17.8 points per game. He also has a team-high 41.0 3-point field goal percentage and 42 steals. Gibson has surpassed the 30-point plateau twice this season. Against Fresno State, he made a career-high six 3-pointers His span of 27 straight games in double-digits was snapped in the win at Louisiana Tech, Jan. 30.
In the win at Pacific, he broke the career record at NM State for consecutive games with a 3-point field goal. Gibson has a 3-pointer in 37 consecutive games. He also owns the single-season record with 30 consecutive games with a 3-pointer in 2009-10. Gibson is now the school leader in games played with 125. He ranks second in career 3-pointers made (249) and attempts (623) and in single-season 3-pointers made (96) and attempts (234) in 2009-10.
Young Maintains Scoring Trend
Junior guard Jahmar Young continues to provide the Aggies with offensive firepower in his third season. He is averaging 20.9 points. Young has posted 14 games with 20-plus points this season and two 30-point contests with a career-high 34 points at San Jose State, Jan. 23. He now has five career 30-point games and one game-wining basket at Hawai’i, Jan. 21.
Rahman Anchors the Lane
Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman has been a force in the paint for the Aggies this season. He averages 10.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Rahman leads the squad in blocks (40) and field goal percentage (56.3). Against Idaho, he blocked a career-high seven shots. At Pepperdine, he grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. Rahman has recorded a team-best seven double-doubles this year. At Louisiana Tech, he tied his career high with 22 points.
Laroche Shares the Rock
Sophomore guard Hernst Laroche directs the Aggie offense and leads the team with 113 assists this season. He had a career-high 10 assists in the 86-77 win over Fresno State, Jan. 16.
Aggies Take BracketBuster at Pacific
The Aggies improved to 5-0 in BracketBuster contests with an 84-78 victory at Pacific, Feb. 20. In their first BracketBuster road game since the 2005-06 season, the Aggies scored a season-high 55 points in the second half. Junior guard Jahmar Young paced the team with 22 points and 18 scored in the second half. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson contributed 20 points while sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater added a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Laroche Hits Game Winner over LA Tech, 70-68
Sophomore guard Hernst Laroche sank the game-winning basket with less than two seconds remaining in regulation to give NM State a 70-68 victory over Louisiana Tech, Feb. 8 in Las Cruces. The Aggies swept the regular season series with the Bulldogs. Junior guard Jahmar Young had a team-high 20 points while sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater added 19. After hitting the game-winning shot over Louisiana Tech, Feb. 8, sophomore guard Hernst Laroche and the Aggies’ last-second heroics ranked No. 4 on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Plays.
Young Earns WAC Player of the Week Honors
Junior guard Jahmar Young was named the Verizon Wireless WAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 1-7. The honor marks the third career WAC Player of the Week award for Young. He led the Aggies to a 94-82 win over San Jose State, Feb. 6. He scored a team-high 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-6 mark from 3-point range. Young also connected on 5-of-5 shots from the free throw line. Additionally, he dished out five assists, pulled down three rebounds and recorded a blocked shot.
Aggie History
NM State has earned three WAC Player of the Week honors this year for the first time in school history. Junior guard Jahmar Young has garnered the award twice while sophomore center Hamidu Rahman earned his first career accolade. This marks the first time since 1994, when the Aggies belonged to the Big West Conference, that NM State had three weekly player awards.
Rahman Earns WAC Player of the Week Honor
Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman was named the Verizon Wireless WAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 25-31. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Rahman. He led New Mexico State to a 91-77 road victory at Louisiana Tech, handing the Bulldogs their first home loss of the season, Jan. 30. Rahman tied his career high with 22 points in the win. He shot a career-best with 10 made field goals and 15 attempts, and was a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. He also pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds with one block. The performance marks the second time that Rahman has surpassed the 20-point plateau in his career.
Young Hits Game Winner at Hawai’i
Junior guard Jahmar Young hit a running jumper with 0.9 seconds to lift NM State to a 71-69 win at Hawai’i, Jan. 21. He scored a game-high 26 points for the Aggies. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson added 19 points and junior forward Wendell McKines had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Gillenwater Returned Against San Jose State
After missing the first 21 games of the season, sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater returned to the Aggies against San Jose State, Feb. 6. In his first appearance, Gillenwater posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Conference Opener
The Aggies opened WAC play with a 55-52 win over Utah State, Jan. 2. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson hit a jumper from the elbow with 16.2 seconds remaining to secure the victory along with a game-high 19 points. The Aggies are now 5-0 in conference openers since joining the WAC. Before the win over Utah State, Jan. 2, the last time the Aggies won a game scoring 55 points or less was a 48-47 victory at Pacific, Jan. 22, 2000. It was also the first time since March 9, 2006 that the Aggies won a game in the 50s when NM State beat Hawai’i, 58-57, in the WAC Tournament.
Young Ties School Record
Junior guard Jahmar Young ties the NM State school record for consecutive 3-point field goals with eight. He was 6-for-6 from beyond the arc against Texas Southern, Dec. 23, and hit his first two of the game versus Prairie View A&M, Dec. 28, to tie Eric Channing’s mark from 2002.
McKines Equals a Personal-Best Mark
Junior forward Wendell McKines tied his career high for points scored with 22 against Prairie View A&M, Dec. 28. He also had 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double performance.
Making History
Junior guard Jahmar Young joined the NM State 1,000-point club with a 22- point performance against Alcorn State, Dec. 21. He is the 26th member of the group and second player to join the club this season along with senior guard Jonathan Gibson.
Young Earns WAC Player of the Week Honor
Junior guard Jahmar Young was named the Verizon Wireless WAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 7-13. The honor marks the second career WAC Player of the Week award for Young. He helped the Aggies to their first non-conference road win in three years with an 87-80 victory at UTEP. He posted a team-high 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Young scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half to guide NM State to its first win in El Paso since 2006. The Baltimore, Md., native also knocked down a pair of 3-point field goals and hit a perfect 6-of-6 shots from the charity stripe. He also dished out three assists.
Gibson Sets Career High in Aggie Win
NM State beat Oklahoma Panhandle State, 83-73, Nov. 21, for its win of the 2009-10 season. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson paced the Aggies with a career-high 30 points to become the 25th member of the 1,000 point club. He achieved the feat in his 100th game in the Crimson and White. Junior guard Jahmar Young added 18 points while sophomore center Hamidu Rahman supplied 13.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
