RENO, Nev. - The New Mexico State men’s basketball team meets Nevada, Friday, March 12 at 10 p.m. on ESPN2, 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 advance to the WAC Championship game to take on Utah State/Louisiana Tech, Saturday, March 13 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 for a berth to the NCAA Tournament.
New Mexico State Aggies
With a win in the WAC Tournament Quarterfinals, the Aggies improved to 20-11 on the year. NM State now has its 24th 20-win season in school history. Junior guard Jahmar Young posts a team-high 20.7 points per contest while senior guard Jonathan Gibson adds 17.9 points per game and sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater provides 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Junior forward Wendell McKines supplies 10.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest while sophomore center Hamidu Rahman is contributing with 10.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Aggies Handle San Jose State 90-69
NM State defeated the No. 6 seed San Jose State, 90-69, Thursday, March 11, in the first round of the WAC Tournament, in the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson scored a team-high 22 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the 3-point line while junior guard Jahmar Young contributed 16 points. Junior forward Wendell McKines posted a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds and sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater added 11 points.
Nevada 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.
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
2009-10 (Reno, Nev.)
March 11 defeated San Jose State, 90-69
Menzies Leads the Charge
With the Aggies’ 20th win of the season, head coach Marvin Menzies now has 53 wins at NM State in his third season with the Aggies, a mark that ranks second in school history. He only trails the legendary Lou Henson, who won 62 games in his first three seasons in the Crimson and White.
Young, Gibson Garner More Postseason Awards
Junior guard Jahmar Young was a Sporting News First Team All-WAC selection while senior guard Jonathan Gibson was named to the second team.
Menzies Named Ben Jobe Award Finalist
Head coach Marvin Menzies is a finalist for the inaugural Ben Jobe Award from CollegeInsider.com. The award will be presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I college basketball.
Young Earns All-District Honors
Junior guard Jahmar Young was named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District VIII Team. He leads the Aggies with a team-high 20.7 points per game and earned all-district honors for the second consecutive year.
Double Trouble
Junior forward Wendell McKines posted a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds in the WAC Tournament Quarterfinals, March 11, and now he has a team-high eight double-doubles this year. Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman has seven while sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater also has a pair of double-doubles this season.
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 1,501 career points while Young moved to No. 9 with 1,432 career points.
Aggie All-Time Leading Scorers
1. Eric Channing 1,862
2. Albert ‘Slab’ Jones 1,758
3. Jimmy Collins 1,734
4. George Knighton 1,660
5. James Moore 1,651
6. Richard Robinson 1,540
7. Jonathan Gibson, 1,501
8. Sam Lacey 1,448
9. Jahmar Young 1,432
10. Ernest Patterson 1,419
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.
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.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
