Aggie women seek revenge against Lobos

By: Anthony Esparza

Rivalry week concludes Friday night when they New Mexico State women’s basketball team hosts New Mexico at the Pan American Center.

Both squads are looking to bounce back from losses on the road last week.

The Aggies are coming off a lopsided 74-37 loss at Utah on Dec. 21. The team currently sits at 2-9 on the season.

The Lobos were edged at Arizona last week 59-56. UNM enter the game on Friday with an overall record of 4-8 and 1-3 mark on the road.

The team is led by a strong backcourt that includes junior Caroline Durbin and senior Porche Torrance.

Durbin is the Lobos’ leading scorer, averaging 15.2 points per game. Durbin also leads the team in field goal and three-point shooting.

Torrance is the defensive anchor for the Lobos. The senior guard is the team leader in steals and blocks.

Going up against Durbin and Torrance for the Aggies will be senior Kaitlyn Soto and sophomore Jasmine 

Rutledge. NM State also has guards coming off the bench, such as Erica Sanchez and Hannah Womack, who can contribute in the backcourt.

However, the team will rely on the post play of senior forward Tabytha Wampler, who leads the team in points, rebounds and minutes per game.

UNM took the first meeting between the two teams earlier in the month when the Lobos hung on to defeat the Aggies 54-53.

The rematch is set to tipoff at 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Pam Am Center.

Lobos dominate Aggies in rematch

By: Anthony Esparza

New Mexico players attack the ball while Christian Kabongo attempts to drive to the basket. Kabongo scored only eight points on 3-15 FG and 0-2 3-Ptr. He also had six turnovers. Zack Ponce

It was neither the outcome nor the performance Aggie fans at the sold-out Pan American Center hoped to see on Wednesday night when the New Mexico Lobos came to town.

The Lobos handled the Aggies 89-67 to split the season series in the Rio Grande Rivalry, avenging the Nov. 16 loss at The Pit.

The Lobos controlled the game from start and finish in large part because of efficient three-point shooting. UNM hit 12 three-pointers on the night, four of which were by sophomore guard Tony Snell.

“The Lobos shot the lights out tonight, and it was one of those things where we had no answer for their three-ball,” NM State coach Marvin Menzies said of the difference in three-point shooting between the two teams. “We go 1-14, they go 12-24 and that’s pretty much the story of the game.”

UNM also forced 17 Aggie turnovers in the game, including 11 in the first half. The Lobos turned the ball over 15 times, but NM State was unable to convert them into the points as the Aggies only shot 32.4 percent from the field in the game.

“Tonight we were bad on both sides of the ball. When you play that way against a good team, you don’t have a chance,” Menzies said. “Against a very good and solid team you’ve got to bring your ‘A’ game and we brought our ‘C’ game.”

Another key difference from the first game for the Lobos was the play of Drew Gordon. The senior forward had 23 points and 19 rebounds on Wednesday, a substantial improvement from the first meeting against the Aggies in which he finished with two points and eight rebounds.

Drew Gordon holds the ball during an NCAA basketball game against in-state rival New Mexico State. Gordon responded after a career-worst game at The Pit to total 23 points, 19 rebounds, and two steals. The Aggies held Gordon to only two points and eight rebounds on Nov. 16, 2011. Zack Ponce

“He wanted to come back and make a statement because he didn’t play well the first time around,” Menzies said of Gordon. “He came in and played with more composure, made his shots and was very aggressive with rebounding.”

Wendell McKines led the way for Aggies, scoring a game-high 25 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. The senior forward recorded his seventh double-double of the season, but it was not enough to overcome the Lobos’ impressive shooting performance.

“They had much more energy than last time and a lot more urgency,” McKines said of the Lobos. "That's the best three-point shooting performance I've seen in the Pam Am since I've been here.”

With the loss, the Aggies fall to 8-5 and conclude their 5-game home stand against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The Lobos go to 11-2 and return to Albuquerque to face Saint Louis on the same day.

McKines said one loss will not dictate the Aggies’ season and the team hopes to peak at the right time.

"Every season is a journey. We’re just in a little bump in the road right now,” McKines said. “We’re looking forward to playing our best basketball in March, so we’ve still got a ways to go.”

Kendall Williams drives to the basket during an NCAA basketball game against in-state rival New Mexico State. Williams had 12 points and four assists. Zack Ponce

Rio Grande Rivalry: Round Two

By: Anthony Esparza

New Mexico State’s Wendell McKines, right, passes New Mexico’s Drew Gordon on his way to a layup attempt during an NCAA basketball game at The Pit on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Albuquerque, N.M. Photo by Zack Ponce

On Wednesday night, the New Mexico State men’s basketball team looks to do something it has not done since 1999: sweep the season series against instate rival New Mexico.

The Aggies left Albuquerque with a 62-53 victory on Nov. 15, snapping an eight-game losing streak at The Pit that dated back to 2002. The win came in front of a hostile crowd of 15,303, and NM State coach Marvin Menzies hopes Aggie fans will return the favor.

“They had a great crowd and we were fortunate enough to get out of there with a win,” Menzies said of the atmosphere at The Pit. “I’m very optimistic that we’ll get a good turnout. I think the city is behind us, and I’m hopeful that they get out and support us and give us the type of sixth man effect that we need to carry us to victory.”

The Aggies have gone 6-4 since the win in Albuquerque. Three of the four losses were in a row when the team fell to Arizona, Southern Mississippi and the University of Texas El Paso within a two-week span.

The good news for NM State is the team is riding a three-game win streak entering Wednesday’s game against UNM. The Aggies are also in the middle of a five-game home stand, which has allowed them to avoid traveling for the past week.

Senior forward Wendell McKines has anchored the team thus far, averaging a double-double on the season. McKines scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the first meeting against the Lobos.

The Aggies have also received a boost of energy off the bench from Daniel Mullings. The freshman guard recently started three games in place of Christian Kabongo, who was suspended for violating team rules.

“He’s just a freshman and he’s been playing really well,” NM State junior forward Bandja Sy said of Mullings. “He’s a really athletic player. He can run, he can jump and he’s been working on his shot.”

UNM is 9-1 since the loss to the Aggies last month. The Lobos come into the Pan Am Center on a nine-game winning streak, most of which were at a neutral location and at home.

The areas the Lobos have improved the most during the win streak are assists and rebounding. UNM ranks 15^th in the country in assists per game with 17.2, and 31^st in rebounding with 39.3 boards per contest. 

“This is about as healthy as we’ve been in a while,” UNM coach Steve Alford said after the Lobos’ win over Missouri-Kansas City on Dec. 22. 

The stage is set for a Rio Grande Rivalry showdown on the hardwood in Las Cruces Wednesday night.

“We know them well and they know us well,” Sy said of the Lobos. “It’s going to be a tough game.”

New Mexico’s Demetrius Walker (40) guards Renaldo Dixon of New Mexico State while he attempts a shot during an NCAA basketball game at The Pit on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Albuquerque, N.M. Zack Ponce

Aggies handle McNeese State

By: Anthony Esparza

Bandja Sy of New Mexico State drives to the basket on a layup attempt during an NCAA basketball game against McNeese State at the Pan American Center on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Las Cruces, N.M. Zack Ponce

The New Mexico State men’s basketball team goes into the Christmas break riding a three-game win streak, after defeating McNeese State 82-62 Wednesday at the Pan American Center.

The Aggies got a spark off the bench from Bandja Sy in the first half. The junior forward connected on five of six shot attempts and scored 11 points in the opening half.  

“I’m not really looking to score,” Sy said of his approach to the game. “I’m just trying to execute the game plan and take open shots.”

NM State coach Marvin Menzies said Sy has been working on improving his mid-range shooting ability.

“When he shoots it in rhythm like that, he’s really good,” Menizes said of Sy. “He had a tendency to drive it too deep and get into trouble last year, so we’ve been working hard on correcting that and he’s reaping the fruits of his labor right now."

Senior forward Wendell McKines had an exceptional night, finishing with 23 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. McKines is now third all-time on NM State’s career rebounding list with 882.

Although the Aggies never trailed in the contest, the Cowboys stayed within striking distance through much of the second half. However, turnovers plagued McNeese State throughout the game and the team was only able to cut the Aggie lead to nine.

NM State struggled with turnovers as well, finishing with 17 on the night. Aggie coach Marvin Menizes said the team needs to work on protecting the ball in order to be an elite team when conference play starts. 

“You can’t be a championship team playing that careless with the ball,” Menzies said. “But that’s something that’s very coachable and correctable, so that’s the bright side of it.”

There may not be a bright side to the injury suffered by freshman guard Terrel de Rouen, who left the game in obvious pain early in the second half. De Rouen later returned to the sideline on crutches.

“The early diagnosis is it could be an ACL, but we’re not sure of the severity,” Menzies said. “He’s going to get an MRI in the morning and we’ll say a prayer tonight and hopefully it’s not something that will keep him out too long.”

With the win, NM State improves to 8-4 on the season. The Aggies return to the Pan Am Center on Dec. 28, when the New Mexico Lobos visit Las Cruces to renew the Rio Grande Rivalry.

Aggie women face Utah before Christmas break

By: Anthony Esparza

The New Mexico State women’s basketball team travels to Salt Lake City for a matchup against Utah on Wednesday.

The Aggies (2-8) snapped an eight-game losing streak Monday by defeating UC-Santa Barbara 52-51 at the Pan American Center.

The team was led by forward Tabytha Wampler and guard Kaitlyn Soto. The two seniors each finished with a team-high 14 points on the night. Senior guard Erica Sanchez provided a spark off the bench in the second half by hitting a trio of three-pointers to give the Aggies a one-point lead.

“They're running a new system to that group of kids,” Utah coach Anthony Levrets said of the Aggies. “They do a good job with their motion stuff. It's going to be a challenge defending them, and they play incredibly hard."

The Utes enter the game at 5-4 and are coming off a dominating 75-33 win over Texas Southern.

Sophomore guard Michelle Plouffe recorded her fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Taryn Wicijowski and junior Iwalani Rodrigues also finished with double digits, scoring 15 and 13 points respectively.

 Utah leads the series 21-6 and defeated NM State 72-62 at the Pan Am Center last season. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m., and the game will air in the Las Cruces area on KSNM AM 570

Get to know: McNeese State

Scouting the Aggies' upcoming opponent

By: Zack Ponce

The McNeese State Cowboys are 4-5 on the year, with their most recent outcome being a 69-54 loss at the University of Texas-El Paso on Monday.

Three of McNeese State’s wins have come against NCAA Division II opponents.  A 68-63 win at Sacramento State is the Cowboys’ lone victory over a Division I opponent.

The Cowboys are averaging 65.3 points per game (243rd in NCAA) and 35.9 rebounds per game (157th in NCAA).  McNeese State is shooting 41 percent per game from the floor (252nd in NCAA).

Senior forward Patrick Richard who was named the Louisiana Player of the Year in 2010-11, as well as named a first team all-Southland Conference player in 2010-11, is the clear leader for McNeese State.  He is averaging 16 points and nearly six rebounds per game in the young season.

Junior guard Jeremie Mitchell is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12 points per game.  Center Rudy Turner leads the Cowboys in rebounding with six rebounds per game.

Forward Will Brown transferred to McNeese State after playing two seasons for the New Mexico Lobos.  Brown averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in his final year at UNM.

Dave Simmons, the Cowboys head coach, led McNeese State to a Southland Conference regular season championship in 2010-11 and their first NIT Tournament appearance since 2001.  Simmons was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year for his accomplishment.

Additional Info

Location: Lake Charles, La. (about an hour east of Beaumont, Texas)

Enrollment: 8,900

Founded: 1939

Colors: Blue and Gold

Most famous alum: Joe Dumars

Strong second half leads to Aggie win over Southern

By: Zack Ponce

Tshilidzi Nephawe maneuvers in the post while being guarded by Quinton Doggett of the Southern Jaguars during an NCAA basketball game at the Pan American Center on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, in Las Cruces, N.M. Zack Ponce

 The New Mexico State men’s basketball team defeated Southern University 91-66 after a slow first half start in which the Aggies led by eight at halftime.

           

Seniors Wendell McKines and Hamidu Rahman led the Aggies en route to their seventh win of the year.  McKines posted his sixth double-double of the season with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Rahman contributed 16 points and nine rebounds.

           

NM State took control of the game early in the second half when the Aggies went on an 11-0 run that spanned just short of four minutes.  The Aggies’ lead inflated to 51-34, effectively ending the Jaguars’ hopes of an upset win in Las Cruces.

           

“Our game plan to every game is to break the (opponent) down as we go along,” McKines said.  “We knew if we stayed with the game plan, eventually they would break down.”

           

The Jaguars didn’t just break; they collapsed thanks to NM State’s strong team defense, which displayed a variety of looks throughout the game.

           

The Aggies began showing a full-court press after each basket midway through the first half, which appeared to catch Southern’s players off guard.  

           

“If the ball offensively goes in the right areas, we’ll trap it,” NM State coach Marvin Menzies said of the strategy.  “If you can do some things to take them out of what they do, then obviously you’re winning.  So you can expect it as long as they don’t expect it and over-execute us.”

           

Freshman Daniel Mullings started at shooting guard for only the second time this year, replacing Christian Kabongo who was suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules a day after NM State’s game at the University of Texas El Paso.

Mullings scored a career-high 14 points and recorded four steals in 30 minutes of play.  His play also caught coach Menzies’ eye.

“He’s an excellent athlete and can really score the ball in open court,” Coach Menzies said.  “He’s a great kid and I’m optimistic about his future.”

Hernst Laroche added 14 points and two assists to the NM State victory, while Tshilidzi Nephawe and Bandja Sy provided much needed support off the bench.  Nephawe grabbed eight rebounds and Sy scored eight points.

Tyrone Watson scored only five points in 28 minutes of play, shooting 2-7 from the field and 1-3 from three-point range.

The win was Menzies’ 83rd as NM State coach, jumping him to fifth on the list of all-time winningest Aggie basketball head coaches.  

Menzies now trails Presley Askew who sits in fourth-place with 135 victories.  The all-time winningest coach for NM State is Las Cruces legend Lou Henson, who retired with 289 wins as an Aggie.

           

The victory propels NM State to 7-4, while Southern falls to 3-9.  The Aggies will host McNeese State (4-5) on Wednesday, Dec. 21 in their final tune-up before a showdown with in-state rival New Mexico (8-2) on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

           

The Aggies defeated the Lobos 62-53 earlier in the year at The Pit.  The win was NM State’s first in Albuquerque since Dec. 15, 2002, ending a nine-year losing streak.  

Menzies, although reluctant to look ahead to the UNM game, did not comment on the rivalry.

           

“With rivalries I’ve learned not to expect anything and prepare for everything,” coach Menzies said.  “We will concentrate on ourselves, concentrate on doing what we do well, and may the best team win.”

Derick Beltran of Southern University drives to the basket during an NCAA basketball game against New Mexico State at the Pan American Center on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, in Las Cruces, N.M. Zack Ponce

What we learned from Aggie football in 2011

By: Anthony Esparza

Photo by: Zack Ponce 

 

 

 

The 2011 season is in the books for the New Mexico State football team. The Aggies experienced their share of ups and downs throughout the year, finishing with a 4-9 record.

There are reasons for optimism heading into next season; there is also room for improvement. Here is what we learned from Aggie football in 2011 and some storylines to keep with during the offseason.

Improved offense: In his first year as offensive coordinator, Doug Martin provided a much needed spark to the Aggie offense. In 2010 the NM State offense only scored 15.7 points per game and averaged 296.5 yards per contest. This season the Aggies averaged 24.8 and picked up 398.2 yards per game. The biggest improvement came in the passing game. NM State ranked 25^th in the nation in passing yards in spite of playing three different quarterbacks throughout the year because of injuries to sophomore Andrew Manley and senior Matt Christian.

Defense still has flaws: Although the Aggie defense came up with stops when it needed to in certain games, it still has a lot of room for improvement before next season. The NM State defense allowed an average of 457.8 yards and 37.8 points per game this season. As it did in 2010, the Aggie defense struggled in preventing big plays this year. The team gave up at least one play of 40 yards or more in 9 of 13 games this season. Fortunately for  the Aggies, defense seemed to be optional in the WAC and points were at a premium most weeks.

Rogers and Coleman broke out: Wide receiver Taveon Rogers and strong safety Donyae Coleman had breakout seasons in 2011. Both players were named first team All-WAC selections for defense and special teams respectively. Rogers leaves NM State as the all-time leader in kick returns for a career, kick return yardage and most kick returns for a touchdown. Coleman finished the season with 133 tackles and led the conference in interceptions and fumble recoveries. There is a good chance both Rogers and Coleman will get invited to an NFL training camp to see if they can make it at the next level.

In need of consistent field goal kicking: NM State had success kicking field goals in 2010, connecting on 16 of 19 attempts. The Aggies were 7-12 in field goals this season, including four missed extra points. Considering the number of close games the Aggies played in this year, opportunities to score points cannot be lost in the future.

Holes to fill: The Aggies had 20 seniors on the roster this season, which means there will be holes to fill in 2012. The team will need to replace the production of player like Taveon Rogers and Todd Lee on offense; as well as, players such as Donyae Coleman and Jonte Green on defense. After an impressive freshman year, look for receiver Austin Franklin to take on a larger role in the offense next season as a sophomore. On defense Jeremy Harris and BJ Adolpho may be called to fill in the holes left by Coleman and Green.

Offseason changes in coaching staff: NM State coach DeWayne Walker announced Monday that defensive coordinator Dale Lindsey, defensive line coach Jessi Williams and offensive line coach Jason Lenzmeir will not return next season. A national search for their replacements will begin immediately.

Photo by: Zack Ponce

Freshmen on display in Aggie win over Western New Mexico

By: Anthony Esparza 

New Mexico State’s Daniel Mullings dribbles up the court on a fast break during an NCAA basketball game against Western New Mexico at the Pan American Center on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, in Las Cruces, N.M. Zack Ponce

A win over Division II Western New Mexico may not seem like much, but the matchup against the Mustangs could not have come at a better time for the New Mexico State men’s basketball team.

The Aggies entered the game at 5-4 and on a three-game losing streak. The 92-65 win snapped the three-game skid and provided opportunities for some of the reserves to play.

 “I was happy to get all of the guys in the game and play some guys that haven’t had a chance to play yet,” NM State coach Marvin Menzies said. “It was good to be able to go against somebody else and get a chance to execute some of the things for some of those new guys.”

After two years without playing competitive basketball, freshman forward Remi Barry made his anticipated debut for the Aggies Wednesday. Barry played 18 minutes and finished with seven points and four rebounds.

“He gave us a lot of energy. He got some deflections and did some good things on defense,” Menzies said of Barry’s performance. “He knocked down a nice three and made his free-throws, which is always a big plus when you’re getting into competition in conference.”

Freshman guard Terrel de Rouen played a season-high 21 minutes. The Las Cruces native finished with seven points, four rebounds and two assists.

“Terrel showed some comfort tonight. He’s been able to get in a few games, but I thought he was much more vocal,” Menzies said. “Point guard wasn’t his position in high school, so we’re educating him at that spot.”

 

Freshman Daniel Mullings got the start at guard in place of sophomore Christian Kabongo, who was suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules. Mullings played a team-high 27 minutes.

“It’s definitely a different attitude, because you’ve got to bring your energy and everything at the tip of the game instead of a couple minutes in.” Mullings said regarding the difference between starting and coming off the bench.

Menzies did not comment on the length of Kabongo’s suspension.

The Aggies are now 6-4 and continue their five-game home stand against Southern on Dec. 19. 

New Mexico State’s Bandja Sy dribbles to the basket during an NCAA basketball game against Western New Mexico at the Pan American Center on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, in Las Cruces, N.M. Zack Ponce

Aggie comeback falls short against UTEP

Miners defeat Aggies to split season series

 By: Anthony Esparza

UTEP's Julian Washburn, right, fouls New Mexico State's Hamidu Rahman on a shot attempt during an NCAA basketball game at the Don Haskins Center on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in El Paso, Texas. Zack Ponce

The New Mexico State men’s basketball team could not complete the season sweep of the University of Texas El Paso Saturday afternoon, falling 73-69 to the Miners at the Don Haskins Center.

Turnovers plagued the Aggies in the early minutes of the game, as the Miners jumped to an 18-3 lead. UTEP was able to drive to the basket for easy points in the paint early on.

“They just shot the lights out and really were aggressive,” NM State coach Marvin Menzies said of the Miners’ quick start. “I think rebounding was the key early. They got a lot of put-backs off of their own misses and had a chance to convert.”

The Aggies cut down on turnovers midway through the first half and started playing tighter defensively. As a result, the Miners’ lead was cut to five.

However, UTEP was still coming down with offensive rebounds and scoring in the paint. The Miners scored 13 second-chance points in the first half and took a 45-38 lead into the locker room at halftime.

NM State continued inching closer to UTEP early in the second half. A pair of free-throws by freshman guard Daniel Mullings gave the Aggies their first lead of the game midway through the half.

The Aggies had opportunities to increase their lead, but both teams struggled from the free-throw line down the stretch. NM State shot 10-25 from the line in the half and UTEP went 7-17 from the charity stripe in the second half. 

New Mexico State’s Daniel Mullings shoots the ball while guarded by two UTEP players during an NCAA basketball game at the Don Haskins Center on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in El Paso, Texas. Zack Ponce

“They’re going to beat themselves up over their foul shooting, and we really should as well,” UTEP coach Tim Floyd said of both teams’ free-throw struggles. “But they make some free-throws and it’s a different basketball game.”

NM State led by as many as five points, but UTEP took a 72-69 lead with 17 seconds remaining. Senior forward Wendell McKines missed the potential game-tying three-pointer with nine seconds to play in the game.

“We got the look we wanted. “We were actually going for a quick two, but they did a good job clogging it up,” Menzies said of the possession. “We had a good look, but it was just short.”

The Miners went on to win by a final of 73-69. The team was led by senior forward Gabriel McCulley who finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

“He’s an experienced guy that understands the rivalry,” Menzies said of McCulley. “He was the one I was really concerned about just being a glue-guy for them. I think he was the difference maker and the stabilizer for them.”

Senior guard Hernst Laroche was the Aggies leading scorer, finishing with 16 points 5-7 shooting. Although he finished with a team-high 11 rebounds, McKines was limited to four points on 4-11 shooting.      

“It kind of caught me off guard. I was waiting for us to make the proper adjustments and we didn’t do that until the second half,” McKines said of the Miners’ defensive strategy. “At the end of the day, we can make all the excuses in the world but we just didn’t execute down the stretch.”

Menzies said the Aggies also let missed shots frustrate them throughout the game.

“You can’t get frustrated when there are so many other things you can do in a game besides score,” Menzies said. The game is full of nuances, but this generation sometimes gets caught up on the wrong stats. “

With the win, the Miners snapped their three-game losing streak and improve to 2-4 on the season.

The Aggies have now dropped three consecutive games and are now 5-4 on the season. The team returns to the Pan American Center to face Western New Mexico on Wednesday.