Aggie Urgency

NM States looks to carry momentum into WAC Tournament

By: Anthony Esparza 

Photo by: Zack Ponce

The New Mexico State men’s basketball is playing with a healthy sense of urgency heading into the final two games of the regular season.

At 22-8 overall and 9-3 in conference play, New Mexico State sits in second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings. However the team has endured its share of highs and lows that led to the late-season surge.

“At the beginning of the year we felt like we were the underdogs, and we wanted to attack everybody,” said senior forward Wendell McKines. “Then we started 4-0 and we started to feel ourselves a little bit, and we took some loses in the process.”

McKines said the improvements started in practice. The team began approaching practice with an intensity level that mirrored that of a regular season game and the results showed on the court.

NM State has improved in several areas since the start of the season including scoring and defense. The team has also improved in areas that do not appear on the stat sheet. The Aggies have played with an abundance of intensity as of late.

“That has to do with the fact we have three seniors,” McKines said of the intensity boost. “We have a sense of urgency, and other players are feeding off that and playing their game as well.”

One of the Aggies’ three conference losses this season was against Nevada on Jan. 26 at the Pan American Center. The Wolf Pack got off a quick start and the Aggies were forced to play catch-up for the rest of the game. NM State looks to avenge the loss on Thursday in Reno, Nev.  

“They have been playing great defense,” NM State head coach Marvin Menzies said of the Wolf Pack. “They’re blocking shots, guarding the ball and keeping guys off the free-throw line. They’re doing what they need to do to win, and if that’s defensively then you’ve got to give them credit for that.”

NM State concludes the regular season at Fresno State on March 3. Although their 13-17 record does not raise any eyebrows, they Bulldogs are a scrappy team that played a competitive game against the Aggies in Las Cruces on Jan. 28.

“Fresno is a scary team…” Menzies said. “They play within themselves. The few experienced guys they do have are doing a good job at holding it together, and they haven’t packed it in by any means.”

Despite essentially having locked up the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament, the Aggies are looking to finish the regular season on a high note and enter the tournament with momentum.

“We play this game to win. It’s as simple as that…” McKines said. “I know the coaches are game-planning for us to come out with the victory. We’re going to practice like we’re going into a big game, and we’re going up there to win.”

Aggies top San Jose State on senior night

By: Anthony Esparza

Photo by: Brian Clayton  

The three seniors on the New Mexico State men’s basketball team led the Aggies to a 79-68 win over San Jose State on senior night at the Pan American Center.

Wendell McKines, Hernst Laroche and Hamidu Rahman combined to score 53 of the team’s 79 points in the final home game of their Aggie careers.  Rahman, who ranks second in NM State history in blocked shots, finished with a game-high 22 points, ten rebounds and five blocks.

“I’m going to miss the Pan Amanics, we’re all family.” Rahman said after the Aggie win. “I’m going to miss my teammates, the coaches and especially the fans.”

The Aggie big man asserted himself in the paint throughout the game, and shot 6-7 from the field and 10-16 from the free-throw line. Shooting free-throws was a reoccurring theme for both teams, as a total of 50 fouls were called in the game.

Laroche, who holds the school record for minutes played with 4,190, finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two assists on Saturday night. The Aggies’ iron man also shot 3-5 from behind the three-point line.

 McKines, one of only two players in school history to compile 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, had 20 points and 15 rebounds in the home finale.

With the win, NM State improved to 22-8 overall and 9-3 in conference play. Next for the Aggies is a two-game road trip at Nevada and Fresno State to wrap up the regular season. The team then heads to Las Vegas for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, which begins on March 8.

With two regular season games and an important conference tournament still on the horizon, the season is far from over. However, senior night was a memorable night for the Aggies’ “big three.”

“I’m going to remember the love and support I get from this campus and from this community,” McKines said. “I’m going to always cherish it and never forget it.”

Mullings gets triple-double as Aggies cruise past Hawai'i

By: Anthony Esparza

The New Mexico State men’s basketball team dominated Hawai’i 115-73 on Thursday to take sole possession of second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings.

Six Aggies scored in double figures but the night belonged to freshman guard Daniel Mullings, who became only the third player in program history to compile a triple-double. The freshman sensation finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists and five steals.

“It’s big for me and it just proves that hard work pays off,” Mullings said of the accomplishment. “I just worked hard on both ends, on offense and defense. My teammates were just feeding me on outlets and I was able to score and get to the line.”

Seniors Wendell McKines and Hernst Laroche also had big nights against the Warriors. McKines finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Laroche tallied 16 points and a season-high eight assists.

In addition to lighting up the Pan Am scoreboard, the Aggies played aggressive defense throughout the game. Senior guard Zane Johnson, who scored a season-high 29 points against NM State on Jan. 22, was held to just eight points on 2-8 shooting on Wednesday night.

Part of the credit for containing Johnson goes to junior forward Bandja Sy, who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

“Bandja did a great job on Zane Johnson,” NM State head coach Marvin Menzies said. “That kid (Johnson) is a big-time shooter, and he only got two shots from the three-point line. Our goal was to limit his attempts and he was one-for-two.”

The Aggies also scored 38 points off 24 Hawai’i turnovers, and outscored the Warriors 42-22 in the paint. NM State led from start to finish and the team was well prepared to avenge the previous loss against the Warriors.

“We were ready all week and this has been on our minds, especially the last effort that we put up against them,” Mullings said. “We came in with a focus that we weren’t going to let them jump on us like that.”

With the win, the Aggies improved to 21-8 overall and 8-3 in WAC play. Despite the convincing victory, Menzies said there is still room for improvement.

“We turned it over 14 times and could have shot a better percentage from three,” Menzies said. “There are a lot of things we can do better. To beat Nevada or this team (Hawai’i) on a neutral court is a different game, and you can’t let your ego or your previous game dictate how you play your next game.”

NM State hosts San Jose State on Saturday in the final home game of the season. The Aggies took down the Spartans 79-63 on the road on Jan. 19.

Benson's departure leaves WAC in state of flux

By: Anthony Esparza

With conference realignments in full swing across the college sports landscape, now is probably not the best time for the Western Athletic Conference to be left without a commissioner.

Karl Benson announced he is resigning as WAC commissioner effective April 1 to serve as commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference.

"It has been a privilege to serve the WAC and to share in the many successes of our member schools and student-athletes over the past 18 years," Benson said in a statement."I am confident that the 10-member WAC that will be in place on July 1, 2012 will provide the foundation that will allow the WAC to continue as one of the outstanding athletic conferences in the country."

The WAC experienced its fair share of highs and lows during Benson’s 18 years at the helm.

Benson’s tenure began on April 20, 1994, when he was named the fifth commissioner in league history.  His tenure got off to a quick start as the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Rice, San Jose State, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Texas Christian University (TCU) and Tulsa all joined the WAC shortly after he was appointed.

In Benson’s second year on the job, the conference signed a multi-year contract with ESPN to telecast football and basketball games.  By 1996, the WAC had 16 member universities, making it the largest conference in NCAA Division I-A.

However, the tide started to shift in 1999 when eight schools left the WAC to join the newly formed Mountain West Conference. The WAC raid continued as five more schools left the conference to join Conference USA. A total of 13 schools left the conference between 1999 and 2005.

Benson and the WAC responded by adding new schools to the WAC roster during that time, including Nevada, Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Idaho Utah State and New Mexico State.

The new members quickly began contributing to the WAC in a variety of sports. Boise State became a football power, Utah State had consistent basketball program and Fresno State had an elite baseball team.

It seemed as if the WAC had weathered the realignment storm, but the conference would endure more changes down the line. Boise State left for the Mountain West in 2011, while Fresno State, Hawai’i (football only) and Nevada will join the conference next season.

Once again, the WAC was left scrambling to find new schools to fill up the conference. As a result, Denver, Seattle, Texas State, Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio were invited to the conference.

The five schools will begin WAC competition at the start of the 2012 academic year; however, Denver, Seattle and Texas-Arlington do not have football programs. Boise will also return to the WAC in all sports except football.

Despite adding five new member schools, the WAC is in a state of flux and the departure of Benson may or may not help the situation.

The two conferences that have taken schools from the WAC, Mountain West and Conference USA, are merging to form one 16-team conference.  If the conference dominoes continue to fall, there is a chance current WAC schools will jump ship and head to the new MWC/CUSA conference.

NM State President Barbara Couture told the WAC website that a committee will be formed to begin the search for a new commissioner.

"The Board thanks him for his years of service to the conference and wishes him well in this position with the Sun Belt,” Couture said. "We will be looking for leadership that will continue to positively position the WAC as one of the nation's top conferences both academically and athletically.”

Regardless of who Benson’s replacement is, the game of conference musical chairs will likely continue in the coming years. As for the remaining WAC universities, they can only hope to have a seat when the music stops. 

The past and future of Pan Am mascot hangings

By: Anthony Esparza

A replica of Big Blue awaits its hanging from the Pan Am rafters before the NM State's Jan. 12 game against Utah State. Photo from: NM State Facebook page

Hanging a replica of the opposing team’s mascot from the Pan American Center rafters was once a proud tradition at New Mexico State men’s basketball games.

The unique pregame ritual added to the Pan Am’s reputation as one of the most difficult venues for opposing teams to win in. Mascot hanging was started in the early 1990’s by a dedicated group of NMSU students.

“The idea was started by a group of engineering students that were very loyal to our Aggies,” said NMSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Herb Taylor. “The group made each mascot and this went on for three or four years until they graduated. “

The Pan Am pregame mascot hanging reached a national audience on Jan, 8, 1990 when the Aggies hosted the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin’ Rebels on ESPN’s Big Monday. The game had all the makings of a classic Big West showdown.

Led by Larry Johnson and Anderson Hunt, the Rebels had become an elite team in the country. The team embodied the flashy persona associated with the city of Las Vegas and did not shy away from playing the villain role in other cities, which certainly was the case in Las Cruces.  

The team was coached by Jerry Tarkanian, who was also known as “Tark the Shark.” With this in mind, the Pan Amaniacs made their presence felt by hanging a giant replica shark from the rafters during the Rebels’ pregame warm-ups.

The game lived up to the hype and was decided in the final seconds when a jump shot by Keith Hill gave the Aggies an 83-82 victory. NMSU made it to the NCAA Tournament that year; while UNLV went on to win the national championship.

Although the Aggies reached five consecutive NCAA Tournaments in the 90’s, the pregame mascot hangings stopped in the middle part of the decade.  There is no consensus reason why the ritual was stopped, but there are many possible aspects that led to the downfall of mascot hanging.

One of the more popular notions is that the new generations of Aggies were not willing to keep the tradition alive because making the mascots took a lot of time and effort.

“You have to really be a dedicated fan and have several others who feel the same way and willing to take the time to construct the mascot,” Taylor said. “Since these are the days of electronics, I feel most would rather take the time and spend it on the web, e-net and other areas.”

However, last year the NMSU Athletics Marketing Department launched an attempt to revive mascot hangings in the final two games of the men’s basketball season. The pregame ritual has also been a part of Aggie home games throughout this season.

“Reaction has been very positive from those that remember the old tradition,” said NMSU Associate Athletic Director Steve Macy. “I believe it is still catching on with students who have not seen it before.”

Although the athletics marketing department has taken it upon itself to revive mascot hangings, Macy said the department is open to suggestions on ways to make it better and improve the game atmosphere.

Macy also said the department is also willing to allow students to create the mascots as they did in the early 90’s. A family member of a marketing intern is contracted for this season to design and construct the mascots used for hangings.

“We are hopeful that the rebirth of this tradition will gain momentum and our students will enjoy this pregame ritual,” Macy said. “We are trying to make it better and have already moved the timing to coincide with the introduction of the visiting team’s starting lineup.”

Time will tell if pregame mascot hangings will once again be a staple at the Pan Am Center. The future of the ritual largely rests in the hands of the student body.

“I can’t say for sure, but I hope so,” Taylor said of the possibility pregame mascot hangings are back for good. “It would be great if it was taken over by the students again, but that requires a great deal of dedication and time.”

Walker boasts strong recruiting class with new Aggies

By: Anthony Esparza

Photo by: Zack Ponce

Although the season is nine months away, the New Mexico State football team is in the midst of yet another busy offseason that has molded one of the best recruiting classes in years.

NM State coach DeWayne Walker announced the 2012 signing class Feb. 1, which consisted of 12 junior college transfers and 10 high school players.  The website rivals ranked the Aggies' 2012 signing class second among Western Athletic Conference teams.  This is the highest-ranked recruiting class since NM State joined the conference in 2005. 

“We’re very excited about this particular class and we think there are players in this class that are going to help us get to that level that we’re trying to get to,” Walker said. “The good part about this class is that 11 of our signees are already on campus and that’s big.”

Walker said one of the goals for this particular recruiting class was to get big bodies for the offensive and defensive lines, which was accomplished by signing six defensive linemen and four offensive linemen.

Three defensive backs signed to the team including junior college transfers Cameron Fuller and Dele Junaid, who may compete for immediate playing time in the secondary.

“We’re hoping Fuller will come in and compete for one of the corner spots and we’re going to give Junaid a chance at one of the safety spots,” Walker said. “I would say those two are coming in and competing right away for starting jobs.”

Walker added some new faces to the improved Aggie offense including two quarterbacks, two tight ends and two running backs.

One of the tight ends is junior college transfer Perris Scoggins, who Walker spoke highly of at the National Signing Day press conference.

“This kid is special. We’ve never had a tight end like him,” Walker said. “He’s big, he’s fast, he can catch and block. We really felt that was the missing link in our offense last year to a certain degree in the passing game, so we think he’s going to be the answer.”

After Kenny Turner declared for the NFL Draft, the Aggies were left with a hole to fill at the running back position. The hole was filled with Akeelie Mustafa from Santa Ana College.

Mustafa is similar to Turner in physical stature and the two players also have many similarities in their styles of play.

“We think that we have a running back that’s going to be very explosive,” Walker said of Mustafa. “We were kind of digging and we found him. This guy is going to be a heck of a football player.”

Walker and the new-look Aggies begin Spring practice on Mar. 29.