After a disappointing one-point loss at rival UTEP, the New Mexico State men’s basketball team seeks redemption when it hosts undefeated Southern Mississippi at the Pan American Center Saturday.
In addition to bouncing back to Wednesday’s loss, the Aggies
will also look to avenge two losses to Southern Miss from last season.
“That’s a team that beat us twice last year on a neutral
court and on their home court, so we’re hoping having them at home gives us a
little bit of an edge,” NMSU head coach Marvin Menzies said. “They’ve got some
very talented players that are returning from last year’s team that were very
successful against us last year.”
Southern Miss lost four starters from last year’s squad,
including a trio of guards that had successful outings in both games against the
Aggies: LaShay Page, Angelo Johnson and Maurice Bolden.
However, thus far in the season the Golden Eagles have been
led by senior forwards Dwayne Davis and Jonathan Mills.
After missing last year because of academics, Davis has had
a strong start to the season. Davis leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.2
points per game, while continues to be the team’s best rebounder, grabbing 7.5
boards per game.
Southern Miss is certainly battle-tested heading into the
matchup with NMSU. Three of the Golden Eagles’ six games have been decided by
fewer than five points, including back-to-back overtime contests to start the
season.
Nevertheless, the team is off to a 6-0 start as it heads begins
a three-game road trip that includes games against NMSU, No.9 Arizona and Louisiana
Tech.
NMSU, meanwhile, is 3-3 as they return to Las Cruces before
heading back on the road for contests against South Alabama and No.25 New
Mexico.
The Aggies have been sound for the most part defensively and
have out-rebounded their opponent in all but one game this season. However, the
Aggies are still in the process of figuring out their offensive identity.
Menzies said the team needs to adjust to the tempo of the
offense and start taking more high-percentage shots.
“Right now that’s something that the younger guys on the
team are struggling with in their decision making in terms of understanding our
system,” Menzies said. “The system is built around scoring points but we’ve got
to do it with an understanding of how that’s accomplished; through rebounding
and through getting to the foul line. It’s not just all making shots; you can
score points in different ways.”
The Aggies also average 17 turnovers per game, which proved
to be costly in the UTEP game.
NMSU still has five non-conference games before WAC play
begins. Saturday’s contest against Southern Miss serves as an ample opportunity
for the Aggies to get their first signature win of the season.
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