Under the Radar Game of the Day – Wednesday, December 2: UTEP at New Mexico State

Under the Radar Game of the Day: UTEP at New Mexico State, 9:00 PM Eastern, Aggie Vision/espn3

The Grand Canyon Antelopes are out to a 5-0 start and are still our pick to win the WAC regular season title.  However, the #LopesWaiver campaign has still not gotten the NCAA to change its rules and allow the Lopes to be eligible for the NCAA tournament this season.  As a result, for the time being at least, New Mexico State remains the favorite to represent the conference in the Big Dance.  The Aggies welcome in Tim Floyd’s UTEP Miners tonight in the UTR Game of the Day.

New Mexico State enters the game with a record of 4-2, with all four wins having come at home in Las Cruces.  Their losses were a home loss to rival New Mexico and a loss in overtime at Air Force.  They are led by Pascal Siakam who has had a double-double in every game but one so far including a 35 point, 13 rebound effort against Robert Morris.  He is complemented offensively by Ian Baker, who has scored in double figures in every game since the team’s opener.  Siakam and Baker will need solid efforts tonight if the Aggies are going to hold serve on their home court against the Miners.

UTEP is one of a dwindling field of teams that remain undefeated in Division I, entering tonight’s game at 6-0 and coming off of the championship in the Corpus Christi Challenge.  Their two neutral court win in Corpus Cristi (Southern Illinois and Colorado State in 2OT) are their best of the season.  In other words, if they can win in Las Cruces tonight, this game would instantly move to their best victory to date.  Despite the weak schedule, Tim Floyd’s squad has been playing well so far.  Lee Moore has led the way for the team so far, but they will need more contribution from the rest of the roster, including former Oregon Duck Dominic Artis, if they want to challenge for the Conference USA championship this year.  Proving that they can win a game at a potential NCAA Tournament team tonight will go a long way towards building the team’s resume and confidence as we move through December and towards the start of conference play.