For last night’s Hoops HD Report podcast – CLICK HERE
For the Puppet’s initial Bracketology strictly based on current merit – CLICK HERE
New Mexico State (1-0, 0-0 D1) at UTEP (1-0, 0-0 D1) – 9:00 PM EST (CUSA.tv)
Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day is the first leg of the Battle for I-10 between New Mexico State and UTEP. Both teams have opened their respective seasons with non-D1 wins and will be making their respective D-1 debuts tonight. UTEP also had a victory agaisnt Texas Tech in a charity exhibition before opening their season with a win against New Mexico Highlands. Bryson Williams and Darryl Edwards both had 17 points in the Miners’ win last Tuesday.
New Mexico State is coming off of yet another season as the WAC champion – they missed a golden opportunity in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Auburn before losing in the closing seconds against the eventual Final Four-bound Tigers. The Aggies are again expected to win their league and began the year with a 92-46 victory against Western New Mexico. Jabari Rice led the Aggies with 21 points; William McNair also had 11 points and 7 rebounds in a game that saw 5 Aggies end up in double figures for points.