New Mexico State at Grand Canyon, 9:00 PM Eastern, Local TV/espn3
If years from now you are ever asked in a trivia contest to name the best Division I men’s basketball team that failed to win a single a game against Division I competition before at least January 29th of the season, the answer will be the 2020-21 New Mexico State Aggies. The Aggies have been the dominant force in the WAC for years, and were the preseason pick by most people to capture yet another league crown this season. However, due to COVID, they have only been able to play four games so far, and only one against a D1 foe (a loss at Cal State-Northridge). Tonight, hopefully, they finally return to the court to take on the WAC-leading Lopes of Grand Canyon.
New Mexico State (3-1, 0-0 in conference) has been dealing with injuries and eligibility issues to go with their COVID problems so far this season, and Jabari Rice (foot) is still out indefinitely for the Aggies. Wilfried Likayi led the team in scoring against non-D1 Western New Mexico earlier this week, scoring 20 points and pulling down 6 rebounds. Likayi, and any of his teammates that can get on the floor tonight, will need an even bigger effort in tonight’s contest. That help could also come from recent signee Gerald Doakes, who had 11 points in his first game this week after enrolling at NMSU earlier this month.
Grand Canyon enters tonight’s game at 10-3 overall and 4-0 in WAC play. The Lopes have been led by Asbjorn Midtgaard, who leads the team in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounds (9.8 per game). Two other players, Alessandro Lever and Jovan Blacksher Jr are averaging more than 10 points per game as well, giving GCU options and depth on offense to go along with one of the top-rated defense in the WAC so far this season. A win over the Aggies tonight could put the Lopes in position to be the favorites to take the school’s first ever D1 NCAA Tournament bid this season.