Aggies Set to Challenge Miners at Don Haskins Center Showdown
As the New Mexico State Aggies prepare to face off against the UTEP Miners, fans are looking forward to what promises to be a riveting encounter at the Don Haskins Center. The Aggies, coming off a nail-biting game against Texas-Arlington Mavericks with a one-point deficit (60-61) on December 30th, are eager to bounce back and demonstrate their resilience.
In their last outing, NMSU showed they could maintain pressure throughout the game, leading in points off turnovers with 19 compared to UTA's 21. However, it was their shooting accuracy that let them down; despite attempting more field goals (61 vs. 47), they only managed a 38 percent success rate compared to UTA's impressive 49 percent. This inefficiency from the field was further highlighted in two-point attempts where NMSU had a lowly 35 percent conversion rate.
The Aggies' performance from beyond the arc was more promising though, hitting an impressive 47 percent of their three-point shots. This long-range prowess could be crucial against UTEP if they can maintain such efficiency. Additionally, second-chance points were a strong suit for NMSU as they capitalized on offensive rebounds leading to an additional 21 points.
Defense is another area where improvement is needed; without any blocks and only five steals in their last game versus Texas-Arlington's six blocks and nine steals, it’s clear that defensive intensity must be ramped up.
Comparing this with their previous games like the one against Troy Trojans on December 21st shows some consistency issues for NMSU. They scored higher overall (66 points) but still fell short by fifteen points against Troy’s robust offense which put up an impressive total of eighty-one points.
One positive takeaway for NMSU has been its ability to draw fouls and capitalize on free throws – boasting a high free throw percentage of seventy-nine during that match-up – something that could prove vital in tight situations.
Looking ahead at UTEP Miners' home advantage at Don Haskins Center might pose additional challenges for NMSU; however, it also presents an opportunity for them to showcase mental toughness and strategic gameplay adjustments post-analysis of past performances.
The upcoming battle scheduled for January sixth at two o'clock PM will undoubtedly test both teams’ mettle as they vie for victory before an energized crowd. Fans can catch all the action live from El Paso as these two teams go head-to-head in what promises not just competition but also entertainment galore.