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NM State looks to push overall win streak to eight straight.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo: Courtesy
What: Game Eighteen
Who: NM State (11-6, 4-0 CUSA) vs Liberty (14-4, 2-3 CUSA)
When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 5:00 p.m. MT
Where: Lynchburg, Va. – Liberty Arena (4,000)
THE OPENING TIP
• The Aggies head into Saturday’s matchup against Liberty riding a seven-game winning streak, highlighted by a gritty 59-52 road victory over FIU. The win also improved their conference record to 4-0, keeping them atop the CUSA standings.
• Saturday’s game marks the third-ever meeting between the Aggies and Flames, with the all-time series tied at 1-1. Both teams have won on their home courts, with Liberty claiming the most recent matchup in Lynchburg, an 83-58 victory.
THE SECOND GO AROUND
• In his debut season leading the Aggies, Coach Hooten guided the Aggies to a 7-9 record in league play and helped deliver several memorable highlights, including a thrilling win over I-10 rival UTEP, a remarkable 23-point second-half comeback to defeat eventual CUSA Tournament Champion Western Kentucky, and an impressive 12-3 record on their home court at the Pan American Center.
• NM State’s home support was unmatched, as the Aggies led all Conference USA programs in average home attendance, drawing 5,638 fans per game. Hooten wrapped up his first season with a 13-19 overall record, bringing his career head coaching total to 274-188 and setting a strong foundation for the program’s future.
• After leading NM State to a 6-9 record in non-conference play last season, the Aggies improved that mark this year and will begin CUSA competition with a 7-6 record.
LOCKING DOWN ON DEFENSE
• Defense has long been the hallmark of Head Coach Jason Hooten‘s teams, and this year’s Aggies are fully embracing that identity. The squad has demonstrated defensive excellence, ranking 16th nationally and first in Conference USA in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 38.6% shooting.
• The Aggies are also stifling teams from beyond the arc, ranking 26th in the nation in three-point defense percentage holding opponents to only 29.1%.
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FURIOUS FIVE
• Since the start of conference play, the Aggies have leaned heavily on a core group of players for offensive production as the quintet of Christian Cook, Peter Filipovity, Zawdie Jackson, Robert Carpenter and Dionte Bostick are currently combining to score 64.9 points per game during CUSA action. This amounts to 87.3% of the Aggies’ scoring across the first four games against league opponents.
ALONE AT THE TOP
• With a perfect 4-0 record in league play, the Aggies sit atop the Conference USA standings during the early goings. This undefeated record has been the result of some stellar play at both ends of the floor. During conference play, the Aggies pace the league in field goal percentage (48.9%), opponent points per game (57.0, opponent field goal percentage (36.9%) and opponent 3-point percentage (24.4%) while ranking second in 3-point percentage (36.6%), turnover margin (3.00) and assist to turnover ratio (1.54).
• Additionally, the Aggies hold the third-highest scoring offense against conference foes – averaging 74.3 points per game.
ROAD WARRIORS
• Winning in CUSA is no easy feat, and winning on the road is even tougher. So far this season, home teams have dominated with a 17-5 record in conference play. NM State is one of just three teams to secure a road victory early in the conference season.
• This season, the Aggies hold a 4-3 record in road contests. With four victories away from the Pan American Center, they lead all CUSA teams in total road wins and are one of only two teams (Liberty) with a winning record in road games this year.
• Additionally, while league play just began three weeks ago, the Aggies are the only CUSA team with two road wins to their name thus far.
SPREAD THE LOVE
• This season, NM State is currently the only team in the conference with four players inside the top-25 in the league in points per game. For the Aggies, this includes Christian Cook (8th), Peter Filipovity (18th), Robert Carpenter (20th) and Zawdie Jackson (23rd).
FILIPOVITY FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
• Through four games in CUSA action, first-year Aggie Peter Filipovity is averaging 15.3 points per game to rank ninth in the league while also hauling in 8.0 rebounds per game to rank fifth in the league.
• With these two marks, Filipovity joins only MTSU’s Essam Mostafa and Kennesaw State’s Adrian Wooley as one of only three players to rank inside the top-10 in scoring and top-5 in rebounding.
LEAVE THEM IN THE DUST
• Thanks to a pair of double-digit wins, the Aggies are currently averaging a scoring margin of +17.3 points per game through their first four CUSA opponents. This ranks first among the 10 teams in the league with the next-closest team coming in at +4.0.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
• With the evolution of college sports through the transfer portal, teams are increasingly embracing yearly roster overhauls — and NM State is no exception, welcoming seven new players through the portal this season.
• The incoming group includes Dionte Bostick, Carl Cherenfant, Peter Filipovity, Zawdie Jackson, Edward Nnamoko, and brothers Emmanuel and Nate Tshimanga. In the backcourt, Bostick, Cherenfant, and Jackson will add depth and energy, joining returning guards Christian Cook and Jaden Harris to maintain NM State’s backcourt play. Meanwhile, in the frontcourt, the Aggies have intentionally added size and versatility with Filipovity (6’7″), Nnamoko (6’10”), Nate Tshimanga (6’10”), and Emmanuel Tshimanga (7’0″).
• Bostick, Filipovity, and Jackson are expected to be immediate impact players, each having excelled at their previous schools. Bostick arrives from Cal State Northridge, where he averaged 15.4 points and four rebounds per game while leading the team with 49 three-pointers, earning an All-Big West Honorable Mention.
• Filipovity, joining from the University of Maine, was a standout for the Black Bears, putting up 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He also recorded nine double-doubles and earned America East All-Conference Second Team honors.
• Jackson brings an impressive resume from West Georgia, where he posted one of the program’s best seasons, averaging 22 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game with an elite shooting split of 51% from the field, 45% from three, and 85% from the line. His contributions were pivotal in leading his team to a GSC regular season and tournament championship and a South Region semifinals appearance. Jackson’s stellar play earned him titles as both the GSC and South Region Player of the Year, along with First Team All-American honors.
LOOK WHO’S BACK
• This season, the Aggies welcome back four returners from last year’s roster: Christian Cook, Robert Carpenter, Jaden Harris, and Christopher Biekeu. Despite significant roster changes, these returning players bring valuable experience and key contributions to NM State’s lineup.
• Head Coach Hooten managed to retain a substantial portion of last season’s three-point shooting prowess with the return of Christian Cook, Robert Carpenter, and Jaden Harris, who collectively accounted for 58% of the Aggies’ three-point field goals. Leading the charge from beyond the arc, Christian Cook was last season’s top scorer for the Aggies, averaging 11.3 points per game and sinking 59 three-pointers — the most on the team. Harris proved himself a reliable shooter, hitting 36% from deep, while Carpenter was highly efficient, shooting 35% from three-point range and 47% from the field overall. Together, they were responsible for 38% of the team’s scoring last season, combining for 810 points.
• Also returning is forward Christopher Biekeu, who showed promise before a season-ending injury limited him to only six minutes in his lone appearance against Cal Baptist. Biekeu’s comeback adds depth to the Aggies’ frontcourt, and his return from injury provides the team with an additional physical presence inside.
THE BROTHERLY CONNECTION
• Amidst the roster changes, Coach Hooten successfully brought a pair of brothers, Emmanuel and Nate Tshimanga, to play together in the Crimson and White. This marks the first time the Tshimanga brothers will share the court at the Division I level. Their arrival brings a unique family bond to NM State, adding depth and chemistry to the Aggie lineup.
• Emmanuel Tshimanga joins NM State after two seasons at UC San Diego, where he consistently demonstrated his ability to impact the game off the bench. In the 2023-24 season, Emmanuel averaged 14.1 minutes over 22 games, ranking third on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game and setting a personal best of two steals against Pepperdine. In his previous season (2022-23), he was recognized as the UCU Athlete of the Week and put up impressive performances, including a career-high 13 rebounds in a win at Eastern Michigan and an 18-point effort against UC Santa Barbara. He appeared in 24 games, making ten starts, and was the team’s second-leading rebounder with 6.2 boards per game.
• Nate Tshimanga arrives in Las Cruces following a season at Utah Valley, where he played in all 32 games, made six starts, and contributed an average of 13.4 minutes per contest. Known for his efficiency, he shot 46% from the field, averaging 2.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Prior to Utah Valley, Nate spent the 2022-23 season at Troy University, where he played in 21 games, made four starts, and finished second on the team in field goal percentage (50%). He posted a season-high 12 points and nine rebounds against Montevallo.
ACCORDING TO OTHERS
• In the Conference USA preseason poll announced on Oct. 10, the Aggies were picked to finish seventh, with Christian Cook as their sole representative on the Preseason All-Conference Team. This projection follows a 2022-23 season where NM State posted a 13-19 overall record and a 7-9 record in conference play.
• Louisiana Tech emerged as the preseason favorite, securing three first-place votes and 87 points. Western Kentucky followed closely in second place with 85 points and two first-place votes, while Sam Houston was projected third with 83 points and three first-place nods. Middle Tennessee landed in fourth with 69 points and one first-place vote, while UTEP and Liberty tied for fifth at 62 points, with Liberty also receiving one first-place vote.
• NM State holds the seventh position with 39 points in the coaches’ poll, followed by Jacksonville State with 29 points. FIU and Kennesaw State rounded out the standings, tied for ninth place with 17 points each.
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
• Liberty enters Saturday’s matchup with a 14-4 record, including a 2-3 mark in conference play. In their last outing, they battled with UTEP at home and fell 72-70 in a nail-biter.
• Liberty is led by head coach Ritchie McKay who is in his twelfth season at helm, boasting a 258-131 record with the Flames.
• For the Flames, senior guard Kaden Metheny leads them on the offensive end averaging a team-high 13.8 points per game. On the glass, the Aggies will have to contend with forwards Zach Cleveland and Owen Aquino who both are tied for a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game.
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