New Mexico State tops Sac State

As expected, NMSU beat Sacramento State last night in a tuneup match prior to facing rival Texas El Paso. Here's Jason Groves first with last night's game, followed by John Keith of the Las Cruces Bulletin with a look at UTEP.

NMSU basketball team coasts past Sacramento State in home win
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
12/12/2008

LAS CRUCES — The number of suits and ties on the New Mexico State sideline often outnumbers those dressed in the crimson and white Aggies uniforms.

The Aggies made room for another suit on Thursday, coasting to a 76-65 victory over Sacramento State with NMSU coaching legend Lou Henson sitting shotgun.

"It's always a pleasure to have a living legend sitting next to you," Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies said. "I told him that I didn't need any coaching advice tonight but he kept offering it so I kept taking it. He's a big time supporter of the team and myself. He said a few words to the guys because they have had a lot on their plate with finals this week."

Thursday's game continued the Lou Henson Classic for the third straight year, but more importantly, it ended a three-game losing streak and gave the Aggies a win heading into Sunday's home contest against rival Texas-El Paso...

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and

Here we go again! Ags vs. UTEP
Lack of rebounding, defense concerns Menzies
John Keith
The Las Cruces Bulletin

They´ll play this one on Sunday afternoon.

Aside from that, the Aggie-UTEP men´s basketball rivalry remains much the same. Grudge match. Plenty of emotion. Good crowd, despite the 2 p.m. tipoff in the Pan Am Center.

Marvin Menzies, New Mexico State´s coach, calls both teams talented but young. UTEP might have a slight advantage in maturity. "They have two big-time seniors on their roster," Menzies said, referring to guards Stefon Jackson and Randy Culpepper. "Jackson can pretty much create his own shots. He´s that good..."

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