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New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball

(Redirected from New Mexico A&M Aggies men's basketball)

The New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team represents New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1904, the Aggies compete in Conference USA after spending 18 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference from 2005 through 2023. The Aggies, who last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2022, are one of 34 college basketball teams with multiple NBA retired jerseys from former players (Sam Lacey and John Williamson) and a team that reached the NCAA Final Four (in 1970).[citation needed] The team plays home games in the Pan American Center.

New Mexico State Aggies
2024–25 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team
UniversityNew Mexico State University
Head coachJason Hooten (2nd season)
ConferenceConference USA
LocationLas Cruces, New Mexico
ArenaPan American Center
(capacity: 12,482)
NicknameAggies
ColorsCrimson and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Final Four
1970
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1970
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1952, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1992*
NCAA tournament round of 32
1992*, 1993*, 2022
NCAA tournament appearances
1952, 1959, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1992*, 1993*, 1994*, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
[2]
Conference tournament champions
Big West: 1992, 1994, 1999[3]
WAC: 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Conference regular season champions
Border: 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1952, 1959, 1960
Missouri Valley: 1977
Big West: 1990, 1993, 1994, 1997*, 1999[3]
WAC: 2008, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
Conference division season champions
Big West East: 1997*, 1999[3]
Sun Belt West: 2002[4]
*Appearances Vacated by NCAA

A Lou Henson-coached team gained national attention during the 1970 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by advancing to the Final Four. In 1992, a Neil McCarthy-coached team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, though that appearance has since been vacated. Aggie Basketball has seen 26 NCAA tournament appearances, 5 NIT Tournament appearances, 21 regular season conference championships, and 13 conference tournament championships.

History

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NMSU Basketball has seen much success throughout the years, reaching the NCAA Final Four in 1970, the Sweet Sixteen in 1992 among their 23 tournament appearances. Their two most successful coaches were Lou Henson and Neil McCarthy.

Jerry Hines era (1929–1940, '46)

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Jerry Hines was an outstanding two-sport athlete, the head basketball and head football coach, and the athletic director. During the later 1930s, the Aggie football team was 31–10–6 and the basketball team was 102–36 under Hines. The Aggie basketball team went to several postseason tournaments during this time, including the 1938 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament, and the 1939 National Invitation Tournament in New York City. The Hines era ended at the onset of World War II when he was called to duty in September 1940 as a member of a New Mexico National Guard unit assigned to the 45 Infantry Division. Hines did return for one more Aggie basketball season in 1946–47.[5]

Lou Henson era (1966–1975)

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Lou Henson played for the Aggies in the 1950s, coached at Las Cruces High School, and came from Hardin-Simmons University to become the head coach. His tenure was the most successful in Aggie history. His 1970 team reached the NCAA tournament Final Four, losing to a John Wooden-coached and eventual champion, UCLA.

Henson led the Aggies to the NCAA tournament in six of his nine years. He left in 1975 for a successful 21-year run at Illinois.

Neil McCarthy (1985–1997)

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Neil McCarthy came to Las Cruces in 1985 following a successful 10-year run at Weber State. He had built Weber State into a regional power, and was equally successful at New Mexico State. For most of McCarthy's tenure, the Aggies were the second-best team in the Big West, behind UNLV. McCarthy led the Aggies to four straight regular season and tournament titles, including the 1992 Sweet Sixteen run.

Academic Scandal

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The 1992 Sweet Sixteen run, along with two other NCAA runs in the early 1990s, was scrubbed from the books in 1996 when the NCAA found several players from that team received help on correspondence courses from a coach. Six Aggie players were found to have received help.[6] Without those courses, the players would not have been eligible.[7]

The McCarthy era came to a sudden and abrupt end just weeks before the 1997–98 season when new athletic director Jim Paul stripped him of coaching duties, citing the team's poor academic performance. Only nine of McCarthy's players had graduated in 12 years, including only one in the last four.[8] McCarthy was originally supposed to serve as an assistant athletic director for the balance of his contract, but instead sued NMSU for wrongful termination—a move that would come back to haunt the school later.[9]

In 2000, the Aggies were rocked again by a scandal from the McCarthy era. McCarthy had promised to hire a junior college coach as an assistant coach in return for bringing two of his top players to Las Cruces. That coach, Fletcher Cockrell, helped the two players with coursework and exams. The school placed the basketball program on two years' probation and withdrew from postseason consideration during the 2000–01 season. The NCAA imposed an additional four years' probation and forced the Aggies to vacate McCarthy's last season and the first season of Henson's second stint. The NCAA said that the penalties would have been even harsher if the school's former president, the former athletic director and McCarthy had still been at the school.[10]

Lou Henson's 2nd run (1997–2004)

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Henson was lured from retirement to coach the team on an interim basis for the 1997–98 season after McCarthy's ouster. He initially came back because he wanted to help the Aggies during their search for a new head coach.[11] Henson wanted to donate his time, but state law forbade him from coaching the program for free.[11] He ultimately settled for $1 per month.[11] The following season Henson agreed to stay on as head coach on a permanent basis, leading the Aggies back to the NCAA tournament in 1999.

Henson continued to coach the Aggies until being sidelined by non-Hodgkin lymphoma prior to the 2004–05 season. Due to Henson's illness the Aggies were led that year by assistant coach Tony Stubblefield, who guided the squad to a dismal 6–24 record, by far the school's worst season in twenty years. Henson officially announced his retirement from coaching in January 2005, and Stubblefield remained interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Reggie Theus (2005–2007)

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On March 31, 2005, NMSU hired 13-year NBA veteran Reggie Theus, then an assistant at Louisville under Rick Pitino,[12] as head men's basketball coach. In his first season, Theus turned the Aggies from a 6–24 squad in 2004–05 to a 16–14 team in the 2005–06 season as the Aggies moved from the Sun Belt Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. In Theus's second year the Aggies finished the regular season at 22–8, won the WAC Tournament on their home floor, and earn an automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA tournament. Following the tournament Theus left NMSU to take over the head coaching position of the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

Marvin Menzies (2007–2016)

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Marvin Menzies was named as Theus' successor, and like Theus before him, came to NMSU after having been an assistant to Pitino and had no previous Division I head coaching experience. In 2010 the Aggies again won the WAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament, falling 70–67 in the first round to eventual Final Four participant Michigan State. In 2012 the Aggies once again advanced to the NCAA tournament by winning the WAC Tournament for the third time in six seasons. They continued to appear in the NCAA tournament through 2015. After their 2016 NIT tournament appearance, Marvin Menzies was hired to take over the Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) basketball program.[13]

Paul Weir (2016–2017)

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Paul Weir served in the role of associate head coach from July 2011 until he was promoted to head coach on April 26, 2016. He helped the Aggies to five WAC Tournament Championships (2010, 2012–2015) and five NCAA tournament appearances. The Aggies have collected three WAC Championships during Weir's tenure. The Aggies have won back-to-back WAC regular season titles in 2015 and 2016 after collecting their first WAC regular season title in 2008. Overall, NM State has collected seven WAC titles during his nine years with the program.[14] Weir left after one season to coach the New Mexico Lobos, a rival of the Aggies.

Chris Jans (2017–2022)

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Former Bowling Green head coach Chris Jans was named the new head coach of the Aggies on April 17, 2017. He had been serving in an administrative role at Wichita State after being fired from BGSU in 2015 and was promoted to associate head coach of the Shockers just 4 days prior to being hired by NMSU. In his first season at NMSU, The Aggies won 28 games for the second year in a row, and won both the WAC regular season title and conference championship to advance to the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Clemson in the first round. In 2022 New Mexico State won a first round NCAA tournament game against University of Connecticut, before losing to Arkansas. Jans was hired by Mississippi State after the 2022 season.

Greg Heiar (2022–2023)

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Greg Heiar was named the head coach of the Aggies on March 28, 2022.[15] He was formerly the head coach at Northwest Florida State College, where he won the 2022 NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. On February 14, 2023, Greg Heiar was removed as the head coach of New Mexico State men's basketball team due to hazing allegations.[16]

Season by season results

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Season Overall record* Conference tournament Postseason results Head coach
Border Conference
1932–33 7–11 (2–10) – – Jerry Hines
1933–34 10–9 (2–6) – – Jerry Hines
1934–35 12–6 (4–6) – – Jerry Hines
1935–36 10–9 (8–8) – – Jerry Hines
1936–37 22–5 (15–3, 1st) – – Jerry Hines
1937–38 22–3 (18–0, 1st) – NAIA Quarterfinals Jerry Hines
1938–39 20–4 (14–2, 1st) – NIT Quarterfinals Jerry Hines
1939–40 16–7 (12–4) – – Jerry Hines
1940–41 14–12 (8–8) – – Julius Johnston
1941–42 8–18 (4–10) – – Julius Johnston
1944–45 9–5 (0–0) – – Kermit Laabs
1945–46 5–16 (1–9) – – Kermit Laabs
1946–47 8–17 (3–15) – – Jerry Hines
1947–48 12–11 (8–10) – – John Gunn
1948–49 9–15 (4–12) – – John Gunn
1949–50 17–13 (7–11) – NAIA first round George McCarty
1950–51 19–14 (11–6) – NAIA Quarterfinals George McCarty
1951–52 22–11 (14–4) – NCAA second round, NCAA Sweet 16 George McCarty
1952–53 7–17 (5–9) – – George McCarty
1953–54 7–12 (3–9) – – Presley Askew
1954–55 7–14 (1–11) – – Presley Askew
1955–56 16–7 (7–5) – – Presley Askew
1956–57 6–18 (3–7) – – Presley Askew
1957–58 14–9 (8–3) – – Presley Askew
1958–59 17–11 (7–3, T1) – NCAA 1st round Presley Askew
1959–60 20–7 (9–2, 1st) – NCAA 1st round Presley Askew
1960–61 19–5 (9–1, T1) – – Presley Askew
1961–62 10–14 (3–5) – – Presley Askew
Independent
1962–63 4–17 – – Presley Askew
1963–64 8–15 – – Presley Askew
1964–65 8–18 – – Presley Askew
1965–66 4–22 – – Jim McGregor
1966–67 15–11 – NCAA 1st round Lou Henson
1967–68 23–6 – NCAA Sweet 16 Lou Henson
1968–69 24–5 – NCAA Sweet 16 Lou Henson
1969–70 27–3 – NCAA Final Four Lou Henson
1970–71 19–8 – NCAA 1st round Lou Henson
1971–72 20–6 – – Lou Henson
Missouri Valley Conference
1972–73 12–14 (6–8, T5) – – Lou Henson
1973–74 15–11 (7–6, T3) – – Lou Henson
1974–75 20–7 (11–3, 2nd) – NCAA 1st round Lou Henson
1975–76 15–12 (4–8, T4) – – Ken Hayes
1976–77 17–10 (8–4, T1) (0–1) Semifinals – Ken Hayes
1977–78 15–14 (9–7, 4th) (2–1) Semifinals – Ken Hayes
1978–79 22–10 (11–5, 2nd) (2–1) Finals NCAA 1st round Ken Hayes
1979–80 17–10 (8–8, T5) (0–1) First Round – Weldon Drew
1980–81 10–17 (7–9, T6) (0–1) First Round – Weldon Drew
1981–82 17–10 (8–8, T5) (1–1) Semifinals – Weldon Drew
1982–83 18–11 (11–7, T3) (1–1) Semifinals – Weldon Drew
Big West Conference
1983–84 13–15 (9–9, 5th) (0–1) First Round – Weldon Drew
1984–85 7–20 (4–14, 9th) – – Weldon Drew
1985–86 18–12 (10–8, 3rd) (1–2) Finals – Neil McCarthy
1986–87 15–15 (9–9, T4) (0–1) First Round – Neil McCarthy
1987–88 16–16 (8–10, T6) (0–1) Second Round – Neil McCarthy
1988–89 21–11 (12–6, 3rd) (2–1) Finals NIT 1st round Neil McCarthy
1989–90 26–5 (16–2, T1) (1–1) Semifinals NCAA 1st round Neil McCarthy
1990–91 23–6 (15–3, 2nd) (0–1) First Round NCAA 1st round Neil McCarthy
1991–92 25–8 (12–6, 3rd) (3–0) Champion NCAA Sweet 16 Neil McCarthy
1992–93 26–8 (15–3, 1st) (2–1) Finals NCAA 2nd round Neil McCarthy
1993–94 23–8 (12–6, 1st) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Neil McCarthy
1994–95 25–10 (13–5, T2) (1–1) Semifinals NIT Quarterfinals Neil McCarthy
1995–96 11–15 (8–10, 3rd) – – Neil McCarthy
1996–97 19–9 (12–4, T1–East) (1–1) Semifinals – Neil McCarthy
1997–98 18–12 (8–8, 5th–East) – – Lou Henson
1998–99 23–10 (12–4, T1–East) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Lou Henson
1999–2000 22–10 (11–5, 2nd–East) (2–1) Finals NIT 1st round Lou Henson
Sun Belt Conference
2000–01 14–14 (10–6, West) – – Lou Henson
2001–02 20–12 (11–4, West) – – Lou Henson
2002–03 20–9 (9–6, West) – – Lou Henson
2003–04 13–14 (6–9, West) – – Lou Henson
2004–05 6–24 (1–14, West) – – Lou Henson
Western Athletic Conference
2005–06 16–14 (10–6, T4) (1–1) Semifinals – Reggie Theus
2006–07 25–9 (11–5, 2nd) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Reggie Theus
2007–08 21–14 (12–4, T1) (2–1) Finals – Marvin Menzies
2008–09 17–15 (9–7, T3) (1–1) Semifinals – Marvin Menzies
2009–10 22–12 (11–5, T2) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Marvin Menzies
2010–11 16–17 (9–7, T3) (1–1) Semi–Finals – Marvin Menzies
2011–12 26–9 (10–4, 2nd) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Marvin Menzies
2012–13 24–11 (14–4, 3rd) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Marvin Menzies
2013–14 26–10 (12–4, 2nd) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Marvin Menzies
2014–15 24–11 (13–1, 1st) (2–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Marvin Menzies
2015–16 23–11 (13–1, 1st) (1–1) Finals NIT 1st round Marvin Menzies
2016–17 28–6 (11–3, T2) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Paul Weir
2017–18 28–6 (12–2, 1st) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Chris Jans
2018–19 30–5 (15–1, 1st) (3–0) Champion NCAA 1st round Chris Jans
2019–20 25–6 (16–0, 1st) Tournament cancelled Postseason not held Chris Jans
2020–21 12–8 (7–6, 3rd) (2–1) Finals – Chris Jans
2021–22 27–7 (14–4, T1) ** (2–0) Champion NCAA 2nd round Chris Jans
2022-23 9-15 (2–10) Greg Heiar

* — Overall record includes tournament and postseason results; Regular–season conference record and place contained in parentheses.

** — Forfeit by Lamar University on Jan. 6, 2022, is not included in overall record, but is included in conference record.

Coaches

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See also: List of New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball head coaches

The Aggies have had 27 coaches in their 110-year history. Six Aggie coaches have been named conference Coach-of-the-Year: Lou Henson in 1975, Ken Hayes in 1977, and Weldon Drew in 1983 in the Missouri Valley Conference; Neil McCarthy in 1989 and 1990 in the Big West Conference; Marvin Menzies in 2015, and Chris Jans in 2018, 2019 and 2020 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Postseason Results

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NCAA tournament

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The Aggies have appeared in 26 NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 11–27.[17]

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1952 Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game		 Saint Louis
TCU		 L 53–62
L 44–61
1959 First Round Idaho State L 61–62
1960 First Round Oregon L 60–68
1967 First Round Houston L 58–59
1968 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game		 Weber State
UCLA
New Mexico		 W 68–57
L 49–58
W 62–58
1969 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game		 BYU
UCLA
Weber State		 W 74–62
L 38–53
L 56–58
1970 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Third Place Game		 Rice
Kansas State
Drake
UCLA
St. Bonaventure		 W 101–77
W 70–66
W 87–78
L 77–93
W 79–73
1971 First Round Houston L 69–71
1975 First Round North Carolina L 69–93
1979 #10 First Round #7 Weber State L 78–81OT
1990 #6 First Round #11 Loyola Marymount L 92–111
1991 #6 First Round #11 Creighton L 56–64
1992 #12 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 #5 DePaul
#13 Southwest Louisiana
#1 UCLA		 W 81–73
W 81–73
L 78–85
1993 #7 First Round
Second Round		 #10 Nebraska
#2 Cincinnati		 W 93–79
L 55–92
1994 #11 First Round #6 Oklahoma State L 55–65
1999 #14 First Round #3 Kentucky L 60–82
2007 #13 First Round #4 Texas L 67–79
2010 #12 First Round #5 Michigan State L 67–70
2012 #13 First Round #4 Indiana L 66–79
2013 #13 First Round #4 Saint Louis L 44–64
2014 #13 First Round #4 San Diego State L 69–73OT
2015 #15 First Round #2 Kansas L 56–75
2017 #14 First Round #3 Baylor L 73–91
2018 #12 First Round #5 Clemson L 68–79
2019 #12 First Round #5 Auburn L 77–78
2022 #12 First Round
Second Round		 #5 UConn
#4 Arkansas		 W 70–63
L 48–53

From 2010 to 2015 the round of 64 was known as the second round

NCAA tournament seeding history

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The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.

Years → '79 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '99 '07 '10 '12 '13 '14 '15 '17 '18 '19 '22
Seeds → 10 6 6 12 7 11 14 13 12 13 13 13 15 14 12 12 12

NAIA tournament

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The Aggies have appeared in four NAIA Tournaments. Their combined record is 5–4.

Year Location Round Result
1938 Kansas City, MO First W 53–37 over McPherson
Second W 56–40 over Idaho-Southern
Quarterfinals L 29–30 to Murray State University
1950 Kansas City, MO First L 85–75 to Tampa
1951 Kansas City, MO First W 68–54 over Glenville State
Second W 73–69 over Central (MO)
Quarterfinals L 80–56 to Hamline
1952 Kansas City, MO First W 86–70 over Mississippi Southern
Second L 52–69 to Southwest Texas State

National Invitational tournament

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The Aggies have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) five times. Their combined record is 2–5.

Year Round Opponent Result
1939 Quarterfinals Long Island L 45–52
1989 First Round Pepperdine L 76–91
1995 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		 Colorado
UTEP
Virginia Tech		 W 97–83
W 92–89
L 61–64
2000 First Round Arizona State L 77–83
2016 First Round Saint Mary's L 56–58

Aggies of note

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Ring of Honor

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New Mexico State's men's basketball Ring of Honor stands as a tribute to individual players and coaches that are distinguished as Aggie legends. A player's number is retired upon reaching this milestone. A banner designating this honor is hung from the rafters in the Pan American Center.[17]

Lou Henson – began his coaching career with the Aggies in 1966, eventually coaching the Aggies to 289 victories over 17 years. Henson finished with 779 victories including his wins at Illinois. Henson coached the Aggies to the Final Four and two Sweet Sixteens among the 10 NCAA tournament appearances. His career Aggie record is 289–152, which is the winningest in Aggie history.

Sam Lacey (#44) – played for the Aggies from 1967 to 1970, including a trip to the Final Four. Lacey is 11th in Aggie all-time scoring and holds most rebounding records. He was a 1st Team All-American in 1970 and played in the NBA for 13 seasons, well enough to get his #44 jersey retired by the Sacramento Kings.

Billy Joe Price (#31) – played from 1957 to 1961, including two trips to the NCAA tournament. Price is 15th on the all-time scoring list and among the career leaders in rebounding.

Jimmy Collins (#22) – played for the Aggies from 1967 to 1970 and helped them to the Final Four in 1970. Collins holds the Aggie season scoring record and rank 3rd all-time in career scoring. Collins played in the NBA for several seasons.

John Williamson (#24) – is the most prolific scorer in Aggie history, averaging over 27 points per game during the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons. Williamson played for the New York/New Jersey Nets and won two ABA championships. His #23 jersey is retired by the Nets.

Jerry Hines – was the Aggie basketball coach, as well as football coach, during the 1930s. The Aggies advanced to the NIT Tournament in 1938. His career record is 157–108, which is third winningest in Aggie history.

Honored players

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These Aggies have been honored by either induction in the New Mexico State Athletics Hall of Fame, or recognized as an All-American, or recognized as conference player of the year.

Names Years Awards and Achievements
Teddy Allen 2021–2022 WAC Player of the Year, WAC 1st Team
A.F. 'Hooky' Apodaca 1934–37 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); 3x Border 1st Team
Lauro Apodaca 1936–37 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); Border 1st Team
Ian Baker 2013–17 WAC Player of the Year; 2x WAC 1st Team
William Benjamin 1988–92 Hall of Fame Inductee (2022)
Randy Brown 1989–91 Hall of Fame Inductee (1997); All-Century Team; 2x Big West 1st Team; Season Steal Leader
Eric Channing 1998–2002 Hall of Fame Inductee (2008); All-Century Team; 3x Academic All-American; Big West 1st Team; 2x Sun Belt 1st Team; Career Scoring Leader; Career 3-pt FG Leader; Career FT% Leader
Jimmy Collins 1967–70 Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1975); 3x 1st Team All-American; All NCAA Final Four Team; NCAA Midwest Region MVP; All-Century Team; Season Scoring Leader
Steve Colter 1980–84 Hall of Fame Inductee (1991); All-Century Team; Big West 1st Team
Charlie Criss 1967–70 Hall of Fame Inductee (1975); All-American; All-Century Team
Rob Evans 1966–68 Hall of Fame Inductee (1994)
Pecos Finley 1937–39 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); Border 1st Team
Joe Jackson 1938–40 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); 2x Border 1st Team
Albert 'Slab' Jones 1976–80 Hall of Fame Inductee (1982); All-Century Team; 2x MVC 1st Team
Jemerrio Jones 2016–18 WAC Player of the Year, WAC 1st Team
George Knighton 1959–62 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); All-Century Team; 3x Border 1st Team
Sam Lacey 1967–70 Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1975); All-Century Team; All-American; NCAA All Midwest Region Team; Game, Season and Career Rebounding Leader;
Kiko Martinez 1937–39 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); All-Century Team; 2x Border 1st Team
Jay Mechem 1932–33 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970)
James Moore 2000–04 Hall of Fame Inductee (2017); All-Century Team; All American; Sun Belt Player of the Year; 2x Sun Belt 1st Team; Sun Belt Freshman of the Year; Game and Career Block Leader
Daniel Mullings 2011–15 WAC Player of the Year; 2x WAC 1st Team
Billy Joe Price 1957–61 Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (2017); 2x Border 1st Team
Johnny Roberson 1985–89 Hall of Fame Inductee (2015); Big West 1st Team
Richard Robinson 1973–77 Hall of Fame Inductee (1977); All-Century Team; 2x MVC 1st Team
Pascal Siakam 2014–16 All American; WAC Player of the Year; WAC 1st Team
Jim Tackett 1950–51 Hall of Fame Inductee (1999); 2x Border 1st Team
Gary Ward 1960–62 Hall of Fame Inductee (1991)
John Williamson 1971–73 Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1974); All-Century Team; All American; Game Scoring Leader
Morris Wood 1937–39 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); 2x Border 1st Team

Honored coaches

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These Aggie coaches have been honored by either induction in the New Mexico State Athletics Hall of Fame, or recognized as conference coach of the year.

Name Years Awards and Achievements
Presley Askew 1953–65 Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); NABC Merit and Honor Awards
Lou Henson 1966–75; 1997–05 Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1978); All-Century Team head coach; All Time Wins Leader; NABC Golden Anniversary Award; MVC Coach of the Year
Jerry Hines 1929–40; 1946–47 Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1970)
Chris Jans 2017–22 3x WAC Coach of the Year
Neil McCarthy 1985–97 2x Big West Coach of the Year
George McCarty 1949–53 Hall of Fame Inductee (2009)
Marvin Menzies 2007–16 WAC Coach of the Year

Honored contributors

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These Aggie contributors have been honored by induction in the New Mexico State Athletics Hall of Fame

Name Years Awards and Achievements
Dr. Thomas Erhard 1960–95 PA Announcer; Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)
Jack Nixon 1976–81; 1986–Present Voice of the Aggies, Radio Broadcaster; Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)

Awards

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Aggies in the National Basketball Association

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Famous Aggies

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Players and coaches that had notable success before or after their time as an Aggie player or coach.

  • Reggie Theus (2005–07, coach) – 14 year NBA career, coach of NBA Sacramento Kings, 2x NBA All-Star, #23 jersey retired by UNLV, assistant to Rick Pitino at Louisville (404 Wikilinks)
  • Pascal Siakam (2014–16) – NBA Champion (2019), 2x NBA All-Star, All NBA 2nd Team (2020), All NBA 3rd Team (2022), NBA Most Improved Player (2019), 1st round NBA Draft pick (270 Wikilinks)
  • Lou Henson (1953–55; 1966–75 & 1997–2005, coach) – 2x Final Four coach, coach at Illinois (1975–96), College Basketball Hall of Fame (241 Wikilinks)
  • Randy Brown (1989–91) – 3x NBA Champion (1996–98), 12 year NBA career, 2nd round NBA Draft pick (169 Wikilinks)
  • Sam Lacey (1967–70) – 14 year NBA career, #44 jersey retired by Royals/Kings organization, NBA All-Star (1975), 1st round NBA Draft pick (162 Wikilinks)
  • Gary Ward (1959–62) – Oklahoma State baseball coach (1978–96) (159 Wikilinks)
  • John Williamson (1971–73) – 2x ABA Champion (1974, 1976), #23 jersey retired by the Nets organization, 11 year ABA/NBA career (128 Wikilinks)
  • Rob Evans (1966–68) – Ole Miss and Arizona State head coach (112 Wikilinks)
  • Jimmy Collins (1967–70) – Illinois-Chicago coach, assistant to Lou Henson at Illinois (108 Wikilinks)
  • Charlie Criss (1967–70) – 12 year NBA career (91 Wikilinks)

Aggies in international leagues

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All-Time Statistical leaders

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See also: New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball statistical leaders

1000 Point Club

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The 1000 Point Club consists of Aggies who have eclipsed 1000 points scored in their career. This is a notable accomplishment in college basketball. There are 35 Aggies that have reached this mark.[17]

Rank Player Years played Games Points Avg.
1 Eric Channing 1998–2002 124 1,862 15.0
2 Albert "Slab" Jones 1976–80 114 1,758 15.4
3 Jimmy Collins 1967–70 89 1,734 19.5
4 Daniel Mullings 2011–15 133 1,677 12.6
5 George Knighton 1959–62 75 1,660 22.1
6 James Moore 1999–03 110 1,651 15.0
7 Jonathan Gibson 2006–10 131 1,541 11.8
8 Richard Robinson 1973–77 100 1,540 15.4
9 Wendell McKines 2007–12 126 1,521 12.1
10 Jahmar Young 2007–10 87 1,479 17.0
11 Sam Lacey 1967–70 89 1,448 16.3
12 Ernest Patterson 1979–83 110 1,419 12.9
13 Ian Baker 2013–17 120 1,411 11.8
14 Steve Colter 1980–84 107 1,333 12.5
15 Charles Gosa 1995–99 117 1,233 10.5
16 Johnny Roberson 1985–89 121 1,223 10.1
17 Hernst Laroche 2008–12 135 1,209 9.0
18 Keith Hill 1986–90 115 1,201 10.4
19 John Williamson 1971–73 43 1,168 27.2
20 Billy Joe Price 1958–61 77 1,159 15.1
21 Greg Webb 1976–80 113 1,127 10.0
22 Justin Hawkins 2007–09 67 1,126 16.8
23 Pascal Siakam 2014–16 68 1,124 16.6
24 Jabari Rice 2018–22 111 1,106 10.0
25 Tshilidzi Nephawe 2010–15 136 1,087 8.0
26 Johnny McCants 2017–22 147 1,085 7.4
27 Hamidu Rahman 2008–12 124 1,081 8.7
28 Kenny Travis 1985–87 60 1,070 17.8
29 Gilbert Wilburn 1984–86 51 1,068 20.9
30 Troy Gillenwater 2008–11 70 1,065 15.2
31 Brandon Mason 1999–2003 115 1,051 9.1
32 Eli Chuha 2015–19 118 1,047 8.9
33 Jeff Smith 1968–71 87 1,045 12.0
34 Truman Ward 1970–73 76 1,037 13.6
35 Louis Richardson† 1996–98 57 1,025 18.0
36 Dexter Hawkins 1973–77 101 1,022 10.1
37 Bill Allen 1972–76 92 1,018 11.1
38 Billy Keys 1998–2000 65 1,004 15.4

† = official records stricken ‡ = active player

Other Statistics

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References

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  1. ^ "Conference USA Brand Identity Guide" (PDF). June 22, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Johnson, Gary; Straziscar, Sean; Senappe, Bonnie; Williams, Jeff; Buerge, Kevin (October 2007). "Official 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Records Book" (PDF). Men's NCAA Basketball Records. National Collegiate Athletic Association: 51. ISSN 1089-5280. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-28.
  3. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Sun Belt All-Time Standings" (PDF). 2011–12 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Media Guide. Sun Belt Conference. pp. 93–95. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  5. ^ Hines, Walter (26 Jan 2009). "Aggie History With Walter Hines: Jerry Hines, 2009 Men's Basketball Ring of Honor Inductee". www.bleedcrimson.net.
  6. ^ Dykes, Luke. "College Basketball: The 25 Sketchiest Programs in Hoops History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  7. ^ 1996 NCAA infraction report
  8. ^ McCarthy out as coach; NMSU turns to Henson. Associated Press, 1997-10-17.
  9. ^ Herrerra, Pete. NCAA places New Mexico St. on four years' probation. Associated Press via San Diego Union-Tribune, 2001-06-20.
  10. ^ 2001 NCAA infraction report
  11. ^ a b c "Henson a $1-a-month bargain for New Mexico State". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  12. ^ ESPN.com – Dick Vitale – Theus ready for first head-coaching gig
  13. ^ "UNLV agrees to hire Marvin Menzies as new head coach". ESPN.com. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  14. ^ "Paul Weir named 25th NM State Basketball Coach". nmstatesports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  15. ^ Burge, Dave. "Meet the new boss: Heiar says not much will change. On February 10th, New Mexico State University suspended operations for the entire basketball program due to new unknown allegations. All coaches were placed on paid administrative leave". Las Cruces Bulletin. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  16. ^ Groves, Jason (February 14, 2023). "Greg Heiar fired as NMSU Aggies basketball coach amid athlete hazing investigation". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c "2009–10 New Mexico State Men's Basketball Media Guide" (Press release). New Mexico State University. 2009. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
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