Regular-season finales have different stakes

Men playing for postseason spot; women eyeing top seed in WAC tournament

The New Mexico State men and women are playing for seeding today in their respective games vs. UT Rio Grande Valley. That’s where the similarities end.

The Aggie men (24-5, 11-2) are in Edinburg, Texas, wrapping the regular season against the Vaqueros (15-15, 6-7). Coach Chris Jans’ squad has clinched the regular-season title and top seed in next week’s Western Athletic Conference tournament. The seeding still to be determined for the Aggies is for the week beyond, be it the NCAAs or NIT.

NMSU is projected as a No. 12 seed by ESPN’s bracketology, for now, and getting some buzz. SI.com has a feature on Jemerrio Jones. The 6-foot-5 rebounding whiz averages 12.7 a game to go with his 10.7 points per outing and seems to be making a strong run for league player of the year consideration.

The Aggies won the first matchup with UTRGV 90-67 in Las Cruces on Feb. 3.

The NMSU women and WAC coleader CSU Bakersfield share 16-11, 10-3 records. But as the Aggies host UTRGV (14-14, 4-9) at 2 p.m. on Senior Day, their destiny will be decided elsewhere in a game going on at the same time. Because of tiebreakers, CSUB gets the No. 1 seed if it beats visiting Grand Canyon (14-13, 8-5). If CSUB loses, the No. 1 seed goes to the Aggies if they win.

Tonishia Childress, Jasmine Cooper and Zaire Williams are the Aggie seniors to be recognized this afternoon.