Aggies finally to return to action at Grand Canyon
Va. Tech women topple No. 2 N.C. State in OT
LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico State men’s basketball team (3-1) plays its first games of 2021, and its first Western Athletic Conference games, this weekend against host Grand Canyon (10-3, 4-0) in Phoenix. Tipoff for both Friday and Saturday’s games is 7 p.m.
The Aggies have had six games canceled due to two COVID-19 pauses by either themselves or their potential opponents. As a result, the Aggies’ four games so far are tied for the fewest in Division I with American, North Carolina Central and Loyola Maryland.
And still, a number of Aggies enter the series with lingering injuries. Junior and preseason WAC player of the year Jabari Rice (fractured right foot during preseason) suffered a setback in his rehab process, NMSU coach Chris Jans said, leaving him to be sidelined for longer than expected. Rice donned a boot on his foot as he sat out of Monday’s 70-41 win in El Paso against NCAA Division II Western New Mexico.
Clayton Henry is expected to miss more time as well. The redshirt senior also wore a boot on his right foot during Monday’s contest, and Jans described Henry’s situation as a long-term injury.
NMSU is expected to get the return of two players for the Grand Canyon series, though. Mayan Kiir is cleared to go after missing the Western New Mexico game with a bruised tailbone, and Donnie Tillman is set to rejoin the team after missing the game for an undisclosed reason.
Grand Canyon enters Saturday’s game as a 2.5-point favorite and with the best record in the WAC. Its most impactful player is 7-foot senior Asbjorn Mitgaard, a Wichita State transfer who is averaging team highs of 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 74.5 percent from the floor.
NMSU is three-time defending league champion and has won 16 straight WAC games and eight straight against GCU.
Thursday games
No. 1 GONZAGA 90, SAN DIEGO 62: In San Diego, Drew Timme scored 21 points and Corey Kispert had 19 for Gonzaga, which routed San Diego for its 20th straight victory dating to last season.
Jalen Suggs added 17 for Gonzaga (16-0, 7-0 West Coast), which beat San Diego (2-7, 1-4) for the 13th straight time.
No. 6 HOUSTON 83, TULANE 60: In New Orleans, Cameron Tyson scored a careerhigh 31 points, hitting a career-best nine 3-pointers, and Houston routed Tulane.
Tramon Mark added 16 points to help Houston (14-1, 9-1 American Athletic Conference) win its seventh straight. Jordan Walker scored 16 points for Tulane (6-5, 1-5).
No. 15 KANSAS 59, TCU 51: In Lawrence, Kan., David McCormack scored 15 points, Dajuan Harris and Tyon Grant-Foster provided a boost off the bench, and Kansas slogged its way to a victory over turnoverprone TCU to snap a rare three-game skid.
Ochai Agbaji added 13 points for the Jayhawks (11-5, 5-4 Big 12), who once against struggled offensively but made enough free throws down the stretch to beat the Horned Frogs (9-6, 2-5) for the eighth straight time.
SAN DIEGO STATE 87, WYOMING 57: In San Diego, Jordan Schakel posted 16 points and six rebounds as San Diego State easily defeated Wyoming.
Terrell Gomez had 14 points for San Diego State (12-4, 6-3 Mountain West Conference), which earned its fourth consecutive home victory. Kwane Marble II had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Cowboys (10-6, 4-5).
SAN JOSE STATE 59, AIR FORCE 58: In Phoenix, Ralph Agee posted 15 points, including the winning basket, as San Jose State narrowly defeated Air Force.
Trey Smith had 15 points for San Jose State (4-11, 2-9 MWC). A.J. Walker had 21 points for the Falcons (4-11, 2-9), who have lost four games in a row.
Women
VIRGINIA TECH 83, No. 2 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 71 (OT): In Blacksburg, Va., Aisha Sheppard scored 18 of her 28 points in overtime to help Va. Tech beat N.C. State.
Sheppard hit two of her four 3-pointers in the extra session and the Hokies (8-7, 3-7 ACC) pulled away. Camille Hobby led the Wolfpack (11-1, 6-1) with a career-high 19 points.
No. 19 ARKANSAS 90, No. 3 UCONN 87: In Fayetteville, Ark., Chelsea Dungee scored a season-high 37 points to lead Arkansas (12-6) to a victory over UConn (10-1).