SOUTHWEST TRIP: Seattle University leaves Wednesday morning for arguably the toughest road trip in the Western Athletic Conference, as the Redhawks face UT Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico State in the span of 48 hours with several flights mixed in. The Redhawks will play three of their final four regular season games away from home, and then they will head to Las Vegas for the WAC Basketball Tournament.
SCOUTING UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY: The Vaqueros enter the week with a 6-19 overall record, including a 2-8 mark within the Western Athletic Conference after last Saturday’s 75-58 loss at Missouri-Kansas City. UTRGV has lost six games in a row entering Thursday’s contest. The Vaqueros are scoring 67.4 points per game and allowing 78.6 points per contest. As a team, UTRGV is shooting 42.9 percent from the field, including 33.9 percent from behind the three-point line, and 67.9 percent from the free throw line. All five starters are still averaging in double figures, led by Shaquille Hines with 13.6 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds per game. Dan Kimasa leads the way in rebounding at 6.2 rebounds per game, and JJ Thompson is the team leader in assists with 5.0 assists per contest. The starters account for 83.3% of UTRGV’s scoring this season.
SERIES HISTORY: Formerly known as Texas Pan American, UTRGV is facing Seattle U for the sixth time, with the Redhawks holding a 4-1 series edge. Seattle U swept UTPA during the 2013-14 season, 64-46 on Jan. 11, 2014 in Edinburg, Texas, and 83-62 on Feb. 6, 2014, at KeyArena. Last season, Seattle U won the first meeting at KeyArena, 70-47, behind 28 points from Isiah Umipig. In the rematch in Edinburg, UTPA broke through with a 68-57 victory, led by Janari Joesaar with 23 points and Shaquille Boga with 16 points and six assists. Jarell Flora led the Redhawks with 25 points, followed by Umipig with 18 points. Earlier this season, the Redhawks picked up a 70-59 victory over the Vaqueros at KeyArena. Jack Crook led Seattle U with 16 points, and Manny Chibuogwu added 13 points and six rebounds. Dakota Slaughter and JJ Thompson led UTRGV with 14 points apiece, while Shaquille Hines finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE: The Aggies are 18-9 overall after losing to Wichita State Monday night, 71-41. New Mexico State leads the WAC with a 9-1 record as it prepares to host CSU Bakersfield Thursday before Saturday’s game against the Redhawks. The Aggies are scoring 72.5 points per game and allowing 64.8 points per contest. As a team, New Mexico State is shooting 47.7 percent from the field, including 33.2 percent from behind the three-point line, and 68.0 percent from the free throw line. The Aggies are on an eight-game WAC winning streak and have won 33 straight WAC home games. Pascal Siakam is a five-time WAC Player of the Week averaging 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, plus he is shooting 57.2 percent from the field and averaging 2.3 blocked shots per game. Ian Baker has made 60 three-pointers so far this season and is shooting 85.3 percent from the free throw line as he is contributing 14.1 points and 3.7 assists per game.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 12th meeting all-time between Seattle U and New Mexico State, with the Aggies holding a 9-2 series advantage. The teams split the first two contests that took place during the 1970-71 season. It would be 42 years before the two teams met up again, this time as conference rivals. On Jan. 10, 2013, New Mexico State pulled out an 83-82 victory over Seattle U in double overtime at KeyArena. In the rematch Feb. 9, 2013, in Las Cruces, N.M., the Aggies held on for a 60-57 win over the Redhawks. New Mexico State won all three meetings during the 2013-14 season (96-87 at NMSU Jan. 9, 92-77 at SU Feb. 8, 70-68 in Las Vegas March 13). Last year, Seattle U finally broke through, defeating the Aggies Jan. 17 at KeyArena, 58-52. On Feb. 12 in Las Cruces, New Mexico State defeated Seattle U, 73-47. The two teams met at the Orleans Arena March 14 in the finals of the WAC Tournament, with the Aggies winning, 80-61. Earlier this season, New Mexico State defeated Seattle U, 68-60, at KeyArena.