New Mexico State Aggies
2023–24 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team
UniversityNew Mexico State University
Head coachJason Hooten (1st 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

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). The team plays home games in the Pan American Center.

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

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)

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

*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

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

NCAA tournament

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

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1952Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
Saint Louis
TCU
L 53–62
L 44–61
1959First RoundIdaho StateL 61–62
1960First RoundOregonL 60–68
1967First RoundHoustonL 58–59
1968First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
Weber State
UCLA
New Mexico
W 68–57
L 49–58
W 62–58
1969First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
BYU
UCLA
Weber State
W 74–62
L 38–53
L 56–58
1970First 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
1971First RoundHoustonL 69–71
1975First RoundNorth CarolinaL 69–93
1979#10First Round#7 Weber StateL 78–81OT
1990#6First Round#11 Loyola MarymountL 92–111
1991#6First Round#11 CreightonL 56–64
1992#12First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#5 DePaul
#13 Southwest Louisiana
#1 UCLA
W 81–73
W 81–73
L 78–85
1993#7First Round
Second Round
#10 Nebraska
#2 Cincinnati
W 93–79
L 55–92
1994#11First Round#6 Oklahoma StateL 55–65
1999#14First Round#3 KentuckyL 60–82
2007#13First Round#4 TexasL 67–79
2010#12First Round#5 Michigan StateL 67–70
2012#13First Round#4 IndianaL 66–79
2013#13First Round#4 Saint LouisL 44–64
2014#13First Round#4 San Diego StateL 69–73OT
2015#15First Round#2 KansasL 56–75
2017#14First Round#3 BaylorL 73–91
2018#12First Round#5 ClemsonL 68–79
2019#12First Round#5 AuburnL 77–78
2022#12First 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

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 → 1066127111413121313131514121212

NAIA tournament

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

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

National Invitational tournament

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

Year Round Opponent Result
1939QuarterfinalsLong IslandL 45–52
1989First RoundPepperdineL 76–91
1995First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Colorado
UTEP
Virginia Tech
W 97–83
W 92–89
L 61–64
2000First RoundArizona StateL 77–83
2016First RoundSaint Mary'sL 56–58

Aggies of note

Ring of Honor

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

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 Allen2021–2022WAC Player of the Year, WAC 1st Team
A.F. 'Hooky' Apodaca1934–37Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); 3x Border 1st Team
Lauro Apodaca1936–37Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); Border 1st Team
Ian Baker2013–17WAC Player of the Year; 2x WAC 1st Team
William Benjamin1988–92Hall of Fame Inductee (2022)
Randy Brown1989–91Hall of Fame Inductee (1997); All-Century Team; 2x Big West 1st Team; Season Steal Leader
Eric Channing1998–2002Hall 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 Collins1967–70Ring 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 Colter1980–84Hall of Fame Inductee (1991); All-Century Team; Big West 1st Team
Charlie Criss1967–70Hall of Fame Inductee (1975); All-American; All-Century Team
Rob Evans1966–68Hall of Fame Inductee (1994)
Pecos Finley1937–39Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); Border 1st Team
Joe Jackson1938–40Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); 2x Border 1st Team
Albert 'Slab' Jones1976–80Hall of Fame Inductee (1982); All-Century Team; 2x MVC 1st Team
Jemerrio Jones2016–18WAC Player of the Year, WAC 1st Team
George Knighton1959–62Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); All-Century Team; 3x Border 1st Team
Sam Lacey1967–70Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1975); All-Century Team; All-American; NCAA All Midwest Region Team; Game, Season and Career Rebounding Leader;
Kiko Martinez1937–39Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); All-Century Team; 2x Border 1st Team
Jay Mechem1932–33Hall of Fame Inductee (1970)
James Moore2000–04Hall 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 Mullings2011–15WAC Player of the Year; 2x WAC 1st Team
Billy Joe Price1957–61Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (2017); 2x Border 1st Team
Johnny Roberson1985–89Hall of Fame Inductee (2015); Big West 1st Team
Richard Robinson1973–77Hall of Fame Inductee (1977); All-Century Team; 2x MVC 1st Team
Pascal Siakam2014–16All American; WAC Player of the Year; WAC 1st Team
Jim Tackett1950–51Hall of Fame Inductee (1999); 2x Border 1st Team
Gary Ward1960–62Hall of Fame Inductee (1991)
John Williamson1971–73Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1974); All-Century Team; All American; Game Scoring Leader
Morris Wood1937–39Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); 2x Border 1st Team

Honored coaches

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 Askew1953–65Hall of Fame Inductee (1970); NABC Merit and Honor Awards
Lou Henson1966–75; 1997–05Ring 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 Hines1929–40; 1946–47Ring of Honor; Hall of Fame Inductee (1970)
Chris Jans2017–223x WAC Coach of the Year
Neil McCarthy1985–972x Big West Coach of the Year
George McCarty1949–53Hall of Fame Inductee (2009)
Marvin Menzies2007–16WAC Coach of the Year

Honored contributors

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

Name Years Awards and Achievements
Dr. Thomas Erhard1960–95PA Announcer; Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)
Jack Nixon1976–81; 1986–PresentVoice of the Aggies, Radio Broadcaster; Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)

Awards

Aggies in the National Basketball Association

Famous Aggies

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

All-Time Statistical leaders

1000 Point Club

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.
1Eric Channing1998–20021241,86215.0
2Albert "Slab" Jones1976–801141,75815.4
3Jimmy Collins1967–70891,73419.5
4Daniel Mullings2011–151331,67712.6
5George Knighton1959–62751,66022.1
6James Moore1999–031101,65115.0
7Jonathan Gibson2006–101311,54111.8
8Richard Robinson1973–771001,54015.4
9Wendell McKines2007–121261,52112.1
10Jahmar Young2007–10871,47917.0
11Sam Lacey1967–70891,44816.3
12Ernest Patterson1979–831101,41912.9
13Ian Baker2013–171201,41111.8
14Steve Colter1980–841071,33312.5
15Charles Gosa1995–991171,23310.5
16Johnny Roberson1985–891211,22310.1
17Hernst Laroche2008–121351,2099.0
18Keith Hill1986–901151,20110.4
19John Williamson1971–73431,16827.2
20Billy Joe Price1958–61771,15915.1
21Greg Webb1976–801131,12710.0
22Justin Hawkins2007–09671,12616.8
23Pascal Siakam2014–16681,12416.6
24Jabari Rice2018–221111,10610.0
25Tshilidzi Nephawe2010–151361,0878.0
26Johnny McCants2017–221471,0857.4
27Hamidu Rahman2008–121241,0818.7
28Kenny Travis1985–87601,07017.8
29Gilbert Wilburn1984–86511,06820.9
30Troy Gillenwater2008–11701,06515.2
31Brandon Mason1999–20031151,0519.1
32Eli Chuha2015–191181,0478.9
33Jeff Smith1968–71871,04512.0
34Truman Ward1970–73761,03713.6
35Louis Richardson†1996–98571,02518.0
36Dexter Hawkins1973–771011,02210.1
37Bill Allen1972–76921,01811.1
38Billy Keys1998–2000651,00415.4

† = official records stricken ‡ = active player

Other Statistics

References

  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. 1 2 3 "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. 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. 1 2 3 "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.
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