LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The defending undisputed Western Athletic Conference Champion and four-consecutive WAC Tournament Champion NM State Aggies (8-6) travel west to ring in the New Year with a key non-conference matchup against UC Irvine (10-5) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The Aggies are coming off Wednesday's 81-61 win over NAIA No. 4 Arizona Christian. The Anteaters fell at No. 2/3 Kansas 78-53 on Tuesday.
SERIES RECORD: This is the 37th meeting between the Aggies and UC Irvine with NM State leading the series 28-8. The Aggies and Anteaters are former conference foes when NM State was a member of the Big West.