Featured Image Courtesy of Southern Utah Athletics
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — SUU’s first game against a Western Athletic Conference opponent could not be a tougher draw. They will face a team that has won the WAC Tournament seven times in the past ten seasons. New Mexico State has been the class of the WAC ever since the exodus that forced the conference to drop football after the 2012 season. The Thunderbirds come in with an 8-5 nonconference record that gives them every reason to believe they can win this one. In both games against Power 6 opponents this season, they gave Kansas and Colorado quite a scare. Additionally, New Mexico, one of three remaining undefeated in the country also got quite the fight from the Thunderbirds.
Last Time Out
Colorado just could not seem to put away the Thunderbirds. However, the Buffaloes ultimately prevailed in a 86-78 win that made their head coach the winningest in program history. Facing only a four-point halftime deficit, SUU had chances to come away with a major upset. However, a 13-0 Buffalo run in the 2nd half proved to be too much to overcome. Facing a 73-59 deficit, SUU still fought back. The Thunderbirds scored 19 of the game’s final 32 points to show a valiant effort against a regular contender in the Pac-12.
Have A Night
It is a tall order to go into the Pan-American Center and win. Great nights will be demanded from many of SUU’s biggest players. Maizen Fausett, Harrison Butler, and Tevian Jones will all need to continue their stellar play. Cameron Healy also had a great night at Colorado and showed his potential scoring 15 points. The Thunderbirds will need this if they are to earn their first all-time win against the Aggies in their first meeting since 1995. New Mexico State will visit Cedar City just three weeks later on January 19th.