LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Aggie basketball is back. NM State opens the 2025-26 season tonight inside the Pan American Center as the Aggies host Division II Adams State at 7 p.m. MT. Coming off a 17-15 campaign that showed major progress, third-year head coach Jason Hooten looks to keep the momentum rolling after earning a third-place spot in the CUSA preseason poll.
Last season NM State took clear steps forward, improving by four wins from Hooten’s first year while tying for the second-best road record in Conference USA at 6-3. The Aggies established one of the top defenses in the country and delivered signature rivalry wins over New Mexico and UTEP. Now with only two returners from that roster, sophomores Gabe Pickens and Jae’Coby Osborne, Hooten turns to an almost entirely new rotation to continue the climb.
The Aggies reloaded heavily this offseason, adding proven scorers across the country. Jemel Jones transferred from Cal State Bakersfield after averaging 18.9 points per game and earning Big West Newcomer of the Year honors. Elijah Elliott (Southern Illinois), Jayland Randall (Southern Indiana), and Chris Terrell (Delta State) all bring instant offense, with each having scored 40 or more points in a single game during their careers. The frontcourt adds new muscle with Julius Mims from Idaho, Kyrese Mullen from Hampton, and Cyr Malonga from East Carolina.
For Coach Hooten, tonight also brings a reunion with senior guard Anthony Wrzeszcz, who began his career under Hooten at Sam Houston. The two reunite in Las Cruces as Wrzeszcz looks to close out his college career where it started — under the coach who first brought him to Division I basketball. Their familiarity could be key as NM State builds chemistry with so many new faces.
Picked to finish third in Conference USA behind Liberty and Kennesaw State, the Aggies have the roster to compete near the top right away. Jones earned a spot on the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team, and if NM State can blend its new scoring depth with the same defensive grit that defined last season, a return to contender status is well within reach.
Adams State enters its third season under head coach Kenny Tripp and returns five players, including 6-7 forward Wyatt Helming who averaged 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies like to push the tempo and score in bunches, but the Aggies will aim to control the pace and give the home crowd a first look at what could be one of the more balanced NM State teams in recent memory.