EL PASO, Texas (Interstat) — A pair of rivals seeking consistency will meet Saturday when the New Mexico State Aggies visit the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup at the Don Haskins Center.

The Aggies (11-11) arrive off a strong road performance, a 72-63 win at Louisiana Tech on Wednesday. Guard Jemel Jones led the way with 26 points and five assists, continuing a stretch of high-level play. Over his last eight games, Jones is averaging 17.1 points, including three outings of 26 or more points. His scoring punch will be central to New Mexico State’s hopes.

UTEP (8-15) looks to rebound from a narrow 70-66 road loss to Sam Houston on the same night. The Miners were paced by guard Caleb Blackwell, who scored 22 points. Blackwell has been a bright spot, averaging 15.4 points over his last five games where he played significant minutes, including a 20-point, seven-assist effort at Liberty on Jan. 17.

The rivalry game presents a critical opportunity for both teams to build momentum. New Mexico State has shown flashes but has lost five of its last eight. UTEP has struggled to find a sustained rhythm, alternating wins and losses in its last six contests. The Miners will rely on home-court advantage, where they are 6-5 this season, including a 70-55 win over Delaware on Jan. 31.

Defensive execution will be key. The Aggies allowed just 63 points in their latest victory, while UTEP’s recent losses have often featured offensive droughts. Containing the opposing guard—Jones for the Aggies and Blackwell for the Miners—will be a focal point for each defense.

This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the programs this month. They will meet again in Las Cruces on Feb. 21. Saturday’s tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.