2022–23 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team American college basketball season
The 2022–23 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team represented New Mexico State University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Aggies were led by first-year head coach Greg Heiar and played their home games at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico as members of the Western Athletic Conference . They finished the season 9–15, 2–16 in Western Athletic Conference play to finish in last place. On February 10, 2023, the school announced the men's basketball program's season would be cancelled based on new reports of violations of university policies. The rest of the team's games were canceled and were deemed forfeits by the WAC. The NCAA does not recognize the forfeited games as part of the team's overall record. They did not take part in the WAC Tournament .[ 1]
On November 19, 2022, there were reports of a shooting between a student attending the University of New Mexico and a New Mexico State basketball player, leaving the student dead. The basketball player was later identified as Mike Peake, who was wounded on the UNM main campus in Albuquerque.[ 2] A day later, on November 20, 2022, the New Mexico State Police released details of the shooting, including the arrest of 17-year old Mya Hill. The next day, the New Mexico State Police confirmed a second arrest relating to the shooting, arresting 19-year old Jonathan Smith.[ 3]
The Aggies and Lobos were slated to renew the Rio Grande Rivalry on the night of the shooting, but the game was postponed. Three days later, both schools decided to cancel the Rio Grande Rivalry for the season due to safety concerns.[ 4] On December 5, NM State Athletic Director Mario Moccia announced the indefinite suspension of the 21-year old Mike Peake.[ 5] No charges have been filed against Peake in what was called a "self-defense situation",[ 6] but there are two investigations surrounding the shooting.[ 7] [ 8]
On February 10, New Mexico State University announced the men's basketball program's season would be cancelled based on new reports of violations of university policies.[ 9] Its entire coaching staff was placed on administrative leave as a result.[ 10] KTSM reported that the season was suspended because of allegations of hazing by at least three different players multiple times.[ 11]
On February 14, head coach Greg Heiar was officially fired by NMSU.[ 12] On March 24, the school named Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten the team's new head coach.[ 13]
The season marked the school's last in the Western Athletic Conference. The school joined Conference USA in 2023.[ 14]
Previous season
The Aggies finished the 2021–22 season 27–7, 14–4 in WAC play to finish in a three-way tie for the regular season championship with Seattle and Stephen F. Austin .[ 15] As the No. 1 seed in the WAC tournament , they defeated Grand Canyon [ 16] and Abilene Christian to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 12 seed in the West region.[ 17] [ 18] There they upset No. 5-seeded UConn in the First Round[ 19] before losing to No. 4-seeded Arkansas in the Second Round.[ 20]
Roster
2022–23 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
0
Anthony Roy
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
So
Wenatchee Valley College
Oakland, CA
F
1
Marchelus Avery
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
So
Northwest Florida State
Richmond, VA
F
2
Issa Muhammad
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
RS Jr
Northwest Florida State
Atlanta, GA
G
3
Xavier Pinson
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Sr
LSU
Chicago, IL
F
4
James Beck
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
RS Sr
Miami (OH)
Grand Rapids, MI
G
5
Kyle Feit
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Jr
Indian River State College
Boca Raton, FL
G
11
DaJuan Quaye Gordon
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Jr
Missouri
Chicago, IL
F
13
Doctor Bradley
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
So
Salt Lake CC
Los Angeles, CA
G
14
Shahar Lazar
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Fr
Hapoel Tel Aviv Academy
Emunim , Israel
F
15
Mike Peake
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
Jr
Austin Peay
Chicago, IL
G
21
Ziri Blackwood
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
So
Western Oklahoma State
Killeen, TX
G
22
Deuce Benjamin
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Fr
Las Cruces HS
Las Cruces, NM
F
23
Ethan Anderson
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Fr
Farmington HS
Kaysville, UT
F
24
Kim Aiken Jr.
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
RS Sr
Arizona
Redlands, CA
G
25
Jaden Alexander
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Fr
Scotland Campus
Vallejo, CA
F
31
Isaac Shingange
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
The Phelps School
New York, NY
F
34
Shakiru Odunewu
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
RS So
Universal Academy
Providence, RI
F
35
Vuk Vucevic
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Fr
Montverde Academy
Paris , France
G
42
Deshawndre Washington
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Jr
Northwest Florida State
Chicago, IL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster Last update: January 6, 2023
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
November 2, 2022 *7:00 pm, ESPN+ /BSAZ
Western New Mexico
W 99–75
–
21 – Washington
8 – Muhammad
9 – Washington
Pan American Center (4,146)Las Cruces, NM
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2022 *7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ+
New Mexico Highlands
W 101–52
1–0
20 – Muhammad
10 – Washington
10 – Washington
Pan American Center (5,178)Las Cruces, NM
November 12, 2022 *7:00 pm, CUSA.tv
at UTEP Battle of I-10
L 64–67
1–1
20 – Pinson
12 – Washington
4 – Pinson
Don Haskins Center (11,315)El Paso, TX
November 19, 2022 *5:00 pm, MW Network
at New Mexico Rio Grande Rivalry
Canceled [ 21]
The Pit Albuquerque, NM
November 25, 2022 *7:30 pm, BeTheBeast
vs. San Diego Las Vegas Holiday Classic Semifinals
W 90–77
2–1
25 – Pinson
8 – Bradley
9 – Washington
Orleans Arena Paradise, NV
November 26, 2022 *7:30 pm, BeTheBeast
vs. UC Irvine Las Vegas Holiday Classic Championship
L 68–85
2–2
20 – Roy
9 – Gordon
4 – Washington
Orleans Arena Paradise, NV
November 30, 2022 *7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ+
UTEP Battle of I-10
W 95–70
3–2
23 – Roy
8 –
5 – Washington
Pan American Center (6,332)Las Cruces, NM
December 3, 2022 *7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ+
New Mexico Rio Grande Rivalry
Canceled [ 21]
Pan American Center Las Cruces, NM
December 5, 2022 *7:00 pm, ESPN+
Simon Fraser
W 77–35
4–2
23 – Odunewu
10 – Odunewu
5 – Washington
Pan American Center (4,346)Las Cruces, NM
December 7, 2022 *8:00 pm
at Santa Clara
L 65–66
4–3
20 – Washington
8 – Washington
7 – Pinson
Leavey Center (1,039)Santa Clara, CA
December 11, 2022 *2:00 pm, ESPN+
at Duquesne
W 73–60
5–3
17 – Muhammad
11 – Gordon
6 – Pinson
UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse (1,834)Pittsburgh, PA
December 14, 2022 *8:00 pm, WCC Network
at Saint Mary's
L 68–81
5–4
20 – Washington
4 –
1 – Pinson
University Credit Union Pavilion (2,844)Moraga, CA
December 18, 2022 *4:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Northern New Mexico
W 95–53
6–4
26 – Avery
10 –
7 – Washington
Pan American Center (4,460)Las Cruces, NM
December 21, 2022 *5:30 pm
vs. Kent State Sun Bowl Invitational
L 63–73
6–5
17 – Muhammad
10 – Muhammad
4 – Pinson
Don Haskins Center El Paso, TX
December 22, 2022 *5:30 pm
vs. North Carolina A&T Sun Bowl Invitational
W 85–76
7–5
20 –
10 – Avery
6 – Washington
Don Haskins Center (1,225)El Paso, TX
WAC regular season
December 28, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ+
Southern Utah
L 75–79
7–6 (0–1)
18 – Washington
12 – Washington
4 –
Pan American Center (4,942)Las Cruces, NM
December 31, 2022 4:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Sam Houston
L 62–75
7–7 (0–2)
12 –
5 – Avery
5 – Washington
Pan American Center (4,705)Las Cruces, NM
January 4, 2023 5:30 pm, ESPN+
at Stephen F. Austin
L 60–69
7–8 (0–3)
20 – Pinson
10 – Avery
7 – Pinson
William R. Johnson Coliseum (2,644)Nacogdoches, TX
January 7, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
California Baptist
L 61–70
7–9 (0–4)
20 – Washington
9 – Muhammad
3 – Pinson
Pan American Center (5,092)Las Cruces, NM
January 12, 2023 8:00 pm, ESPN+
at Seattle
L 66–69
7–10 (0–5)
11 –
7 –
8 – Pinson
Climate Pledge Arena (2,265)Seattle, WA
January 14, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
UT Arlington
L 55–66
7–11 (0–6)
12 – Pinson
7 –
2 –
Pan American Center (4,864)Las Cruces, NM
January 19, 2023 4:00 pm, ESPN+
at Southern Utah
L 76–111
7–12 (0–7)
17 – Pinson
4 –
4 – Pinson
America First Event Center (2,093)Cedar City, UT
January 21, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Utah Tech
L 76–89
7–13 (0–8)
20 – Roy
5 –
4 –
Burns Arena (1,878)St. George, UT
January 28, 2023 2:00 pm, ESPN+
at Utah Valley
L 72–77
7–14 (0–9)
23 – Roy
11 – Washington
5 – Washington
UCCU Center (2,915)Orem, UT
February 1, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Stephen F. Austin
W 73–67
8–14 (1–9)
15 – Gordon
11 – Muhammad
6 – Pinson
Pan American Center (5,107)Las Cruces, NM
February 4, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Seattle
W 82–75
9–14 (2–9)
15 – Roy
6 – Roy
7 – Pinson
Pan American Center (4,948)Las Cruces, NM
February 8, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Grand Canyon
L 67–78
9–15 (2–10)
22 – Pinson
10 – Washington
5 – Washington
GCU Arena (7,076)Phoenix, AZ
February 11, 2023 8:00 pm, ESPN+
at California Baptist
L 0–2 Forfeit [ 22]
9–15 (2–11)
–
–
–
CBU Events Center Riverside, CA
February 15, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Abilene Christian
L 0–2 Forfeit [ 22]
9–15 (2–12)
–
–
–
Pan American Center Las Cruces, NM
February 18, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Texas–Rio Grande Valley
L 0–2 Forfeit [ 22]
9–15 (2–13)
–
–
–
Pan American Center Las Cruces, NM
February 22, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+/BSAZ
Grand Canyon
L 0–2 Forfeit [ 22]
9–15 (2–14)
–
–
–
Pan American Center Las Cruces, NM
March 1, 2023 6:00 pm, ESPN+
at Abilene Christian
L 0–2 Forfeit [ 22]
9–15 (2–15)
- –
–
–
Moody Coliseum Abilene, TX
March 3, 2023 6:00 pm, ESPN+
at Tarleton
L 0–2 Forfeit [ 22]
9–15 (2–16)
- –
–
–
Wisdom Gym Stephenville, TX
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Mountain .
Sources[ 23] [ 24]
References
^ "Remaining New Mexico State 2022–23 WAC Men's Basketball Games Deemed Conference Forfeits" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023 .
^ Grammer, Geoff; Reisen, Matthew (November 19, 2022). "UNM Student Killed, NMSU Basketball Player Injured in Shootout on UNM Campus" . Albuquerque Journal .
^ Peerman, Lucas; Groves, Jason (November 21, 2022). "Details Emerge: Police Identify UNM Student Killed in Shootout with NMSU Basketball Player" . Las Cruces Sun-News . Las Cruces, New Mexico.
^ Schacht, Spencer (November 22, 2022). "UNM-NMSU Men's Basketball Games Canceled Following Shooting" . KOB . Albuquerque, New Mexico.
^ Groves, Jason (December 5, 2022). "New Mexico State Basketball Player Mike Peake Suspended Indefinitely" . Las Cruces Sun-News . Las Cruces, New Mexico.
^ Medcalg, Myron (November 19, 2022). "New Mexico State-New Mexico Basketball Game Postponed after Shooting" . ESPN .
^ Boetel, Ryan (December 6, 2022). "DA's Office Investigating NMSU Staff and Players" . Albuquerque Journal .
^ "NMSU Hiring 3rd Party to Investigate Events Surrounding Deadly UNM Shooting" . KFOX-TV . El Paso, Texas. Associated Press.
^ Hill, Glynn A. (February 11, 2023). "New Mexico State Men's Basketball Season Suspended, Staff Put on Leave" . The Washington Post .
^ "NMSU men's hoops halted amid 'new allegations' " . ESPN . February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023 .
^ Deaver, Colin (February 10, 2023). "New Mexico State Men's Basketball Shuts Down Program Indefinitely; Sources Cite Hazing Incidents" . KTSM . El Paso, Texas.
^ 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 .
^ "Sam Houston's Hooten to coach New Mexico St" . ESPN.com . March 25, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023 .
^ "New Mexico State officially joins Conference USA ahead of 2023-24 season" . KTSM 9 News . July 1, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2024 .
^ "2021-22 WAC Men's Basketball Standings" . Western Athletic Conference . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ "Aggies end Lopes' WAC tourney repeat bid" . Grand Canyon University Athletics . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ "Back to the Big Dance: NM State Handles ACU, 66-52, in WAC Tournament Title Clash" . New Mexico State University Athletics . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ "New Mexico State earns 12-seed in NCAA Tournament, will face 5-seed UConn Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y." KTSM 9 News . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ "No. 12 seed New Mexico State shocks No. 5 UConn in NCAA Tournament bracket-buster" . USA Today . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ "Arkansas survives scare from New Mexico State, advances to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16" . Fort Smith Times Record . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ a b "New Mexico, New Mexico State call off men's basketball games" . ESPN . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f "Remaining New Mexico State 2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Games Deemed Conference Forfeits" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023 .
^ "2022-23 Men's Basketball Schedule" . New Mexico State University Athletics . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
^ "2022-23 New Mexico State Aggies Schedule" . ESPN . Retrieved January 6, 2023 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA Final Four appearance in italics