New Mexico-NMSU rivalry will remain once per season in men's basketball

Head coaches from both the Aggies and Lobos would have to sign off on a two-game model. So far, no coach on either side has been enthusiastic about returning to it. Both NM State coach Jason Hooten and former UNM coach Richard Pitino agreed to play just once per season alongside Moccia and Nuñez when the original one-game format was agreed to in 2024.

However, while Hooten prefers to keep the current status quo, he has previously stated he would support whatever the ADs at both schools want.

"If (Aggies AD Joe Fields) feels like this is something that we need to do twice, then I'm going to be all on board with whatever he wants to do, and I think that New Mexico feels the same way about their athletic director and his decision-making as well," Hooten said after NM State's win over the Lobos last season. "I think, from a coach's standpoint, it's pretty draining."

The Journal stated in its story that Lobos AD Ryan Berryman declined to make a comment. The Las Cruces Sun-News reached out to Aggies AD Joe Fields for his own comment and provided a statement.

"The scheduling process is still in its early stages, and several logistical details remain to be finalized," Fields said. "New Mexico State’s administration and coaches are fully committed to competing against UNM and UTEP as frequently as possible across all sports. Home, away, or even somewhere out in the desert—we’re ready. These are meaningful rivalries that deserve to be played and prioritized regularly."

UTEP’s KJ Thomas (1) dribbles the ball against NMSU's Jae'Coby Osborne (4) during a men’s basketball game at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.

Fields' statement also addressed the future of NM State-UTEP in basketball, which also needs to be determined. That rivalry will also be a non-conference matchup after the Miners depart for the Mountain West Conference in July.

Grammer reported in an X post that the Aggies are working to face their Borderland adversary twice in non-conference play. That is not guaranteed, however, and there is a chance that NM State and UTEP will only play just once. The Sun-News has reached out to UTEP for comment.

One major draw for the Aggies securing a two-game format with both the Lobos and Miners is revenue. Guaranteeing a home matchup against both of their rivals every season would bring in plenty of money and attendance. NM State's two largest crowds at the Pan American Center last season were against UNM and UTEP at 8,106 and 7,606, respectively.

The same is true in reverse. The Lobos earned their largest home crowd in non-conference play at 15,411 when they played the Aggies during their 2024-25 season, while the 7,862-person attendance for last season's Miners-Aggies showdown in El Paso, TX, was UTEP's biggest in any home game by some distance. No other Miners game at the Don Haskins Center even reached 5,000 fans.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: UNM-NMSU to remain at once a season in basketball for the next 2 years