The New Mexico State Aggies and the UC Irvine Anteaters meet Saturday in college basketball action from Bren Events Center. New Mexico State is 1-1 so far this year and coming off a blowout win over Sul Ross State. As for UC Irvine, they took an eight-point loss to San Jose State in their first game of the season. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

New Mexico State Aggies

The Aggies kicked off their 2023-24 campaign with a tough matchup versus Kentucky. That one went pretty much how everyone expected: New Mexico State scored just 17 points in the second half during an 86-46 blowout loss. Both Christian Cook (four rebounds) and Jaylin Jackson-Posey (eight rebounds; six assists) led the team on 10 points. 

Game two versus Sul Ross State went much better for the Aggies. New Mexico State held the Lobos to just 14 points in the second half, powering out a blowout win of their own 84-49. Jordan Rawls led the team this time, bagging 15 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kaosi Ezeagu added 14 points with nine rebounds as well. 

UC Irvine Anteaters 

Over on the Anteaters’ side, they’re coming off a nice regular-season run and a rough ending last year. UC Irvine went 23-12 overall with a 15-5 run in the Big West for a regular season co-championship. The Anteaters lost to CSU Fullerton in the conference tournament however, then fell to Oregon in the first round of the NIT. 

UC Irvine matched up with San Jose State on Tuesday for their first game of the 2023-24 campaign. The Anteaters were outscored 48-40 after a tie at the break and lost 72-64. Bent Leuchten led the team on 14 points and six rebounds. Devin Tillis posted 12 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes of work. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m going to stay with New Mexico State. The Aggies have already experienced the extremes of the college basketball season in two games so far, losing big in their first game and winning big in their second. New Mexico State shot well but not spectacularly in their blowout victory versus Sul Ross State (42.2 percent), however the team was great on the boards with 49 rebounds. 

As for UC Irvine, they lost pace in the second half versus San Jose State in their opener game. The Anteaters shot just 16.7 percent (2-of-12) from 3-point range, so they’re going to have to sharpen up the outside shots here. Should be an interesting matchup, but overall I think the Aggies can power out the cover.