Men's Basketball Heads to New Mexico State for Key WAC Showdown

Freshman forward/center Patrick Szpir

Chicago State (6-18, 1-6) at New Mexico State (20-2, 7-0)
Date	Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017
Time	8 p.m.
Location	Pan American Center - Las Cruces, Ill.
Video	N/A
Radio	NMSU Radio
Live Stats	NMSU Live Stats
Social Media	@NMStateAggies (Twitter)

NM State Game Notes

CHICAGO - Chicago State men's basketball opens the month of February with a Western Athletic Conference road contest in Las Cruces, N.M., when they take on league-leading New Mexico State at the Pan American Center with the opening tip set for 8 p.m.

SCOUTING CSU – CSU comes into today's showdown with NM State sporting a record of 6-18 on the season with a 1-6 mark in conference play following last Saturday's 85-77 double overtime defeat to Grand Canyon at the Jones Convocation Center. The Cougars are paced by sophomore guard Fred Sims, Jr. (Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale) as he is averaging 19.1 points per game and has connected on 81 percent of his attempts from the free throw line. Senior guard/forward Trayvon Palmer (Milwaukee, Wis./Brown Deer) leads the Green and White in rebounds (9.7 rpg), steals (1.5 spg) and double-doubles (13), while senior guard Clemmye Owens V (Toledo, Ohio/Rogers) is the team's assist leader with an average of 2.1 per game.

SCOUTING NMSU – New Mexico State brings in a season record of 20-2 into Saturday's showdown with CSU that includes a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. The Aggies posted their 19th consecutive victory on Monday night with a 98-75 win over Northern New Mexico at home. Five players currently average double figure scoring for NM State with senior guard Ian Baker producing a team-best 15.6 points per game to go along with averages of 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals a game. Redshirt sophomore forward Eli Chuha is shooting 60 percent from the field and grabbing a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game, and junior forward Jemerrio Jones has posted a team-high 18 blocked shots.

SERIES HISTORY – New Mexico State currently holds a 10-1 advantage in the all-time series with Chicago State that includes wins over last six games. The Aggies had three players score in double figures to defeat the Cougars at the Jones Convocation Center by a score of 78-62 on Jan. 7.

NEW CAREER HIGHS – Sophomore guard Anthony Eaves (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) produced several career high totals in the GCU game as he scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists while playing all 50 minutes in his first start of the season.

FAB FROSH – Freshman forward/center Patrick Szpir (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) tallied a season-high 12 points while shooting 6-of-7 from the field in last Saturday's contest against Grand Canyon. It marked his second consecutive game where the 6-foot-9 Wheeling, Ill., native scored in double figures.

FREE BASKETBALL – CSU has played in three games that have went into overtime this season, including last Saturday's double-overtime home battle against Grand Canyon. The Cougars have posted a 1-2 record on the year in overtime.

UP NEXT - Chicago State returns to the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center for a two-game homestand next week beginning Thursday, Feb. 9 against Seattle with the opening tip set for 7:05 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Anthony Eaves: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#2 Clemmye Owens V: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#15 Trayvon Palmer: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior

#14 Fred Sims, Jr.: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#23 Patrick Szpir: F/C; 6' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Anthony Eaves
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Clemmye Owens V
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#15 Trayvon Palmer
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G/F

#14 Fred Sims, Jr.
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Patrick Szpir
: 6' 9"; Freshman
: F/C

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned