Preview: Chicago State Men's Basketball vs. New Mexico State Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.

The Chicago State men's basketball team will wrap up the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, Feb. 26, welcoming New Mexico State to the JCC for a 2 p.m. tip. The Aggies are the WAC's preseason favorite in both the coaches and media polls and they've lived up to that billing and currently have a two-game lead in the loss column over Seattle U and Sam Houston with three games to play.

The two teams played at New Mexico State on Jan. 1 with the Aggies winning 78-61 and currently hold a 21-1 advantage in the all-time series with the lone Cougars win coming by a count of 86-81 at home on Jan. 16, 2014. The Cougars will close out the home portion of their Western Athletic Conference Saturday before taking to the road to close out the regular season at California Baptist (3/2) and at Seattle (3/5). The top 10 eligible  teams in the WAC will move on to the conference tournament March 9-12 in Las Vegas. The Cougars are currently ninth, a half-game ahead of UTRGV and two games in front of Lamar. The Cougars would clinch a spot in the tournament field with a win Saturday or a Lamar loss Saturday night when the Cardinals play at Tarleton. 

COVID Protocols:
Face Coverings and Social Distancing will be implemented during athletically related activities to prevent transmission and prevent outbreaks based on current local guidelines.

PLEASE NOTE: Per City of Chicago and Cook County mandates, effective Jan 3, patrons to the Jones Convocation Center must show proof of vaccination in accordance with updated requirements. This is applicable to all patrons ages 5 and over.

Here's how to watch, follow and attend:

Chicago State Cougars vs. New Mexico State Aggies Date | Time Saturday, February 26 | 2:00 p.m. Location Jones Convocation Center | Chicago, Illinois Television ESPN+ Tickets  Tickets Live Stats Live Stats Game Notes Chicago State Game Notes

 
Last time out...vs. GCU
Brandon Betson was one of four players in double figures with 12 points. He has led the team in scoring nine times this season, has eclipsed the 20-point mark four times and has scored in double figures 23 times. He has converted at least one three-point field goal in 25 of 28 games and has converted more than one in a game on 20 occasions. He leads the team in three-point percentage (65-178, .365) which currently ranks eighth on CSU's single-season leaders list in that category.

Jahsean Corbett was one of four players in double figures with 12 points. He has led the team in scoring seven times and reached double digits 17 times. He has three double-doubles and registered the highest single-game point output this season for the Cougars with 26 points at New Mexico State. He has also led the team in rebounding on 10 occasions this season and has notched double digits boards four times.

J.J. Harris had a career game, establishing highs in points (16), field goals made (5), field goals attempted (10), three-point field goals made (4) and attempted (9) and minutes (29) while tying season highs in free throws made (2) and attempted (2).

Jincho Rivera made the first three pointer of his young career. He had attempted only six coming into the game and tied a career high with two attempts.

Coreyoun Rushin scored 10 first-half points and was one of four players in doubles. He sat out much of the second half with an ankle injury suffered in the final moments of the first half. Despite the limited minutes he was still the Cougars leading rebounder with five boards and he tied for the team high in steals with three. Rushin has led the Cougars in rebounds 11 times this season and has recorded double-digit boards on five occasions.

Last time at New Mexico State University
Teddy Bayi Ba Mendeng made his 10th consecutive start and played a season high 27 minutes.

Brandon Betson snapped a string of three consecutive single-digit scoring efforts with a season-high 23 points. He had scored in double figures in the first 11 games of the season. He set a season high with nine field goals made and tied a season high with 17 attempts.

Jahsean Corbett set a season high with 26 points, the most by a Cougars player in one game this season. He established season highs with nine field goals, 21 attempts and 10 three-point attempts. He also tied a season high with three steals.

Milestones...
Chicago State's season-opening win over St. Thomas was head coach Gerald Gillion's first as a collegiate head coach ... That win also snapped a 28-game Cougars losing streak, dating back to December 2019, an 89-81 win over SIUE in Edwardsville, Illinois ... The game against St. Thomas was the Cougars first action in nearly a year, last playing Dec. 20, 2020, in what turned out to be a nine-game, COVID-shortened 2020-21 season ... The Cougars win over SIUE (67-56) marked the Cougars first two-game win streak over Division I opponents since the 2014-15 season (Feb. 26 vs. GCU, W, 74-70; Feb. 28 vs. Utah Valley, 65-44) ... Chicago State won three straight home games for the first time since 2018-19 after winning the first three home games of the 2021-22 season ... The road win over IUPUI win was the Cougars first on the road this season and first road win since Dec. 4, 2019 at SIUE (89-81), a span of 24 games away from the Jones Convocation Center (includes two neutral site games) ... the Cougars earned their first Western Athletic Conference victory since March 2018 (vs. UMKC, W 96-82) when the Cougars beat California Baptist 58-56 at home on Jan. 8 ... Chicago State's 67-56 win at Lamar was the Cougars first conference road victory since Jan. 12, 2017 when CSU beat Utah Valley in Orem, 70-61.

Up Next:
The Chicago State men's basketball team will wrap up the regular season with games at California Baptist (3/2) and Seattle U (3/5).