UTAH VALLEY HOSTS WAC LEADER NEW MEXICO STATE ON SATURDAY

• Utah Valley continues WAC play at home on Saturday against league leader New Mexico State. Tipoff at the UCCU Center is set for 2 p.m.
   
• Le'Tre Darthard scored 16 points and Fardaws Aimaq recorded his nation-leading 20th double-double of the season to lead Utah Valley in a 79-69 setback to Grand Canyon on Thursday night at the UCCU Center. Darthard scored his team-high 16 points on 4 of 13 shooting, including a pair of threes. He was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Darthard also had two rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Aimaq tallied his 20th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The sophomore center connected on 6 of 17 shots, including a three. He also pulled down 12 boards to go along with one assist and a block. Justin Harmon and Nield were also in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Harding helped with eight.
   
• Utah Valley started the season with a KenPom.com ranking of 221. Since then, the Wolverines have climbed 103 spots to 118 as of Feb. 11. It is the 10th biggest jump in the country this season. It is the biggest jump in the WAC and biggest jump among Division I teams in the state of Utah.
   
• Fardaws Aimaq has earned multiple honors already this season. He already has three WAC Player of the Week honors, two Lute Olson National Player of the Week wards, and an ESPN Player of the Week award.
   
• Aimaq is the only player in the nation averaging at least 18 points and 13 rebounds per game.
   
• As of Feb. 11, Fardaws Big Maple Aimaq leads the nation in double-doubles (20) and defensive rebounds per game (10.13). Aimaq also ranks second in rebounds per game (13.2) and second in total rebounds (303). He is also 21st in free throw attempts (144), 30th in free throws made (104), 33rd in field goals made (159), 42nd in offensive rebounds per game (3.04),  and 48th in points per game (18.9).
   
• As a team, Utah Valley ranks seventh in the nation in rebound margin (8.0), ninth in defensive rebounds per game (28.91), 17th in rebounds per game (40.17), 16th in three-point field goal percentage defense (29.0), 30th in field goal percentage defense  (39.9), and 30th in three-point field goal percentage (37.4).

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game against New Mexico State will be broadcast live on ESPN+, which is available on the ESPN app and at ESPNplus.com. The game will also be broadcast over the air waves in Utah County game as Jim McCulloch, the radio Voice of the Wolverines, is in his 12th season with the team. The radio broadcast will be aired live on ESPN 960AM radio. A live stream of the radio broadcast will also be available at ESPN960sports.com.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE
New Mexico State heads into Saturday's game against UVU with a 20-3 overall record and a 10-1 mark in WAC play. NM State's three losses this season include Utah State, New Mexico, and Sam Houston. The Aggies have won 20 games for a 34th season and for the fourth time under head coach Chris Jans. NM State sits atop the WAC standings with a 10-1 mark, a full game ahead of Seattle U. The team holds a 7-1 mark on the road this season. Since dropping a 71-46 at Sam Houston on Jan. 20, NM State has won five straight, including a 77-69 win at Dixie State on Thursday night in St. George. Teddy Allen recorded his fourth-straight game of 20 or more points as he scored a team-high 20 points in the win at Dixie State. Jabari Rice registered an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Johnny McCants added 13 points. Allen leads the Aggies in scoring and leads the WAC at 19.4 points a game. Rice also averages double figures at 12.8 points a game. Allen also fronts the team on the glass, pulling down 7.0 rebounds a game. New Mexico State ranks 15th nationally in rebound margin (7.5) and 16th in field goal defense (38.6).

SERIES HISTORY VS. NEW MEXICO STATE
Utah Valley and New Mexico State will meet up on the basketball hardwood for the 18th time on Saturday. It will be the first game between the two teams played in Orem in over two years. NM State holds an all-time 13-4 advantage in the series. The two teams split a pair of WAC regular season games last year in El Paso, Texas with UVU taking a 69-66 win on Feb. 19 before the Aggies won a 67-60 decision the next night. NM State was not allowed to play in Las Cruces last season due to the state's COVID regulations. NM State won the last meeting between the two teams in the semifinals of the 2021 WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, 78-62. The last time the two teams played in Orem, NM State took a 70-56 win on Jan. 16, 2020. UVU holds a 2-5 record against the Aggies in games played in Orem. UVU's last win over the Aggies in Orem was an 86-79 victory on Feb. 15, 2018.

All-Time Results vs. NM State (NMSU leads series, 13-4)
03/12/2021    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 78-62        Las Vegas, Nevada
02/20/2021    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 67-60        El Paso, Texas
02/19/2021    Utah Valley def. New Mexico State, 69-66        El Paso, Texas
02/15/2020    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 84-82        Las Cruces, N.M.
01/16/2020    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 70-56        Orem, Utah
02/14/2019    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 84-77        Las Cruces, N.M.
01/19/2019    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 83-78        Orem, Utah
02/15/2018    Utah Valley def. New Mexico State, 86-79        Orem, Utah
01/20/2018    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 86-59        Las Cruces, N.M.
02/23/2017    Utah Valley def. New Mexico State, 84-72        Las Cruces, N.M.
01/28/2017    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 74-69        Orem, Utah
02/06/2016    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 98-74        Las Cruces, N.M.
01/07/2016    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 78-66        Orem, Utah
02/19/2015    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 51-38        Orem, Utah
01/24/2015    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 69-44        Las Cruces, N.M.
02/27/2014    Utah Valley def. New Mexico State, 66-61 (OT)        Orem, Utah
02/01/2014    New Mexico State def. Utah Valley, 72-49        Las Cruces, N.M.

LAST MEETING VS. New Mexico State (March 12, 2021 - Las Vegas)
LAS VEGAS – Utah Valley was unable to recover from a slow start as the Wolverines fell to New Mexico State, 78-62, in the Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament semifinals at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 12, 2021. Trey Woodbury scored a career-high 34 points to keep UVU close, but Utah Valley's comeback fell short.