Conference USA slate set for NM State men’s basketball in 2026-27

NM State men’s basketball will open Conference USA play Dec. 31 against FIU as the league returns to an 18-game home-and-home format.

Conference USA slate set for NM State men’s basketball in 2026-27
NM State men’s basketball coach Jason Hooten speaks with an ESPN reporter during a game. The Aggies will open Conference USA play Dec. 31 against FIU at the Pan American Center. (Courtesy photo / NM State Athletics)

The Aggies will play every conference opponent at home and on the road as the league returns to an 18-game double round-robin schedule

NM State Athletics Media Relations

DALLAS - Conference USA unveiled its 2026-27 men's basketball schedule Thursday morning, officially setting the Aggies' 18-game conference slate as NM State prepares for its fourth season in the league. 

With the departures of Louisiana Tech to the Sun Belt and UTEP to the Mountain West, Conference USA returns to a 10-member league for the 2026-27 season. The change also brings back the conference's traditional double round-robin format, with each school facing every league opponent both at home and on the road during the conference season. 

The Aggies will once again open conference play before the calendar turns to the new year, welcoming FIU to the Pan American Center on Thursday, Dec. 31. 

NM State will remain at home to begin 2027, hosting second-year CUSA member Missouri State on Saturday, Jan. 2, before embarking on its first road trip of the conference season with visits to Western Kentucky (Jan. 7) and Middle Tennessee (Jan. 9). 

The Aggies return to Las Cruces for a pair of home contests against Jax State (Jan. 14) and defending Conference USA Tournament champion Kennesaw State (Jan. 16). NM State then hosts Sam Houston on Jan. 23, renewing the matchup between Head Coach Jason Hooten and the program he led for 13 seasons prior to arriving in Las Cruces. After meeting just once last season under the league's 20-game format, the Aggies and Bearkats return to playing twice this season. 

The final road trip of January sends NM State east for contests at second-year member Delaware (Jan. 28) and Liberty (Jan. 30). 

February begins with another two-game homestand as the Aggies welcome Middle Tennessee (Feb. 4) and Western Kentucky (Feb. 6) before traveling to face Kennesaw State (Feb. 11) and Jax State (Feb. 13). 

After making the return trip to Sam Houston on Feb. 20, NM State closes the home portion of its conference schedule with games against Liberty (Feb. 25) and Delaware (Feb. 27). 

The Aggies will finish the regular season on the road with visits to Missouri State on Wednesday, March 4, and FIU on Friday, March 6, marking the first time since the 2024-25 season that NM State concludes conference play away from the Pan American Center. 

The 2027 Conference USA Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 9-13 at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. 

2026-27 NM State Conference USA Schedule 

Thursday, Dec. 31 – FIU 
Saturday, Jan. 2 – Missouri State 

Thursday, Jan. 7 – at Western Kentucky 
Saturday, Jan. 9 – at Middle Tennessee 
Thursday, Jan. 14 – Jax State 
Saturday, Jan. 16 – Kennesaw State 
Saturday, Jan. 23 – Sam Houston 

Thursday, Jan. 28 – at Delaware 
Saturday, Jan. 30 – at Liberty 
Thursday, Feb. 4 – Middle Tennessee 
Saturday, Feb. 6 – Western Kentucky

Thursday, Feb. 11 – at Kennesaw State 
Saturday, Feb. 13 – at Jax State 
Saturday, Feb. 20 – at Sam Houston 
Thursday, Feb. 25 – Liberty 
Saturday, Feb. 27 – Delaware 

Wednesday, March 4 – at Missouri State 
Friday, March 6 – at FIU 

Home games listed in bold

For complete coverage of NM State men's basketball, visit NMStateSports.com — the official home of the Aggies — and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), X (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB).

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