The New Mexico State University men’s basketball team ended their regular season on a low note, losing 75-67 to Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas. The defeat positions the Aggies as the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Conference USA tournament, where they'll square off against the No. 4 seed Kennesaw State University, according to Las Cruces Sun-News .

The Aggies had an uphill battle after Sam Houston came out of the gates fast, nabbing a 9-2 lead early in the contest. Despite a determined effort, including a clutch 3-pointer by Christian Cook that brought the score within reach at 69-67 with 2:45 on the clock, NM State could not overcome the initial deficit. "However, Sam Houston remained composed, responding with a timely three-pointer of its own and converting crucial free throws down the stretch to keep NM State at bay," mentioned NM State Sports .

On the individual performance front, Robert Carpenter led the Aggies in scoring with 20 points, marking only his second 20-point game of the season as noted by KTSM . Peter Filipovity also hit double figures, contributing 13 points and extending his consistent scoring streak.

Despite the loss, NM State finished their season with a respectable 17-14 overall and a 10-8 record in Conference USA play. They contained Sam Houston's bench, leaving them scoreless for the first time this season, a notable defensive achievement when looking at the entire campaign. Their reserves showed up, adding 29 points to their side of the scoreboard. The Aggies have now shifted focus to the Conference USA tournament held in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will match up against Kennesaw State at 4:30 p.m. Mountain time/5:30 p.m. Central on Thursday, March 13, in a battle to advance towards the championship round.