New Mexico State, riding 21-game win streak, loses star guard Jabari Rice for 6-8 weeks
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (BVM) — New Mexico State just tied the record for most consecutive victories in program history (21) by beating Benedictine Mesa on Tuesday night in Phoenix. But if the Aggies are going to break that record and extend what is currently the second-longest active win streak in the nation, they’re going to have to do it without arguably their most important player.
NMSU head coach Chris Jans announced Wednesday that redshirt junior guard Jabari Rice is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks of action due to a foot injury. The Preseason Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year was leading the 2-0 Aggies in minutes per game (31.5) while averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds through the first two games.
“While it’s disappointing we won’t have Jabari on the court with us, we have faced adversity like this before,” Jans said in an official statement. “Our team will continue to work as we always have in order to accomplish our goals. We wish Jabari a speedy recovery and know he will continue to provide leadership to our team in different ways.”
Rice is coming off a breakout sophomore season for which he was named an All-WAC first teamer after averaging 12.8 points and leading the Aggies to a 16-0 mark in conference and 25-6 overall record before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak. More success is expected from the Houston native and his teammates this season. Joining Rice in earning Preseason All-WAC first team honors was senior forward Johnny McCants, who’s averaging nearly a double-double with 9.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. The addition of transfer Donnie Tillman was also expected to provide a big boost, and it’s proving to be thus far as the senior forward is averaging a team-best 16.5 points.
While the Aggies will undoubtedly miss Rice for perhaps the next two months, the current timetable for his injury would still allow him to return in plenty of time for NMSU to make a run at what could be their eighth NCAA tournament berth in 10 years. The Aggies won’t resume non-conference play until Dec. 12 at Arizona, but they’re working to schedule other games prior to their matchup with the Wildcats. NMSU will open WAC competition on the road Jan. 8 against Dixie State.
