Grand Canyon vs. New Mexico State: Preview, prediction, TV schedule

When it comes to WAC basketball, there are two teams that separate themselves from the rest. New Mexico State and Grand Canyon are ready to do battle again.

TV schedule: Thursday, Jan. 11, 9:00 p.m. ET. ESPN3

Arena: GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

This is a historic season for Grand Canyon 11-5 (1-0). After being ineligible for postseason play due to a four-year transition period into D-1 athletics per NCAA rules, the Antelopes are on a mission to be apart of March Madness for their first time ever.

They have a good chance to do so, led by Joshua Braun, a talented guard/forward who can fill up the stat sheet. He’s averaging 13.4 ppg. This is less than his past two seasons but has a number of teammates to help fill the void.

One of them is senior guard Casey Benson, a grad transfer from Oregon who left to play for his brother, a member of the coaching staff. He’s second on the team in scoring while leading the Antelopes in assists at 4.8 apg.

Grand Canyon picked up arguably the most impressive win of the WAC‘s opening slate, holding a talented Seattle team to just 57 points on their home floor. That defense has been the team’s calling card, ranking in the top-10 in both scoring defense and efficiency. Oscar Frayer led the team that game with 18 points and seven boards. It was hopefully the first of many wins on their path to the NCAA tournament.

The Antelopes biggest obstacle to that is the standard-bearer of the WAC, New Mexico State 13-3 (1-0). The Aggies had the best win of anyone in the non-conference, beating previously No. 6 Miami in the Diamond Head Classic. They’ve been the conference’s representative in the NCAA tournament four out of the past five years and are considered the heavy favorite to do so again.

That’s because of the combination of seniors Zach Lofton and Jemerrio Jones, two of the best players in the league. Lofton is a grad transfer from Texas Southern and has come in to lead the team in scoring at 18.7 ppg. He’s started for most of the season, but came off the bench in the Aggies’ dominant 97-60 win over lowly Chicago State, scoring 17 points.

Jones had a big game as well with 18 points and 16 rebounds. It’s actually more of the norm than you’d expect, as he averages a double-double of the season and is one of the best rebounders in the league.

This game isn’t on national television and non-WAC follows won’t know how important this game is for the conference. If New Mexico State wins this game, the team is likely to be favored to win every other league game for the rest of the season.

That is if they make it past the “Havocs.” Grand Canyon’s student section that makes GCU Arena one of the toughest places to play at.

Next: New Mexico State's spot in the latest Bracketology

If I went by just the teams, then there’s no reason not to pick the Aggies, since they’re clearly superior. But the Antelopes and the fans have circled this date on their calendar, and they want to show New Mexico State that they won’t run through the WAC this year. I’ve seen bigger upsets and crazier things happen, so I’ll take the Antelopes on a big night from Braun.

Prediction: Grand Canyon 80 – New Mexico State 78