After a one-year hiatus, the New Mexico Lobos and New Mexico State Aggies are set to renew their annual rivalry on Saturday, with the Lobos hosting the highly anticipated matchup on their home floor.

As the game draws near, the Lobos find themselves with a better overall record at 6-1. However, the team is grappling with injury concerns, particularly surrounding their leading scorer Jamal Mashburn Jr. The talented player has been sidelined for the past two games due to a deep quad contusion, and his status for the upcoming clash remains uncertain.

Mashburn Jr.'s absence has raised doubts about his availability for Saturday's game and even if he is cleared to play, questions linger about his effectiveness. Known for his scoring prowess, Mashburn Jr. has been averaging an impressive 18.2 points per game, bolstered by his commendable 38.1% three-point shooting. The Lobos will undoubtedly feel his absence if he is unable to perform at his usual level.

Adding to the injury concerns, the Lobos recently welcomed back Jaelen House, last season's second-leading scorer and assists leader. House made a successful return in the team's victorious outing against Louisiana Tech, where they secured a solid 74-65 win.

On the flip side, the New Mexico State Aggies enter the rivalry matchup on a three-game losing streak against Division I opponents. However, their losses to Fresno State and Louisville came in hard-fought overtime battles, showcasing their resilience and determination.

In their most recent defeat to Louisville, the Aggies faced controversy as they were called for an astonishing 40 fouls, leaving fans and pundits questioning the officiating. Nevertheless, the Aggies have prioritized defense this season, aiming to limit opponents' scoring opportunities inside the three-point arc. With a defensive strategy that forces teams to take 47% of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc, the Aggies currently rank 14th in the nation in that category.

Given New Mexico's struggles from three-point range, currently ranking 185th in the country, and the potential absence of Jamal Mashburn Jr., the Aggies are expected to keep the game much closer than anticipated.

In summary, as the much-awaited showdown between the New Mexico Lobos and New Mexico State Aggies approaches, injury concerns surrounding the Lobos' star player Jamal Mashburn Jr. cast a shadow of uncertainty over their performance. The Aggies, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from a series of hard-fought losses and rely on their defensive strength to challenge their arch-rivals. Fans and basketball enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of this heated rivalry clash on Saturday.