Panthers Edge Aggies in Thrilling Finish
Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Pan American Center
Florida International Panthers 81, New Mexico State Aggies 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Florida International Panthers vs New Mexico State Aggies?
Florida International Panthers beat New Mexico State Aggies 81-78 at Pan American Center on January 24, 2026.
Who was favored in Florida International Panthers vs New Mexico State Aggies?
New Mexico State Aggies were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -285 (about 74% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Florida International Panthers defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 81-78 at the Pan American Center on January 24, 2026. This result marked a significant moment for the Panthers, who had been struggling with a five-game losing streak prior to this victory. The win also showcased their ability to perform under pressure, particularly after previously defeating the Aggies 89-74 earlier in the season on January 2, 2026.
Both teams entered the game with identical records of 10-10 for the Panthers and 10-9 for the Aggies. The Aggies had a recent home record of 4-6 over their last ten games, with an average of 79.5 points scored and 72.0 points allowed. Their last game saw them lose to the Missouri State Bears 84-75, extending their losing streak to one game. Conversely, the Panthers had a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, averaging 82.7 points scored and 78.2 points allowed. They were coming off a loss to the UTEP Miners, where they were defeated 83-77, which added to their five-game losing streak.
At home, the Aggies had a record of 3-3, while the Panthers struggled on the road with a 0-4 record. This game was critical for both teams as they aimed to turn their fortunes around. The matchup was also significant in the context of their previous meetings, where the Aggies had won two out of three encounters against the Panthers in the past two seasons.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams were looking to field their strongest lineups as they sought to break out of their respective slumps. The market had priced New Mexico State as 7.5-point favorites according to DraftKings, with a total set at 159.5 points. The moneyline odds stood at -285 for the Aggies and +230 for the Panthers, indicating a clear expectation from the market for the Aggies to win.
The game conditions were conducive to an exciting matchup, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. The Panthers were particularly effective in the second half, with key plays coming from Corey Stephenson, who made crucial free throws and a three-point jumper that helped secure the lead late in the game. Elijah Elliott also contributed significantly with free throws that kept the Panthers in contention as the clock wound down.
As the game progressed, the tension mounted, with both teams exchanging leads. The Panthers managed to pull ahead in the final moments, and their ability to convert free throws proved decisive. The Aggies, despite their efforts, could not reclaim the lead, ultimately falling short.
This victory for the Panthers not only broke their losing streak but also provided a much-needed boost in confidence as they look to build on this success in future games. For the Aggies, this defeat raises questions about their ability to perform consistently, especially on their home court. The matchup highlighted the competitive nature of the league and set the stage for intriguing future encounters between these two teams.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NMSU -7.5 | 159.5 o -115 / u -105 | Florida International Panthers +230 · New Mexico State Aggies -285 |
Leaders
- PointsElijah Elliott26New Mexico State Aggies
- AssistsJemel Jones5New Mexico State Aggies
- ReboundsJulius Mims13New Mexico State Aggies
- PointsCorey Stephenson25Florida International Panthers
- AssistsThiago Sucatzky4Florida International Panthers
- ReboundsCorey Stephenson12Florida International Panthers
Recent form
New Mexico State Aggies
Last 10: 4-6Streak L179.5 scored · 72 allowed per game3-3 at home
- L75-84vs Missouri State BearsJan 23
- W97-68at Delaware Blue HensJan 17
- L71-73at Liberty FlamesJan 15
- L55-59vs Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 11
- W80-64vs Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 9
- L82-89at Missouri State BearsJan 4
- L74-89at Florida International PanthersJan 2
- W104-33vs Southwest MustangsDec 28
- W87-78vs Sam Houston BearkatsDec 21
- L70-83vs Tulsa Golden HurricaneDec 13
Florida International Panthers
Last 10: 4-6Streak L582.7 scored · 78.2 allowed per game0-4 away
- L77-83at UTEP MinersJan 23
- L63-76vs Sam Houston BearkatsJan 17
- L86-89at Kennesaw State OwlsJan 15
- L71-79at Missouri State BearsJan 10
- L64-71at Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 8
- W76-64vs UTEP MinersJan 4
- W89-74vs New Mexico State AggiesJan 2
- L94-97vs Liberty FlamesDec 28
- W121-70vs Trinity College of Jacksonville EaglesDec 22
- W86-79vs Long Island University SharksDec 20
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26-8 | - | 17-3 |
| Sam Houston | 22-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 20-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Western Kentucky | 18-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 17-15 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 21-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville State | 15-17 | 7 | 10-10 |
| New Mexico State | 16-16 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Missouri State | 16-18 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Florida International | 15-17 | 9 | 8-12 |
| UTEP | 11-20 | 8 | 7-13 |
| Delaware | 10-21 | 11 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Florida International Panthers | New Mexico State Aggies |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-62 | 25-72 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 35 |
| Three-pointers | 6-24 | 10-27 |
| Three-point % | 25 | 37 |
| Free throws | 19-28 | 18-27 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 55 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 22 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 33 |
| Assists | 14 | 12 |
| Steals | 11 | 4 |
| Blocks | 6 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 7 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 24 |
| Fouls | 17 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 15 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 71 | 21 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half53-38Zawdie Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-41Jemel Jones makes 26-foot three point jumper (Julius Mims assists)
- 2nd Half54-41Hamed Olayinka makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-42Jemel Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-43Jemel Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-43Thiago Sucatzky makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-45Jayland Randall makes 17-foot jumper (Jemel Jones assists)
- 2nd Half56-45Brit Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-48Jemel Jones makes 24-foot three point jumper (Elijah Elliott assists)
- 2nd Half57-48Corey Stephenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-48Thiago Sucatzky makes 8-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half59-49Jayland Randall makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-49Corey Stephenson makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Thiago Sucatzky assists)
- 2nd Half61-52Elijah Elliott makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half61-53Anthony Wrzeszcz makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-53Thiago Sucatzky makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-56Anthony Wrzeszcz makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jemel Jones assists)
- 2nd Half66-56Julian Mackey makes 24-foot three point jumper (Eric Dibami assists)
- 2nd Half66-59Elijah Elliott makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half66-61Elijah Elliott makes layup
- 2nd Half66-63Julius Mims makes layup
- 2nd Half68-63Ibrahim Olajuwon makes layup (Ashton Williamson assists)
- 2nd Half69-63Ibrahim Olajuwon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-64Elijah Elliott makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-65Elijah Elliott makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-65Zawdie Jackson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-68Elijah Elliott makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half71-69Elijah Elliott makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half71-70Elijah Elliott makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half71-73Elijah Elliott makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half73-73Corey Stephenson makes 2-foot jumper
- 2nd Half73-74Elijah Elliott makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half73-75Elijah Elliott makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half73-76Elijah Elliott makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half75-76Corey Stephenson makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half75-78Kyrese Mullen makes 11-foot jumper (Jemel Jones assists)
- 2nd Half78-78Corey Stephenson makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half79-78Corey Stephenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-78Corey Stephenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-78Corey Stephenson makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours New Mexico State Aggies, below favours Florida International Panthers.
Venue
- Pan American CenterLas Cruces, NM
- Attendance5682
- OfficialsRyan McCarty, James Curran, Allen Sutton
Elsewhere
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- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond