RIVERSIDE -- The Lancers return from an extended break to open up the New Year with their first conference games of the season.

They will hit the ground running as they take on the preseason favorite NM State Aggies in Las Cruces. After the Thursday evening tussle finishes up, the Lancers will travel to Edinburg, Texas, to take on the Vaqueros of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

As the WAC schedule gets underway, CBU holds an 8-6 record, which is one of just two winning records amongst conference members. CSU Bakersfield sits just ahead of the Lancers at 8-4, most recently falling to the third-ranked Beavers of Oregon State at Corvallis. 

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: at New Mexico State
Date: Thursday, Jan. 2
Time: 5:00 p.m. PST
Location: Pan America Center
Video: WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

The Aggies come into this season expected to defend their conference title in the eyes of the WAC media and coaches polls. NM State is also boasting the coaches' preseason poll Player of the Year in Gia Pack. Currently, Pack leads the WAC in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game after 13 games.

Despite Pack's scoring prowess, the Aggies are missing their inside presence and last seasons Player of the Year, Brooke Salas. A season ago, the Aggies were +8.06 points per game and +2.2 rebounds per game with Salas, but those same stats have dipped to -7.61 and -3.0 respectively this season.

Pack is joined by redshirt-junior guard Aaliyah Prince as the top-two players in average scoring and assists, while both are also top-three in rebounding on the team. These two players have led the Aggies in scoring in 11 of their 13 games.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: UT Rio Grande Valley   
Date: Saturday, Jan. 4
Time: 10:00 a.m. PST
Location: URTGV Fieldhouse
Video: WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: SideArm Stats

The Vaqueros are looking to start fresh in 2020 after dropping their final five games in 2019, the last four of which were on the road. Three of their season losses have come at the hands of Power Five schools in Texas (RV), USC, and Kansas State. 

This game is a must-watch as it pits the WAC's top offense in CBU (averaging 78.1 points per game) against the top defense in UTRGV (allowing 64.1 points per game). 

UTRGV was voted by the WAC coaches and media to finish fourth in the standings, a slight drop after last seasons third-place finish at 10-6 in conference play.