ESPANOLA, NM - The Northern New Mexico College Men’s basketball team is in full swing, and glad that November is over. The men played 15 games during the month of November and all but 4 of those were on the road. They played (3) NCAA Division 1 opponents, (4) NCAA Division II 2011 National Qualifiers, and during one road trip played 8 games in 10 days. "This is one of the toughest pre-season schedules in the country, and you don't get any better playing teams you can beat up on," said Head Coach Ryan Cordova. "Most Division 1 schools play teams in their pre-season that they can get wins against, so they can have a good win/loss record. The only record I care about is the record at the end of the year after tournaments have been played. We are trying to get better, and do it quick," said Cordova.

The Eagles, 0-15 have had opportunities to play with the big boys, playing Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands , and Western State College. The Eagles were within striking distance in each of those game’s first halves. The Eagles also played nationally ranked (#18)Colorado School of Mines, and led most of the first half. The Eagles went in the locker room down 5 at half, and again failed to put a whole game together getting beat in the second half by 20 points.

"Nine of thirteen players are freshmen, and when you play 24 and 25 year olds, the physicality of the game really takes it's toll in the second half," said Cordova. "It is like taking a High School Freshman team to play a 5A varsity state contender and expecting a win. If you play good teams they will expose your weaknesses, and right now ours is strength and maturity," Cordova said. The Eagles will face 7 NAIA teams in the second half of the season, which is just part of the 15 games left. Cordova expects his team to finish the second half of the season 12-3, which would put them in a great position going into conference play.

Cordova explains that the AII Conference does its selection by an RPI rating. The win/loss record is only a part of the selection. The conference takes into account the toughness of schedule and gives points even for losses. "Our schedule is so tough, that we are accumulating points even with the losses we have suffered. We made money and accumulated points, and that was the reason for this schedule," the coach stated.

Leading the team in scoring (9.6ppg) is senior Demeatrio Wade, and a close second is local standout, freshman Rodney Coles (9.1ppg). The Eagles have played the whole pre-season without their top 2 returners, who were out with injuries. Sophmore Gabriel Martinez broke his foot a day before the Eagle's first contest, and Junior Steven Eldridge missed 15 games with coronary concerns.

The Eagles expect to have Martinez back by this weekend when they travel to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon University. The next home stand is over the holiday break when the Eagles will host the University of the Southwest on December 15th, and Valley City State on December 19th. "There are a lot of games to be played, and we will be ready for each of them," said Cordova.