Hayes and company open season at New Mexico

Albuquerque - The Bulldogs of Alabama A&M will open the 2013-14 season with a road trip to face the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tip-off set for 9 p.m. central time in "The Pit".

"I feel really good about this team," Hayes mentioned. "In our first road game the biggest thing is adjusting to the crowd. I'm looking for our guys to play hard and get rebounds."

Last year A&M went 11-21, getting knocked out of the SWAC Tournament by Southern. The Bulldogs return all three of last season's top scorers in DeMarquelle Tabb, who averaged 14.0 points per game, Jeremy Crutcher, who averaged 12.0 points per game, and Brandon Ellis at 10.7 points per game. Tabb just missed averaging a double-double at 9.9 rebounds per game.

Last season The Maroon and White averaged 63.1 points per game, while allowing 69.7 points a contest. They were slightly outrebounded last year at 36.3 to 36.0, and they struggled from the field, shooting .399 and .294 from the line.

"I want these guys to be ready not only on the court, but coming down that long steep tunnel," chuckled Hayes. "We are ready to open up the 2013-14 season, with this big test."

The Lobos are ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press preseason poll, and they are also No. 20 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll.

New Mexico returns six lettermen and four starters from the 2012-13 season in which the Lobos went 29-6 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second round. The Lobos won their fourth regular season championship in the last five years, and then won the conference tournament for the second straight year.

Live audio for the men's game is available on 90.9 FM WJAB beginning at 9:00 p.m. Fans can also watch the game by clicking here and follow it via live stats here.

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