HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — A rubber match with a conference tournament berth on the line will unfold Tuesday when New Mexico State faces Jacksonville State in the opening round of the 2026 Conference USA Men’s Basketball Championship. The eighth-seeded Aggies (15-15) and ninth-seeded Gamecocks (15-16) split their regular-season series, setting the stage for a neutral-court decider at Propst Arena. New Mexico State won both meetings, 79-70 in Jacksonville on Feb. 14 and 77-75 in overtime in Las Cruces on March 5. The winner advances to face top-seeded Liberty in the quarterfinals on Thursday. New Mexico State enters having snapped a two-game skid with a 79-76 home win over Kennesaw State on Saturday. Guard Gabe Pickens, a key figure in both wins over Jacksonville State this season, is coming off one of his best performances, dishing eight assists with 11 points in 32 minutes against the Owls. Jacksonville State countered by ending a three-game losing streak with a gritty 64-61 road victory at UTEP on Saturday. The Gamecocks are powered by guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, who scored 23 points in that win and has been on a scoring tear. He averaged 24.6 points over his last five games, including a 38-point outburst at Sam Houston on Feb. 21. However, he was held to just nine points in the Feb. 14 loss to the Aggies. Both teams have shown a propensity for close games. The Aggies have played in three overtime contests in their last seven games, going 2-1 in those extra-time battles. The Gamecocks have had four of their last eight games decided by five points or fewer. The matchup hinges on tempo and defense. New Mexico State will look to leverage its recent success against Jacksonville State’s scheme, while the Gamecocks will rely on El Moutaouakkil’s hot hand and seek to avenge two narrow defeats. With nearly identical records and recent history defined by tight margins, Tuesday’s tournament opener projects as another down-to-the-wire contest with seasons in the balance.