The 1969–70 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team represented

New Mexico State University New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public, land-grant, research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution of higher education, and was the original land-g ...

during the

1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball season The 1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in December 1969, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game ...

. The Aggies were independent and not a member of a conference. They were led by fourth year head coach

Lou Henson Louis Ray Henson (January 10, 1932 – July 25, 2020) was an American college basketball coach. He retired as the all-time leader in victories at the University of Illinois with 423 victories and New Mexico State with 289 victories. Overall, Hens ...

and three future NBA players – consensus second-team All-American

Jimmy Collins James Joseph Collins (January 16, 1870 – March 6, 1943) was an American professional baseball player. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. In 1945, Collins was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played for the Boston Beaneater ...

, big man

Sam Lacey Samuel Lacey (March 28, 1948 – March 14, 2014) was an American basketball player. He spent the majority of his career with the Royals/Kings franchise. Lacey was selected as an all-star while playing for the Kings in 1975, and eventually had his ...

, and

Charlie Criss Charles Washington Criss Jr. (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. A 5'8" guard from New Mexico State University, Criss began his professional career in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA). ...

. The team reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, losing to eventual champion

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...

before defeating

St. Bonaventure Bonaventure ( ; ; ; born Giovanni di Fidanza; 1221 – 15 July 1274) was an Italian Catholic Franciscan bishop, cardinal, scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, he also serv ...

in the national third-place game. To date, it is the only Final Four appearance in program history. The Aggies had three win streaks of at least eight games during the season and finished with a 27–3 record.

Roster

Schedule/results

, - !colspan=9 style=, Regular Season , - !colspan=9 style=, NCAA Tournament

Rankings

Awards and honors

– Consensus Second-Team All-American

Team players in the 1970 NBA draft

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1969-70 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team

New Mexico State New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a Public university system, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution ...

New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball seasons NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons