Rivalries are what make college sports great, and the Battle of I-10 between New Mexico State and UTEP is no different. Rivalries can also get heated, which is what happened in both Aggies-Miners games this season.
NM State and UTEP were involved in two separate skirmishes, with the first occurring during the Miners' 91-88 overtime win in El Paso on Feb. 7 and the second taking place after the Aggies closed out a 67-63 win in Las Cruces on Feb. 21. Both involved players confronting each other and conversations between NM State coach Jason Hooten and UTEP coach Joe Golding on the court.
Here's what took place in each:
First skirmish on Feb. 7
During a break in play after Aggies guard Elijah Elliott committed a turnover by losing the ball out of bounds, a benches-clearing skirmish took place. NM State guard Anthony Wrzeszcz and UTEP forward Kaseem Watson exchanged words with each other before Watson pushed Wrzeszcz, prompting Aggies and Miners players to storm the court and face off. This took place at the 11:45 mark of the second half.
Both teams were separated and returned to their respective benches before things could escalate, and both Wrzeszcz and Watson received technical fouls. Aggies guard Gabe Pickens also received a technical foul, which meant the Miners got to shoot two technical free throws before play resumed (Wrzeszcz and Watson's technicals were offsetting). Pickens pulled Watson away from his NM State teammates after Watson shoved Wrzeszcz and was seen shouting something to him while flexing as Watson walked toward him.
UTEP forward Elijah Jones had his hands on Wrzeszcz as well, although not aggressively. ESPN+ commentators believed he attempted to "keep guys separated" and wasn't being hostile.
Golding and Hooten had a brief conversation after the skirmish that didn't appear to be hostile. Neither coach nor any player addressed the matter postgame.
New Mexico State and UTEP players got into a heated exchange at the 11:45 mark of the 2nd half. Happened after UTEP’s Kaseem Watson pushed NMSU’s Anthony Wrzeszcz. Benches were cleared.
— Nick Coppola (@Nick_Coppola__) February 8, 2026
Both Watson and Wrzeszcz received technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/z3OaYvCdqb
Second skirmish on Feb. 21
After the final buzzer sounded to confirm NM State's 67-63 win, Golding appeared frustrated with some Aggies players as he proceeded through the handshake line. Hooten held his hand out and looked like he was trying to calm Golding down. He tapped him twice on his chest in a friendly manner, but Golding shoved Hooten's arm away and said something to him as he walked away.
Aggies assistant coaches Preston Laird and Terryonte Thomas took exception to whatever Golding said and confronted him, leading to them being separated. Golding had to be held back by Jones after being initially pushed back slightly by UTEP associate head coach Jeremy Cox.
Aggies and Miners players then converged near midcourt, where some shoving broke out amid raised voices and animated gestures, before staff and teammates pulled everyone apart. Multiple coaches from both sides were also seen exchanging words and physical contact during the skirmish.
Tensions flared at the end of the UTEP and New Mexico State men’s basketball game.
— Sam Guzman (@SamGuzmanTV) February 22, 2026
Not sure what sparked it, but UTEP head coach Joe Golding was clearly frustrated with the NMSU side, including head coach Jason Hooten. pic.twitter.com/DJqmybAJ2K
The Pan American Center PA announcer called for security to take the floor and restore order during the skirmish. UTEP players and coaches left the floor first, drawing boos from NM State fans and satirical goodbye waves from Aggies players as they departed. NM State stuck around to celebrate with its student section.
Things happened at the end of the UTEP-NMSU game.
— Nick Coppola (@Nick_Coppola__) February 22, 2026
Jason Hooten: “I probably shouldn’t comment, but I’m going to comment because Joe (Golding) and I are good friends and we’re going to continue to be good friends… Sometimes, things get heated. Guys say this, guys say that. Next… pic.twitter.com/rkVd5HfgMc
New Mexico St men’s gets its revenge against its rival in the second edition of the Battle of I-10 this season, defeating UTEP on its home court, 67-63. pic.twitter.com/qZ3SmL2oro
— Kelly Horyczun (@kellyhoryczun) February 22, 2026
Golding refused to comment on the matter during his postgame press conference. Hooten said he "probably shouldn't comment" before doing so "because Joe and I are good friends, and we're going to continue to be good friends."
"It's a tough game. Sometimes, things get heated," Hooten said postgame. "Guys say this, guys say that, and next thing you know, people are going at each other. I don't take anything personal. Joe's one of my closest friends. I think he's a tremendous coach. I think he's hard to play against. I've played against him (many times). He always is. I think we have mutual respect for each other, just disappointed that it happened."
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Battle of I-10 get heated twice as NMSU and UTEP skirmish again