New Mexico State to be without key contributor vs. Arkansas

New Mexico State’s Donnie Tillman is out for Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Round of 32 game against Arkansas, per Chris Jans via Jon Rothstein on Twitter. Tillman averages 6.4 points per game and hasn’t played since March 2 after injuring his lower leg against SF Austin, which was the last time the Aggies lost a game.

Tillman was seen wearing a boot during New Mexico State’s practices leading up to its first round game against UConn, and it’s unsure whether or not he’ll return if the Aggies were to advance to the Sweet 16, though they have a steep climb to get there.

Arkansas is playing as well as any team in the nation right now. Razorbacks star guard JD Notae is averaging an impressive 18.4 points per game. Notae will be guarded by the Aggies’ star guard Timmy Allen averages 19.9 points per game. Allen is coming off an insane 37-point against the Huskies on Thursday, shooting 10-24 (4-7, 3-point), including making all 13 shots from the charity stripe.

Neither team could have made it this far with a one-man show. New Mexico State’s supporting cast includes Jabari Rice, who is averaging just under 10 points per game during the Aggies’ last 10 games, of which they’ve won seven. Arkansas is also 7-3 in its last 10, but in the last two games, the Razorbacks have been blown out by a Texas A&M team that missed out on the NCAA Tournament and then was pushed to the limit by a tough Vermont squad in the first round.

Is Arkansas showing cracks this late in the season? For New Mexico State, with Tillman missing his now-fifth consecutive game, it’s business as usual for an Aggies team that is looking to play spoiler against the SEC power. Tip for their matchup is set for 8:40 p.m. ET live on TNT.