New Mexico State’s Evan Gilyard, former UTEP star, gains immediate eligbility

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- The New Mexico State men's basketball team received an early Christmas present Wednesday when the NCAA granted guard Evan Gilyard immediate eligibility, meaning that the UTEP transfer can now play right away.

Aggie fans are probably well familiar with Gilyard, who led the rival Miners in scoring last season with 13.8 points per game. Gilyard, a Chicago native, transferred to New Mexico State in May.

Gilyard will finish out the rest of this season with the Aggies, and then be eligible next season as well.

The addition of Gilyard is a major boost to the Aggies' rotation, that has already been playing without All-Conference guard AJ Harris and senior forward Clayton Henry. Both Harris and Henry are expected to return from injury the next few weeks.

Gilyard will suit up for the Aggies on Wednesday night, when they host Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 7 p.m. at the Pan American Center.