EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - Both UTEP and NMSU men's basketball are playing some of its best ball ahead of its first edition of the Battle of I-10. Both opened up conference play with 2-0 record, the only teams out of Conference USA to do so. The winner between the two will take the top spot in CUSA standings. UTEP is off to its best start to a season since 2010-2011 riding a six game win streak with a 12-3 overall record. The teams strong suite will be its defense leading the nation in both forced turnovers and steals. While off to a great start, head coach Joe Golding wants to ensure that team doesn't get too far ahead of themselves. How they respond to success is just as important to how they respond to adversity. "With an opportunity like this you have to keep earning it," said Golding. "You can't get comfortable. You've got to keep a chip on your shoulder and realize there's still a lot of room for growth. I'm going to spend the next 2.5 hours look over film from this weekend and tell them everything they did bad because I don't want these guys to get comfortable. The good thing for me, is we have a bunch of guys back from last year. So they understand the process of this, they understand this game. I think the biggest difference for us is instead of going to hunt people, now you're getting hunted." NMSU is sitting with a 9-6 record after a rough start but haven't dropped a game since mid-December against then nationally ranked Texas, taking five straight since. After two conference games the Aggies lead CUSA in opponent 3-point percentage, opponent points per game and score margin. They sit second in opponent field goal percentage. Making tremendous improves on the stat sheet in recent weeks, the program attributes its success to finding its identity. "We laughed a little bit after the game," said head coach Jason Hooten. "I said, 'Guys, it's the same song that I've been singing to you since June. It's just it's you're listening to it now.' I think there's a different sense of maturity and understanding from our guys. They're starting to understand a little bit about everyday preparation. And we're going to need it for Saturday, they [UTEP] has got a great team. They're off to a tremendous start." "I've been impressed with our growth over the past two months," said guard Christian Cook. "I think we really coming together as a team and a family. We really don't care who does what or who scores. I think we just all wan to win. Obviously, this a rival game, so it's a different feeling. I can't wait to go compete with those guys." Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Don Haskins Center Saturday, January 11th.