For Starters
UTEP (4-2) plays its first game since Dec. 4 on Sunday when the Miners host Oklahoma Panhandle State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. MST. UTEP had won 11 straight home games before dropping a 72-57 decision to Texas Tech eight days ago. The Miners are 3-1 at home in 2004-05, and 19-2 in their last 21 home games. Oklahoma Panhandle State is 2-8 overall and 1-4 on the road this season with a win over Missouri Southern (75-73) and losses to Southwest Oklahoma State (72-42), Wayland Baptist (95-71), Fort Hays State (77-69) and Eastern New Mexico (72-61).
On The Radio
UTEP's English flagship station is KROD 600 AM. The announcers are Jon Teicher (play-by-play) and Steve Yellen (color commentary). Teicher is in his 24th season as "Voice of the Miners." Yellen played for the Miners from 1977-81 under Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins. The pregame show begins at 3:30 p.m. MST. The game will also be carried on KBUY 1360 AM in Ruidoso, N.M.
A Spanish language broadcast is available on La Consentida 1150 AM. KINT-TV weekend sports anchor Omar Ropele is the play-by-play man, and former Miner Victor Luces offers analysis.
On Television
There is no television for Sunday's game.
Scouting The Aggies
Oklahoma Panhandle State is a school of 1,300 located in Goodwell, Okla. The NCAA Division II Aggies were 2-21 last season, including 2-10 in the Heartland Conference (sixth place). Oklahoma Panhandle State has two returning letterwinners, both starters: senior forward Jecorey Leggins(11.4 ppg in 2003-04) and senior guard Ramon McDaniel (9.1 ppg last season). Curt Connor is in his first year coaching the Aggies. Oklahoma Panhandle State won two of its first three games (beating Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern) before dropping its next seven contests heading into Sunday's date with the Miners.
OPSU junior guard Jose Yaird is from Sao Paulo, Brazil. UTEP senior forward Thomas Gehrke also grew up in Sao Paulo.
The Series
Sunday's game marks the first meeting between UTEP and Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Last Game
Curtis Marshall scored 18 points to lead four Texas Tech players in double figures, as the Red Raiders snapped UTEP's 11-game home winning streak with a 72-57 victory on Dec. 4 at the Don Haskins Center.
The Miners committed 27 turnovers -- leading to 26 Texas Tech points -- in their first loss in the Haskins Center since Jan. 3, 2004.
Texas Tech became the first visiting team to score 70 points against UTEP in the Miners' last 11 home games.
UTEP led just twice -- at 2-0 on a basket by Jason Williams and 5-4 on a three-pointer by Miguel Ayala.
The Miners trailed 22-18 with 5:24 to go in the first half after Williams scored again, but Texas Tech ended the half with a 13-5 spurt for a 35-23 advantage at the intermission.
UTEP committed 18 turnovers in the first half while playing without senior guard Filiberto Rivera,who was out with an ankle injury.
Trailing 41-32 early in the second half, the Miners went on a 9-2 run to pull within 43-41 on a layup by Omar Thomas with 14:01 remaining.
However, the Red Raiders answered with a 25-5 run of their own to tie the largest lead of the night at 68-46 with 5:56 left.
The 27 turnovers were the most for UTEP since committing 28 at San Jose State on March 6, 2003.
Thomas led the Miners with 18 points. Ayala had 12 points and Giovanni St. Amant 11. Only one Miner shot a free throw (Thomas) and UTEP received two points from its bench (both by Stanley Branch).
Texas Tech shot 40.9 percent to UTEP's 37.3 percent and outrebounded the Miners 41-38, as Devonne Giles pulled down 12 boards.
A capacity crowd of 12,000 witnessed the Texas Tech game. It was the 97th sellout in the history of the Haskins Center, which opened on Feb. 3, 1977.
UTEP in the WAC Stats
Through Wednesday's games, UTEP led the WAC in free throw percentage (.735). The Miners were third in scoring defense (61.7 ppg), steals (7.8 spg) and turnover margin (+0.50).
Senior forward Omar Thomas was third in scoring (19.8 ppg) and steals (2.0 spg), fourth in free throw percentage (.789), fifth in field goal percentage (.537) and 14th in rebounding (6.8 rpg). Junior swingman Jason Williams was seventh in assists (3.3 apg) and steals (1.7 spg), and 13th in scoring (12.8 ppg). Junior guard Miguel Ayala was second in assist/turnover ratio (2.80).
UTEP's .625 field goal percentage versus Delaware State on Nov. 21 has been the top effort by a WAC team early this season.
Missing Persons Report
UTEP senior Filiberto Rivera and freshman Vernon Carr will not play against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday. Rivera is sidelined with an ankle injury and Carr is out with shin splints. Rivera is the Miners' starting point guard, and Carr is his backup.
Searching For Seventy
UTEP has scored less than 70 points in four straight games for the first time since Jan. 30-Feb. 15, 2003, when the Miners put together six straight games with fewer than 70 points.
There are numerous reasons why the Miners have had problems scoring points early this season. Senior point guard Filiberto Rivera has been out the last two games with an ankle injury. Junior forward John Tofi is still getting himself in shape after recovering from two foot surgeries earlier this year. And UTEP's talented group of newcomers -- junior guard Miguel Ayala, freshmen guards Vernon Carr and Kelvin Davis and freshman forward Stanley Branch -- are gradually making the adjustment to Division I basketball.
Scoring 70 points has been an indicator of success over the last three seasons. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, the Miners are 28-4 when scoring 70 points (2-0 this season) and 6-30 when totaling less than 70 (2-2 this season).
Over the last three years, UTEP is 19-2 when scoring 80 points or more.
Miners Winning With Defense
UTEP averaged 77.5 points during the 2003-04 season, a figure which rated 20th nationally. This year, the Miners are winning with defense. UTEP has held opponents to 40.1 percent shooting and 61.7 points per game.
UTEP's field goal percentage defense is its best since 1973-74 (.381), and its 61.7 ppg allowed is its finest since 1985-86 (60.1).
UTEP has also forced 105 turnovers (17.5 per game), and scored 105 points off turnovers (17.5 per game).
Only three teams have shot 50 percent against the Miners in their last 53 games.
Opponents are averaging 54.5 shot attempts per contest in 2004-05, down from 58.4 in 2003-04. UTEP, meanwhile, is averaging virtually the same number of shot attempts in 2004-05 (54.0) as a year ago (54.6).
UTEP had limited 10 straight home opponents to fewer than 70 points before Texas Tech put up 72 points on Dec. 4. The Miners have surrendered 70 points just four times in their last 23 home games, posting a 20-3 record during that span.
Block Party
The Miners have collected 20 blocked shots in six games, and are on pace to total 107 rejections this season. Last year, UTEP had just 86 blocked shots in 32 games, the third-lowest figure in the WAC behind San Jose State (47) and Fresno State (84).
Oddly, 18 of UTEP's 20 blocked shots have come in two games. The Miners had nine rejections each against Jackson State and Texas Tech. UTEP hadn't registered as many blocked shots in a game since Feb. 20, 2002 versus New Mexico State (10).
Senior center Will Kimble leads the Miners with seven rejections in 2004-05. Freshman forward Stanley Branch has swatted six shots in just 38 minutes of court time.
Bench Bits
UTEP's bench is averaging 14.2 points this season. The Miner reserves scored 35 points in the season opener against Delaware State. Over the last five games, UTEP has received 50 points off the pine, an average of 10.0 per contest. During that stretch Miner subs are shooting 26 percent (16-62) from the field and 17 percent (4-23) from three-point range.
The Miner reserves contributed three points versus Arizona State on Nov. 26 and two points against Texas Tech on Dec. 4, the lowest totals for UTEP since Jan. 9, 2003 at Nevada (zero bench points).
Starters have scored 80 percent of UTEP's points (333 of 418) in 2004-05.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant is the Miners' top scorer off the bench this season (26 points in two games). As a starter, St. Amant is averaging 5.0 points while shooting 36.8 percent (7-19) from the field and 30 percent (3-10) from three-point territory. As a reserve, St. Amant is averaging 13 points with a .538 (7-13) field goal percentage and a .750 (3-4) three-point field goal percentage.
Rebound of Sorts on the Boards
If there was one weakness on last year's Miner team that galloped to a 24-8 record, it was in the rebounding department. UTEP had a -0.1 rebound margin on the year, including -1.9 in WAC games, and was outboarded in 18 of 32 contests.
Improvement has been evident early in the 2004-05 campaign. The Miners have a +4.2 rebound margin through six games. UTEP had double-digit rebound margins against Jackson State (51-30) and Arizona State (42-31). The Miners held their own on the boards against Texas Tech (trailing 41-38) after the Red Raiders entered the contest with a +11.6 rebound margin on the year.
On Nov. 30 UTEP limited IPFW to seven offensive rebounds, less than half of its season average (16.4) coming into the game.
UTEP has a 76-70 advantage in offensive rebounds this season after trailing in that department, 410-328, a year ago. The Miners haven't ended a season with an edge in offensive rebounding since 1998-99 (295-284).
Senior forward Omar Thomas (6.8 rpg) and junior swingman Jason Williams (6.7 rpg) are the Miners' leading rebounders.
Thomas Goes Solo at the Line
Senior forward Omar Thomas was the only Miner to shoot a free throw against Texas Tech on Dec. 4. The last time UTEP sent just one player to the charity stripe was on Dec. 22, 1996 at Iowa State, when Kimani Jones-Young was credited with all four of the Miners' free throw attempts.
UTEP trailed Texas Tech in free throw attempts (20-8) for the first time in six games this season. The Miners have shot more free throws than their opponent in 18 of their last 21 home games.
The Miners are leading the WAC in free throw percentage (.735) for the second year in a row. It marks the ninth time in the last 12 years that UTEP has had a free throw percentage of .700 or better.
Last season UTEP was the only school in the Western Athletic Conference to make more free throws (614) than its opponents attempted (570). UTEP has made 100 foul shots in 2004-05, while foes have attempted 106.
Youmans Waiting in the Wings
Freshman guard Ervin Youmans (Hobbs, N.M.) could make his UTEP debut on Sunday against Oklahoma Panhandle State. The 5-11, 165-pound Youmans led the state of New Mexico in scoring last year at Hobbs High School, collecting 28 points per outing. He also averaged five assists, five steals and two rebounds. A two-time All-State honoree as a prep, Youmans had game-highs of 41 points and six assists. He was the second-leading scorer in New Mexico as a junior, when he averaged 21 points.
Home Sweet Home
Several UTEP players have put up impressive numbers in the team's four home games. Senior forward Omar Thomas is shooting 58.7 percent (27-46) from the field and 84 percent (21-25) from the line in the Haskins Center this year. Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant is shooting 55 percent (6-11) from three-point range in home games, and junior guard Miguel Ayala is shooting 47.6 percent (10-21) from beyond the arc. St. Amant is also an 84.6 percent (11-13) free throw shooter in the friendly confines of "The Don."
UTEP is shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three-point land in home games, compared to 45.1 percent and 32.5 percent in those respective categories on the season. The Miners are surrendering an average of 59.3 points per game at home in 2004-05, while scoring 72.5 ppg (+13.2 margin).
17-0 is Longest Run
UTEP had a 17-0 scoring run in the first half versus Delaware State, turning a 15-14 deficit into a 31-15 advantage. The Miners had runs of 21-0, 17-0, 16-0 and 15-0 (twice) during last season's march to the NCAA Tournament.
The longest opponent run in 2004-05 is 11-0 by Texas Tech on Dec. 4.
Powerful Program
UTEP has posted an all-time record of 1,111-864 in men's basketball, a .563 winning percentage. UTEP is the only school in the state of Texas to win a national title on the hardwood (1966). The Miners have made 23 postseason tournament appearances and captured 12 WAC titles (eight regular season, four tournament).
The 1966 national champion Miners are the subject of a Disney feature film, Glory Road, coming in 2005. The film stars Josh Lucas (A Beautiful Mind, Sweet Home Alabama) as legendary UTEP coach Don Haskins and Academy Award winner Jon Voight as Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp.
The Doc is in
Although Doc Sadler is in his first season at the helm of the UTEP program, this is not his first year as a head coach. Sadler was the head coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith from 1998-03, fashioning a stellar 120-39 (.755) record.
Sadler orchestrated a pair of 30-win seasons during his stint at UA Fort Smith -- a 30-5 mark in 2000-01 and a 30-6 ledger in 2001-02. He led the Lions to four consecutive Bi-State East Conference championships, two NJCAA Region II championships and two trips to the NJCAA National Tournament (2001, 2002). Sadler was named Coach of the Year for NJCAA Region II in 2001 and 2002. The Lion basketball program had a 95 percent graduation rate during his tenure as head coach. He was also UA Fort Smith's athletic director for five years.
In 12 years as a Division I assistant coach -- including the 2003-04 season with the Miners -- Sadler has been associated with teams that made nine postseason tournament appearances (seven NCAA, two NIT) while coaching 19 future NBA players.
Sadler is off to a 4-2 start in his initial season with the Miners, tying the best six-game record by a first-year UTEP coach. Don Haskins (1961-62) and Jason Rabedeaux (1999-00) were also victorious in four of their first six games. Haskins started 9-2 and Rabedeaux started 8-2. Haskins is the only coach in school history to fashion a winning record in his first season at the helm of the program (his 1961-62 Miners finished 18-6).
Sadler is one of 37 new head coaches at Division I-A schools and one of three fresh faces in the WAC, joining Nevada's Mark Fox and SMU's Jimmy Tubbs.
Thomas Putting Up Big Numbers
Senior forward Omar Thomas has led the Miners in scoring in five of the first six games this season. Thomas has scored 614 points in just 38 games for UTEP (16.2 avg.). The Miners are 9-8 when he leads the team in scoring, and 19-2 when he does not.
A Philadelphia native, Thomas has accounted for 28 percent of UTEP's points and 21 percent of the team's rebounds this season. He is shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the line. Thomas is averaging 19.8 points per game. At his current pace Thomas would score 635 points during the 2004-05 season, the fifth-best output in UTEP history. Thomas is also on track to become only the third Miner to score 1,000 points in his first two years in the program. This feat was also achieved by Jim Barnes (1,308 points from 1962-64) and Antoine Gillespie (1,099 points from 1992-94).
Thomas has been on the floor for 30+ minutes in four consecutive games for the first in his career, including a career-high 37 minutes against Texas Tech on Dec. 4. He has only seen 30+ minutes of action in eight games as a Miner (four times this season).
He recorded the first double-double of his career on Nov. 23 versus Jackson State (25 points-15 rebounds), and had another one three days later against Arizona State (26 points-11 boards).
Thomas registered five steals in the season opener against Delaware State, tied for the third-top seasonal figure in school annals. He leads the Miners with 12 thefts.
He has shot a free throw in 36 of 38 career contests. Thomas has had two 20-point games this season, and 10 in his brief UTEP career. Thomas has a current string of seven straight games with 15+ points dating back to last season. He is the first Miner to accomplish this since Brandon Wolfram had 10 consecutive 15+ point games during the 2000-01 season.
Miners Take Second
UTEP notched a runner-up showing at the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational Nov. 21-27. The Miners went 3-1 in the tournament, downing Delaware State (83-50) and Jackson State (83-57) in El Paso before splitting a pair of games in Las Vegas. UTEP beat Arizona State 66-65 on Nov. 26 before succumbing to Southern Illinois 68-62 in the Nov. 27 title game. Two Miners were named to the All-Tournament team -- senior forward Omar Thomas and senior center Will Kimble. Thomas averaged 21 points and eight rebounds in four tournament games. Kimble averaged 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds while hitting 11 of his 12 shot attempts (91.7 percent).
Immediate Impact For Kimble
Senior center Will Kimble is shooting a team-leading 66.7 percent from the field this season. Kimble has connected on 18 of his first 27 attempts from the floor. His career field goal percentage -- including 50 games at Pepperdine from 2000-02 -- is .571.
Kimble is averaging 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds this season. He leads the team with seven blocked shots (all in home games). Kimble scored a UTEP-high 13 points in the season opener versus Delaware State. His best point total at the collegiate level came during the 2001-02 season at Pepperdine, when he racked up 19 points versus Point Loma. Kimble has snared seven rebounds in two games this season, already duplicating his top total as a collegian. He was named to the All-Tournament team at the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational.
Kimble was rated one of the nation's best prep players coming out of Pacific High School in San Bernardino, Calif. He was tabbed the third-best high school center in the West by SoCal Hoops. The 22-year-old Kimble has already received his bachelor's degree from Pepperdine, and is currently working on his master's in education.
Fili is Assist Leader
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera is the WAC's returning assist leader. He averaged 4.8 assists last season, third in the league behind Hawaii's Logan Lee and Rice's Rashid Smith, who have both departed.
Through four games, Rivera is averaging 12.5 points and 4.0 assists. His assist-to-turnover ratio is 16-8 this season, and 168-80 for his career -- a better than 2:1 ratio.
Rivera amassed 152 assists last season -- the sixth-top season total in school annals -- after transferring from Southeastern (Iowa) Community College where he was a member of a national championship team. Rivera's 2003 honors at Southeastern CC included first team NJCAA All-American, Junior College Player of the Year, Junior College Student-Athlete of the Year and MVP of the NJCAA Tournament.
A native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Rivera has had more turnovers than assists just three times in 36 career games. He is shooting 48.6 percent from the field this season (up from 44.3 percent in 2003-04) and 91.7 percent from the foul line (up from 77.9 percent). Rivera has scored in double figures in each of his last three games, averaging 13.7 ppg during that span.
Williams Does a Little of Everything
Junior swingman Jason Williams ranked either first, second or third on the team in five statistical categories last season -- rebounding (first/6.1 rpg), scoring (second/11.6 ppg), assists (second/3.5 apg), blocked shots (third/0.3 bpg) and steals (third/1.1 spg). He was only the third forward in school history to collect 100 assists (he had 112).
Early in 2004-05 Williams is second on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and assists (3.3 apg). He has scored in double figures in all but one game, including 19 points on 8-12 shooting versus IPFW on Nov. 30. He had scored in double figures in eight straight contests dating back to the 2003-04 season before totaling six points against Texas Tech on Dec. 4.
UTEP is 20-5 in Williams' career when he scores in double figures, 8-0 when he leads the team in scoring and 5-0 when he has a 20-point game. He and senior guard Filiberto Rivera are the only Miners who have started every game that they have played in (Williams has started 38 games and Rivera 36).
A native of Marrero, La., Williams scored his career-high 24 points at New Mexico State on Dec. 6, 2003. He absolutely torched the I-10 rival Aggies, averaging 22.5 points in two games while shooting 70 percent (16-23) from the field and 57 percent (4-7) from three-point territory.
The Year After, Part I
UTEP made its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance last season. The Miners have traditionally fared well the year after going to "The Big Dance." UTEP followed up its previous 14 NCAA Tournament trips by averaging 20.9 victories. On eight occasions, the Miners returned to the NCAA Tournament (1964-67-85-86-87-88-89-90) and UTEP advanced to the National Invitation Tournament twice (1965-93). Only four times (1968-71-76-91) did the Miners fail to return to postseason play in 14 tries.
The Year After, Part II
Last year the Miners won the WAC regular season title for the eighth time. UTEP has repeated this feat the following season on four occasions. The Miners captured the WAC regular season championship five consecutive years from 1983-87. UTEP has never finished lower than fourth in the WAC the year after claiming first place.
Miners Picked First
UTEP is listed first in both the preseason WAC coaches' and media polls, which were released in October.
In the coaches' poll, the Miners received 77 total points and five first place votes. Rice is second (75 points/five first-place votes), Louisiana Tech third (59 points), Nevada fourth (53 points), Hawaii fifth (51 points), SMU sixth (45 points), Boise State seventh (32 points), Tulsa eighth (27 points), Fresno State ninth (21 points) and San Jose State 10th (10 points).
In the media poll, UTEP garnered 186 total points and 13 of a possible 20 first-place votes. Rice is second (178 points/five first-place votes), Nevada third (136 points/one first-place vote), Hawaii fourth (130 points/one first-place vote), Louisiana Tech fifth (127 points), Boise State sixth (111 points), SMU seventh (75 points), Fresno State eighth (71 points), Tulsa ninth (65 points) and San Jose State 10th (21 points).
UTEP senior guard Filberto Rivera was named first team All-WAC by the coaches, and senior forward/guard Omar Thomas was a second team honoree. Rivera was also tabbed to the media's preseason All-WAC squad.
The preseason league player of the year according to both the coaches and media is Rice senior forward Michael Harris.
More Preseason Honors
UTEP has been picked first in the WAC by CBSSportsLine.com, Lindy's and The Sporting News'preseason magazines.
The Miners are pegged to finish second in the league by Athlon and third by Street & Smith's.
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera is a unanimous preseason first team All-WAC selection. Senior forward/guard Omar Thomas is a first-team All-WAC honoree by two publications (CBSSportsLine.com, Lindy's), and a second team All-WAC choice by another (The Sporting News). Thomas is also rated one of the nation's top 20 small forwards by Lindy's and The Sporting News.
Junior forward John Tofi and junior swingman Jason Williams were recognized as second team All-WAC players by CBSSportsLine.com and The Sporting News, respectively.
Sports Illustrated recently named Rivera one of five underrated, "Under the Radar" players in the nation in its preseason college preview.
Back Again
The Miners' top four scorers return from the 2003-04 season. UTEP is the only WAC school to welcome back four players who averaged double figures in scoring a year ago -- senior forward/guard Omar Thomas (15.5 ppg), junior guard/forward Jason Williams (11.6 ppg), senior guard Filiberto Rivera (11.2 ppg) and junior forward John Tofi (10.8 ppg). Overall UTEP returns 75 percent of its points, 73 percent of its rebounds and 76 percent of its assists from last year's outfit.
UTEP has three starters back. Louisiana Tech, SMU and Tulsa return the most starters among WAC schools (four each). UTEP has four seniors (Thomas Gehrke, Will Kimble, Rivera, Thomas) which is tied for the most in the league with Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Rice, SMU and Tulsa.
Highly-Touted Newcomers
UTEP's recruiting class -- which was rated best in the WAC by Hoop Scoop -- features a Division I transfer (Will Kimble), a junior college transfer (Miguel Ayala) and three freshmen (Stanley Branch, Vernon Carr, Kelvin Davis).
Kimble played for two years at Pepperdine (2000-01, 2001-02), where he was a member of a pair of postseason tournament teams (NIT 2001, NCAA 2002). He is listed as a senior on UTEP's 2004-05 roster, but Miner athletic department officials will petition the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility in 2005-06.
Ayala, who has missed quite a bit of practice time early this season with a groin injury, was ranked the 27th-best incoming junior college player in the country by The Sporting News. A deadly outside shooter, he played last season at Fullerton (Calif.) College.
Branch was listed as the 18th-best prep school player in the country by recruiting analyst Clark Francis after spending last season at Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia. Carr was an All-State performer at Redford (Mich.) High School, leading his school to the Final Four of the state playoffs. Davis was an explosive scorer at Sacred Heart (Conn.) High School, averaging 29 points as a senior and 24 points as a junior.
Other newcomers are walk-on guards James Fontenet and Colt Tharpe. Fontenet, who is not yet eligible to play, spent the last two years at New Mexico State and Scottsdale Community College respectively. Tharpe was coached by UTEP's Doc Sadler during the 2002-03 season at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Miners Sign Two
UTEP Coach Doc Sadler announced in November that guard/forward Moses Gonzalez and guard Stefon Jackson have signed national letters of intent to play for the Miners beginning with the 2005-06 season.
Gonzalez will have two years of eligibility at UTEP, while Jackson will have four years of eligibility.
The 6-5 Gonzalez is entering his sophomore year at Ventura (Calif.) College. He is rated the #7 junior college wing forward in the country by Lindy's preseason magazine, and is also a preseason Junior College All-American by Street & Smith's. Ventura College is ranked fifth in Street & Smith's preseason top-25 junior college poll.
A native of The Bronx, N.Y., Gonzalez was a member of Ventura's 2003-04 team that was 23-6 and ranked ninth in the state of California. He averaged 19.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 59 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the line. He was a first team All-State honoree a year ago, as well as MVP of the Western State Conference. Gonzalez attended Walton High School in The Bronx, averaging 20 points as a prep senior. He is of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent.
The 6-4 Jackson is currently attending Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia. He is rated the 42nd-best prep player in the country by Hoop Scoop. Jackson averaged 35 points this past summer at the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Fall Jam Fest. He was also chosen MVP of both the Five-Star Camp and Rick Barry's Adidas All-Star Game earlier this year.
Jackson averaged 27 points last season at Lutheran Christian Academy. He averaged 18 points during the 2002-03 campaign at King High School in Philadelphia. Jackson helped King to a 22-5 record en route to being selected second team All-Public League by The Philadelphia Daily News.He also earned first team All-City honors.
C-USA in '05
UTEP will shift to Conference USA effective on July 1, 2005. The Miners will join WAC brethren Rice, SMU and Tulsa in the new-look league which will also include Central Florida, East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane and UAB.
Last year C-USA advanced eight men's basketball teams to postseason play (six NCAA, two NIT).
UTEP has been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since September, 1967.
Looking Ahead
UTEP will renew its I-10 rivalry with New Mexico State this week. The Miners will play in Las Cruces on Wednesday (Dec. 15) before hosting the Aggies on Saturday (Dec. 18). New Mexico State leads the all-time series with UTEP, 100-89. The Miners swept the Aggies last year, prevailing 83-74 in Las Cruces and 85-60 in the Sun City.
Miner Nuggets
Junior forward John Tofi did not score for the first time in 65 career games against Texas Tech...UTEP has made at least one three-pointer in 111 straight games...junior guard Miguel Ayalahad a career-high eight rebounds (all defensive) versus Texas Tech...the Red Raiders had two Haskins Center opponent records on Dec. 4. Ronald Ross tied the record with seven steals and Devonne Giles' six blocks shattered the previous mark of four rejections by three different players...UTEP overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Arizona State. The Miners trailed 39-29 and 41-31...two UTEP road games -- at Nevada (Jan. 12) and Rice (Feb. 5) -- will be nationally televised on ESPN2...the Miners shot 62.5 percent from the field in the season opener versus Delaware State, their best effort since hitting 64 percent of their shots at Colorado State on Feb. 29, 1992...UTEP tied the NCAA record for turnaround last year, improving from 6-24 in 2002-03 to 24-8. The 17-game improvement tied the record originally established by Mercer in 2002-03...UTEP ended the 2003-04 season rated ninth nationally in free throw percentage (.752), 18th in field goal percentage (.477), 20th in scoring offense (77.5 ppg) and scoring margin (+10.0 ppg) and 25th in assists per game (16.3)...junior guard Josh Gutierrez is an El Paso native who attended Hanks High School.
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