For Starters
UTEP (7-2) hosts NCAA Division III Occidental College (6-1) on Tuesday at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. MST. Following the game, the Miners will take a short holiday break before returning to action on Monday at the 44th annual State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament. Alabama State, Princeton and Tulane will join UTEP in the field of the two-day tournament. Alabama State and Princeton both participated in last year's NCAA Tournament.
The Miners are 5-1 at home this season, and 21-2 in their last 23 games in the Haskins Center. UTEP's average margin of victory at home this season has been 22.2 points. Occidental College is 1-1 on the road, with a win over La Sierra (78-66) and a loss to San Diego (89-53).
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 6:30 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 Tuesday's game.
The Series
UTEP and Occidental College are meeing for the first time.
Last Game
Junior swingman Jason Williams put up 21 points, eight rebounds and two steals on Saturday night, propelling the Miners to a 79-61 win over I-10 rival New Mexico State.
Williams has now averaged 19.8 points on 59 percent shooting in his career against NMSU, with three 20-point games.
The Miners swept the Aggies in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1985-86 and 1986-87. UTEP has also won three straight in the series by 10+ points, the first time either team has accomplished this feat since the late '60s.
UTEP improved to 10-0 all-time when Williams leads the team in scoring, and 6-0 when he has a 20-point game.
Neither team shot well. UTEP hit 36.7 percent of its shots and NMSU finished at 36.1 percent. The Miners only scored eight field goals in the second half but went to the line 28 times, making 27. UTEP finished 37-42 from the charity stripe (88.1 percent).
The Miners fell behind 7-5 early, but went on a 9-0 run for a 14-7 lead and did not trail again. UTEP led 33-17 at the break behind Williams, who scored 15 first-half points.
The Aggies shot 25 percent in the first half, and misfired on all seven of their three-point attempts. NMSU heated up to 45.5 percent shooting in the second stanza, but couldn't keep the Miners off the foul line.
NMSU's Duane John and Josh Jenkins each fouled out, and three other players finished the game with at least three fouls.
The 37 free throws made by UTEP were a season high and tied for the sixth-top game total in school annals. Seniors Filiberto Rivera and Omar Thomas were a combined 25-26 from the charity stripe.
Thomas had 15 points despite missing 10 of his 11 shots, and Rivera chipped in with 15 points and six assists.
Trevor Lawrence scored 17 points and Mike Mitchell 12 -- including 10 in the second half -- for the Aggies.
UTEP outrebounded the Aggies 41-36.
It marks the first time that UTEP has beaten NMSU four straight times since December, 1987.
A sellout crowd of 12,000 was on hand. UTEP improved to 10-1 all-time when the Haskins Center is sold out and New Mexico State is the opponent.
Scouting The Tigers
Occidental College is a school of 1,800 located in Los Angeles. The Tigers were 16-9 last season, and have eight returning letterwinners and three starters.
Sophomore Joe Sasich is leading the team in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg), while shooting 67 percent from the field. The Tigers are shooting 52.9 percent as a team, and have held opponents to a .389 field goal percentage and 58.3 points per game.
Occidental College is riding a four-game winning streak coming to El Paso after bouncing Concordia-Wisconsin at home, 70-58, on Sunday. The Tigers are 6-1 and rated 31st in the NCAA Division III ranks.
UTEP in the WAC Stats
UTEP leads the WAC in scoring defense (59.9 ppg) and free throw percentage (.763). The Miners are second in scoring margin (+11.3 ppg) and turnover margin (+1.11).
UTEP rates 18th nationally in free throw percentage.
Individually, senior forward Omar Thomas is second in free throw percentage (.818), third in steals (1.8 spg), fifth in scoring (19.0 ppg), 10th in field goal percentage (.500) and tied for 13th in rebounding (6.8 rpg). Junior guard/forward Jason Williams is fifth in minutes played (35.1 mpg), 10th in steals (1.4 spg) and 12th in scoring (14.3 ppg). Junior guard Miguel Ayala is tied for eighth in three-point field goals made per game (1.7).
Miners Start Another Winning Streak
UTEP's current three-game winning streak ties its longest of the season. The Miners opened the year 3-0 before falling to Southern Illinois, 68-62, in the championship game of the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational.
The Miners last won four straight games from Feb. 19-28, 2004. UTEP's longest victory skein of the 2003-04 campaign was six games (accomplished twice).
UTEP had reeled off 11 consecutive home victories before falling to Texas Tech, 72-57, on Dec. 4. Since then the Miners have dispatched Oklahoma Panhandle State (69-44) and New Mexico State (79-61) in the Haskins Center to move to 21-2 in their last 23 home games. UTEP is 5-1 at home this season.
Strange Night
The Miners scored 79 points and won by 18 on Saturday versus New Mexico State despite collecting just 18 field goals (eight in the second half). The 18 field goals were a season-low and the fewest for UTEP in a game since March 6, 2004 at Boise State (16 field goals in a 59-45 loss to the Broncos). The last time the Miners won a game with as few as 18 field goals was on Feb. 12, 2004 at Fresno State (18 field goals in a 58-55 victory over the Bulldogs).
UTEP had six field goals in the second half against Louisiana Tech in the 2004 WAC Tournament, but still emerged victorious, 62-55.
The Magic Number is 70
The Miners have scored 70 points in back-to-back games after being held to less than 70 in the previous five contests. Scoring 70 points has translated to winning games over the last three seasons. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, UTEP is 30-4 when scoring 70 points (3-0 this season), and 7-30 when totaling less than 70 points (3-2 this season).
UTEP scored 48 points in the second half at NMSU, the most for the Miners in a period this season. The Miners shot 64.5 percent in the second half, their second-best effort of the season (69.2 percent in the first half against Delaware State). UTEP has shot 60 percent or better in three halves in 2004-05.
The Miners have limited all but one opponent this season (Texas Tech) to fewer than 70 points. While 70 may be the magic number on offense, 65 is the magic number on defense. UTEP is 22-1 in its last 23 games (7-0 this season) when holding opponents to 65 points or less. The only setback during this stretch was on March 6, 2004 at Boise State, 59-45.
Making a Killing at the Charity Stripe
UTEP is leading the WAC in free throw percentage (.763) for the second straight season. The Miners' current free throw percentage is their best since 1968-69 (.766).
UTEP was 27-28 from the charity stripe in the second half against New Mexico State on Saturday, with only Filiberto Rivera missing a foul shot. The Miners finished with an .881 free throw percentage, UTEP's top game figure since Jan. 3, 2004 versus Boise State (.895).
Seniors Omar Thomas and Rivera were a combined 25-26 from the free throw line versus the I-10 rival Aggies. Rivera leads UTEP with an .893 free throw percentage in 2004-05.
More on Foul Shots
The Miners have made more free throws (164) than their opponents have attempted (147) for the second year in a row. Overall UTEP is 17-1 in its last 18 games when shooting more charity shots than the opposition. The only loss during that span was on Nov. 27 against Southern Illinois, when the Miners fell 68-62 despite enjoying an edge in free throw tries, 20-17. UTEP has gone to the line more often than the opposition in seven of nine games this season. UTEP is 5-0 in 2004-05 when shooting a better free throw percentage than foes.
The Miners outshot Oklahoma Panhandle State 24-5 from the foul line on Dec. 12, and New Mexico State 42-18 on Dec. 18. UTEP has shot at least 12 more free throws than the opposing team in four of nine games this season. The +24 differential in free throw attempts versus the Aggies was the largest bulge for UTEP since Dec. 6, 2003 at NMSU (+24, 41-17 margin). In the last 12 games played between UTEP and New Mexico State over six seasons, the Miners have shot 348 free throws (29.0 avg.) to the Aggies' 222 (18.5 avg.).
Thomas in the Twilight Zone
It was a bizarre night for senior forward Omar Thomas on Saturday. His normally reliable jump shot deserted him and he missed 10 of his 11 field goal attempts versus New Mexico State. Thomas, however, extended his streak of games with 15+ points to 10 by making all 13 of his free throw attempts. It is the longest such streak by a Miner since Brandon Wolfram also had 10 straight games with 15+ points during the 2000-01 season (earlier in his career, Wolfram had a string of 17 straight contests with 15+ points).
Thomas managed to tie his career-high for free throws made and his career-low for field goals made in the same game three nights ago. He also made one shot from the field on Feb. 23, 2004 versus Hawaii.
How rare have cold-shooting games been in Thomas' career? He has shot 50 percent or better from the floor 26 times in 41 games as a Miner.
Williams Torches Aggies
Junior swingman Jason Williams may wish he could play against arch-rival New Mexico State every night. Williams has scored 20+ points six times in his career, and three of those performances have come against the Aggies. He is shooting 59 percent (29-49) from the field and 50 percent (6-12) from three-point territory lifetime versus NMSU, while averaging 19.8 points.
In the first meeting between the Miners and the Aggies on Dec. 15, Williams had no turnovers for just the third time in 40 career games. It ended a streak of 24 straight contests in which he committed at least one miscue.
Winning Time With Williams
While Omar Thomas may be UTEP's leading point producer and Filiberto Rivera may be perceived to be the team leader, UTEP's fortunes have generally hinged on Jason Williams'performance. The Miners are 23-5 in Williams' career when he scores in double figures, 10-0 when he leads the team in scoring and 6-0 when he has a 20-point game.
While Thomas has put up some eye-popping numbers in two seasons in the Sun City, statistics indicate that the Miners are a better team when they are spreading the wealth. UTEP is 10-8 in Thomas' career when he leads the team in scoring, and 21-2 when someone else is the high point man.
Opponents Getting Their Fill of Fili
UTEP senior guard Filiberto Rivera returned to the lineup on Dec. 15 at New Mexico State after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury.
The Miners went 2-1 in Rivera's absence, beating IPFW (67-58) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (69-44) and losing to Texas Tech (72-57). UTEP averaged 64.3 points in the three games, shooting 42.7 percent from the field and averaging 19.0 turnovers. Over the last two games -- with Rivera back in the fold -- the Miners have averaged 77 points and 11 turnovers.
There's no question that Rivera has made his teammates better. Senior forward Omar Thomas is shooting 53.9 percent from the field when Rivera plays, and 42.5 percent when he doesn't. Senior center Will Kimble has a .773 field goal percentage with Rivera, and .471 field goal percentage without him. Thomas and junior swingman Jason Williams have teamed to commit 3.5 turnovers per game with the steady Rivera on the floor, compared to 9.7 turnovers with the point guard sidelined.
40-40 Club
UTEP is 5-1 this season when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, and 4-0 when holding opponents to less than 40 percent accuracy. The Miners lead the WAC in scoring defense, allowing a stingy 59.9 points per outing.
Teams are shooting 38.8 percent from the field against the Miners (best since 1973-74) and 32.3 percent from three-point distance (best since 1996-97). UTEP has forced 151 turnovers in nine games (16.8 avg.). Last year, the Miners coerced opponents into turning over the basketball 521 times (16.3 avg.), the second-best single-season total in school annals. The record is held by the 1986-87 Miners, who forced 551 turnovers in 32 games (17.2 avg.).
Only three teams have shot 50 percent against the Miners in their last 56 games, and none in 2004-05. UTEP's current streak stands at 14 games holding foes under 50 percent shooting. The last team to shoot 50 percent against the Miners was SMU on Feb. 28, 2004 (.553).
The Miners turned in a stellar defensive effort versus Oklahoma Panhandle State on Dec. 12. UTEP allowed just 44 points, the lowest total by a Miner opponent since Air Force also collected 44 points on Feb. 8, 1992. OPSU's .279 field goal percentage was the worst by a UTEP foe since Jacksonville State shot 23 percent on Dec. 18, 1995.
Block Party
The Miners have collected 34 blocked shots in nine games, and are on pace to total 121 rejections this season. Only once in the last 10 seasons has UTEP registered 120 blocks or more (2000-01, 142).
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).
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 nine rejections in 2004-05 (all in home games). Freshman forward Stanley Branch has swatted seven shots in just 46 minutes of court time.
Sellout City
UTEP has had capacity crowds of 12,000 in 10 of its last 19 home games dating back to last season. The Miners have had two sellouts in 2004-05 (Texas Tech, New Mexico State). UTEP's average home attendance this season is 9,386.
The Miners have had 98 sellouts all-time in the Don Haskins Center, which opened for business on Feb. 3, 1977. UTEP averaged 10,282 fans a year ago; the Miners haven't averaged 9,000 or more patrons in back-to-back campaigns since 1989-90.
Bench Bits
UTEP had an edge in bench points (18-17) versus New Mexico State on Saturday for the first time in eight games, and only the second time this season.
UTEP's bench is averaging 15.3 points in 2004-05. The Miner reserves scored 35 points in the season opener against Delaware State. Over the last eight games, UTEP has received 103 points off the pine, an average of 12.9 per contest. However, over the last three games UTEP has averaged 17.7 bench points, compared to 8.3 in the previous four.
Junior guard Miguel Ayala is the Miners' top scorer off the bench this season (36 points in six games, 5.1 avg.). The top single-game point total by a UTEP reserve in 2004-05 came on Nov. 30, 2004 against IPFW (14 points by Giovanni St. Amant). Ayala and St. Amant are the only Miners to record double-figure points in a supporting role this season; Ayala collected 11 points off the pine in the season opener versus Delaware State on Nov. 21 (St. Amant has come off the bench for double-figure points twice in 2004-05).
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 +3.9 rebound margin through nine 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 won the rebounding battle in five of nine games this season -- including two of the last three.
Senior forward Omar Thomas (6.8 rpg) and junior swingman Jason Williams (6.3 rpg) are the Miners' leading rebounders. The 6-5 Thomas has already had three double-double (points-rebounds) games this season after having none in 2003-04.
Youmans is New
Freshman guard Ervin Youmans (Hobbs, N.M.) is not in the UTEP media guide, but has played in two games this season (versus Oklahoma Panhandle State and New Mexico 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.
Starting Lineup Finally Solidified?
Injuries have forced UTEP coach Doc Sadler to employ five different starting lineups this season. The Miners used only three starting lineups last season.
The current starting unit -- guards Filiberto Rivera and Giovanni St. Amant, forwards Omar Thomas and Jason Williams and center Will Kimble -- has posted a 4-1 record.
Ten different players have started games for the Miners already this season. Last year, only six different players made starts. True freshmen Vernon Carr and Kelvin Davis have each started one game in 2004-05.
Rivera Has 10-Assist Game
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera picked up his first career 10-assist performance on Dec. 15 at New Mexico State. The 10 assists tied for the fifth-top game total in school history.
Rivera is the first Miner to register 10 assists since Eugene Costello also had 10 on Feb. 17, 2001 versus Fresno State. Rivera is the ninth Miner to post 10 assists in a game, joining Tim Hardaway (four times), Eddie Rivera (three times), Prince Stewart (three times), Joe Griffin (twice), Eggie McRae (twice), Rudy Alvarez, Costello and Ed Haller.
Tofi Getting in Shape
Junior forward John Tofi has been gradually working his way back to form after undergoing two foot surgeries over the summer. Tofi got off to a slow start in 2004-05, totaling 21 points in the first seven games. He failed to score against Texas Tech on Dec. 4 for the first time in 65 games with the Miners.
Over the last two contests, he has looked more like the player who averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. Tofi collected 10 points and 15 rebounds in 38 minutes in two matchups with New Mexico State. He had nine boards in the second game between the schools on Dec. 18, his best total since the 2004 NCAA Tournament against Maryland (10 rebounds).
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. UTEP had a 14-0 spurt against Oklahoma Panhandle State. 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.
Still the One
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).
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 7-2 start in his initial season with the Miners, tying the best nine-game record by a first-year UTEP coach. Don Haskins (1961-62) and Jason Rabedeaux (1999-00) were also victorious in seven of their first nine 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.
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).
Miners Picked First
UTEP was 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 was 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 was 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 was Rice senior forward Michael Harris.
More Preseason Honors
UTEP was picked first in the WAC by CBSSportsLine.com, Lindy's and The Sporting News'preseason magazines.
The Miners were pegged to finish second in the league by Athlon and third by Street & Smith's.
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera was a unanimous preseason first team All-WAC selection. Senior forward/guard Omar Thomas was 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 was 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 named Rivera one of five underrated, "Under the Radar" players in the nation in its preseason college preview.
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'spreseason 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 host the 44th annual State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament on Monday and Tuesday in the Haskins Center. This year's field includes three 2004 NCAA Tournament teams -- Alabama State, Princeton and UTEP.
The Miners will face Alabama State at 7 p.m. on Monday, with the nightcap pitting Princeton against Tulane at 9 p.m. Tuesday's consolation game is slated for 5:30 p.m., with the championship to follow at 7:30 p.m.
UTEP has won the tournament 25 times, and played in the championship game on 36 occasions. The Miners downed Mississippi Valley State and Rutgers en route to the tournament title a year ago, as Omar Thomas was chosen MVP of the event.
Miner Nuggets
The start time for UTEP's WAC opener at Boise State on Jan. 1 has been moved from 2 p.m. MST to 7:30 p.m., allowing Bronco staff members attending the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29 ample time to return to Boise...senior forward Omar Thomas is on pace to become only the third UTEP player to total 1,000 points in two seasons, joining Jim Barnes (1962-64) and Antoine Gillespie (1992-94). Thomas owns 666 career points...Thomas has shot a free throw in 39 of 41 career games. He is the only Miner to go to the line in every game this season. He has made his last 14 free throw attempts...UTEP's starting guards (Filiberto Rivera, Giovanni St. Amant) are shooting a combined 88.6 percent (39-44) from the line...Rivera has a 32-14 assist-to-turnover ratio this season, and 184-86 for his career. Rivera has had more turnovers than assists just three times in 38 career games...Rivera has scored in double figures in four of the last five outings (12.2 ppg during that span)...UTEP has made at least one three-pointer in 114 straight games...junior guard Miguel Ayalahas a 16-6 assist-to-turnover ratio this season...Texas Tech registered 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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