For Starters
For the third straight season, UTEP wraps up the first half of the conference schedule against Louisiana Tech. The Miners (17-3, 7-1 WAC) and Bulldogs (9-8, 4-4 WAC) will square off at 5:30 p.m. MST (6:30 p.m. CST) on Saturday at the 8,000-seat Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston.
Both teams are on a roll. UTEP has won 13 of its last 14 games and Louisiana Tech has put together three straight wins, including a 93-60 pasting of Boise State on Thursday. The Miners won at SMU, 60-55, on Thursday. It was the fifth straight game for UTEP to be decided by five points or less. The Miners have won four of the five games.
The Bulldogs are 4-2 at home this season, including 2-2 in WAC play with wins over Boise State and SMU (58-57), and losses to Nevada (64-56) and Fresno State (60-58). UTEP is 3-1 on the road, all in conference action with victories over SMU, Boise State (91-77), Nevada (83-80 in overtime) and a loss to Fresno State (66-63).
On The Radio
UTEP's English flagship station is KROD 600 AM. Jon Teicher is in his 24th season as "Voice of the Miners." Former Miner Steve Yellen is the color analyst. The pregame show begins at 5 p.m. MST. The game will also be carried on KBUY 1360 AM in Ruidoso, N.M.
On Television
Saturday's game will be televised in El Paso on Time Warner Cable Channel 7. The announcers are Jon Teicher (play-by-play) and Steve Yellen (color commentary) in a simulcast with KROD 600 AM.
The Series
UTEP leads the series 7-6, but trails 5-1 in games played in Ruston. The Miners had dropped five in a row to the Bulldogs on their home floor (by an average of 10.8 points) before breaking through with a 76-65 win a year ago. UTEP beat Louisiana Tech three times last season, including 62-55 in the quarterfinal round of the WAC Tournament in Fresno. The Miners have beaten the Bulldogs four straight times, their longest winning streak in a series that dates back to 1952.
The Last Meeting
Omar Thomas scored 20 points as UTEP advanced to the WAC Tournament semifinals with a 62-55 win over Louisiana Tech on March 11, 2004 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.
The Miners survived despite shooting a season-low 24 percent in the second half. UTEP led 54-40 with 13:34 to go on a layup by Thomas, but both teams went the next six minutes without scoring.
The Bulldogs, who lost to UTEP for the third time in the 2003-04 season, pulled to within 59-55 on a layup by Paul Millsap with 2:56 remaining. They had a chance to draw even closer after Thomas missed a jumper, but Barry Thompson committed a turnover on an over and back violation with 2:01 to go.
After Thomas made one of two free throws, Thompson and Donell Allick each missed three-point shots.Jason Williams closed it out by hitting two free throws with 23 seconds left.
Chris Craig scored 12 points, while Williams totaled nine points and 10 rebounds. Filiberto Rivera,who suffered a mild ankle sprain at Boise State in the previous game, started and played 37 minutes.
Rivera finished with four points, two rebounds, four assists and no turnovers.
UTEP opened a 27-14 lead with 8:21 remaining in the first half on a three-pointer by Giovanni St. Amant. The Miners were ahead 42-30 at the break.
Millsap led Louisiana Tech with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Allick chipped in with 12 points, and JueMichael Young added 11.
UTEP shot 40.7 percent, including 55.2 percent in the first half. The Miners had 18 assists and eight turnovers. Louisiana Tech shot 35.7 percent.
Scouting The Bulldogs
Four players scored in double figures as Louisiana Tech ripped Boise State, 93-60, on Thursday at the Thomas Assembly Center. Sophomore forward Paul Millsap and senior forward Wayne Powell each collected 20 points, while junior guard Daevon Haskins added 19 and senior guard Donell Allick 18. The Bulldogs held Boise State to 22.6 percent shooting in the first half in racing to a 35-18 lead, then continued their onslaught by shooting 62.5 percent in the second stanza. It was Louisiana Tech's biggest WAC win ever.
Millsap (19.3 ppg), senior guard Corey Dean (11.1 ppg) and Allick (10.8 ppg) are all averaging double figures in scoring. Millsap is one of the nation's top board men, averaging 11.6 rebounds per outing.
The Bulldogs have righted the ship after losing four consecutive games to start the year. Louisiana Tech stunned Hawaii on Jan. 15 in Honolulu when Powell scored on a putback with 3.6 seconds left, ending the Warriors' 13-game home winning streak.
Louisiana Tech is shooting 29.5 percent from three-point range and 59.7 from the line as a team.
Miners Versus Louisiana Tech
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera has averaged nine points in three games against Louisiana Tech, with a 12-2 assist to turnover ratio. Rivera has shot 30 percent (7-23) from the field and 25 percent (3-12) from three-point range versus the Bulldogs.
Senior forward Omar Thomas has a career scoring average of 21.7 ppg versus Louisiana Tech with a .615 field goal percentage. He scored 32 points in Ruston last season, a day after celebrating his 22nd birthday. Thomas was 13-18 from the field and 6-7 from the line in that game. He also had 20 points against the Bulldogs in the 2004 WAC Tournament.
Junior guard Giovanni St. Amant is shooting 50 percent (6-12) from three-point land lifetime versus Louisiana Tech. He has averaged six points in five games against the Bulldogs, scoring in double figures once (14 points in El Paso last season).
Junior forward John Tofi has career averages of 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds versus Louisiana Tech, with three double-figure scoring games.
Junior forward Jason Williams shot 29 percent (7-24) from the field against the Bulldogs a year ago, averaging eight points, six rebounds and four assists. He did not score in double digits in any of the three UTEP-Louisiana Tech matchups in 2003-04. In fact, Fresno State and Louisiana Tech are the only two WAC teams that Williams has never scored in double figures against.
Last Game: UTEP 60, SMU 55
UTEP outscored SMU 8-0 over the final 2:56, as the Miners rallied from a three-point deficit to edge the Mustangs, 60-55, on Thursday in Dallas.
Omar Thomas scored 22 points, Filiberto Rivera 13 and Miguel Ayala 11 for UTEP, which trailed 55-52 after SMU's Patrick Simpson scored on a jumper with 2:57 to play.
A free throw by Thomas pulled the Miners to within two points, and John Tofi knotted the score on a layup with 1:58 to go. Thomas gave UTEP the lead for good, 57-55, on a layup with 58 seconds remaining. The Miners closed it out with free throws after the Mustangs' Devon Pearson missed a three-pointer with 32 seconds left.
SMU put up a fight despite playing without leading scorer Bryan Hopkins, who was out with a wrist injury.
Pearson (19 points), Eric Castro (14) and Simpson (10) picked up the scoring slack for the Mustangs, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Simpson wasn't expected to play with a high ankle sprain, but ended up providing a solid 26 minutes with six rebounds and two blocked shots.
UTEP beat SMU in Dallas for the second straight season. The Miners had dropped six in a row on the Mustangs' home floor before breaking through with an 81-71 win a year ago.
Thomas scored six points in the first four minutes as UTEP opened a 10-0 lead. The Miners led 21-12 on a three-pointer by Jason Williams midway through the first half, but SMU answered with a 9-0 run to tie the game on a free throw by Pearson with 6:28 on the clock.
UTEP was ahead 30-29 at the half, and neither team led by more than five points following the intermission.
SMU tied its largest lead of the night, 37-32, on a layup by Castro with 15:51 remaining. UTEP scored the next six points to go up 38-37 on an Ayala jumper with 13:25 left, and it was a seesaw battle the rest of the way.
Nice Debut For Sadler
UTEP's Doc Sadler is one of 38 coaches who are new at NCAA Division I-A institutions this season.
Through Thursday, Sadler was tied for the most wins (17) and the best winning percentage (.850) among new head coaches.
With UTEP's next win, Sadler will tie legendary Don Haskins for the most victories by a first-year Miner coach. Haskins posted an 18-6 mark in his first season at the helm of the UTEP program (1961-62).
Sadler is already guaranteed to become only the second Miner coach to post a winning record in his initial season (Haskins was the other). On a related note, UTEP is certified of registering back-to-back winning campaigns for the first time since 1993-94 and 1994-95.
50 Percent Streak Ends
UTEP's string of games holding opponents under 50 percent shooting was ended at 24 on Thursday. SMU shot 59 percent in the second half, and 51 percent on the night.
Ironically, the last team to shoot 50 percent against the Miners was SMU on Feb. 28, 2004 at Moody Coliseum (55.3 percent). Only four times in the last 67 games have opponents hit 50 percent of their shots versus UTEP.
Another defensive note to come out of the SMU game -- the Mustangs were 0-7 from three-point range, ending a streak of 130 consecutive contests in which UTEP allowed at least one trifecta. The last Miner opponent to go 0-for-long range was San Jose State on Jan. 13, 2001 (0-7).
What a Start
UTEP is 17-3 for the first time since the 1991-92 season. The Miners won 18 of their first 21 games that year.
UTEP is 7-1 in WAC play for the first time since 1984-85. With a win on Saturday, the Miners would tie their best-ever WAC start at 8-1. UTEP won eight of its first nine league games during the 1983-84 campaign before losing at San Diego State, 73-62.
Challenging Stretch
UTEP is in the midst of playing four straight WAC road games for the first time since 1991-92. The Miners won game one of the road swing at SMU on Thursday, 60-55.
The Miners have played four consecutive WAC away contests in eight seasons (1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92). Only once (1983-84) did UTEP win three of the four games. The Miners earned a split on six occasions, and lost three of four games in 1990-91.
Too Close For Comfort
UTEP has played six games this season that have been decided by five points or less, including the last five. The Miners are 5-1 in such contests, beating Arizona State (66-65) on Nov. 26, Nevada (83-80 in overtime) on Jan. 12, Hawaii (71-70) on Jan. 20, San Jose State (69-65) on Jan. 22 and SMU (60-55) on Jan. 29. UTEP lost at Fresno State (66-63) on Jan. 15.
The Miners won four games by five points or less last season, beating Tulsa (59-56), Nevada (79-76), Louisiana Tech (71-68) and Fresno State (58-55) in WAC play. Over the last two seasons, UTEP is 8-2 in WAC games determined by five points or fewer.
More on Playing it Close
UTEP's last five games have been decided by a total of 16 points. During that span, the Miners have averaged 69.2 points and opponents have averaged 67.2 points.
UTEP averaged 97.3 points and 65.3 shot attempts in its first three WAC games. The Miners have averaged 69.2 points and 50.6 shot attempts in their last five conference outings. UTEP has managed fewer than 50 shot attempts in three of its last four games.
Over the last five games, five players -- senior forward Omar Thomas, senior guard Filiberto Rivera, junior guard Miguel Ayala, junior forward Jason Williams and junior forward John Tofi -- have teamed to score 310 of UTEP's 346 points (90 percent). Thomas is averaging 19.6 points, Rivera 15.2, Ayala 10.2, Williams 10.0 and Tofi 7.0 during this stretch. The rest of the Miners have averaged 7.2 points while shooting 34 percent (13-38) from the floor collectively.
Over the last five games, UTEP's two big men -- Tofi and senior Will Kimble -- have averaged 11 points and 9.2 shot attempts between them. They had seven shot attempts at SMU on Thursday, their lowest combined total since Dec. 12 versus Oklahoma Panhandle State (three).
UTEP in the NCAA/WAC Stats
Through Thursday, UTEP rated third nationally in free throw percentage (.778) behind Michigan State (.801) and Arizona (.781). The school record for free throw percentage (.766) was set in 1968-69.
The Miners were tied for 12th in the nation in winning percentage (.850) and tied for 21st in scoring margin (+13.7 ppg) through Thursday.
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera was tied for 12th in the country in assists (6.7 apg), and senior forward Omar Thomas was 24th in scoring (19.8 ppg).
In the WAC stats, UTEP was first in scoring defense (61.7 ppg), scoring margin (+13.7 ppg), free throw percentage (.778), three-point field goal percentage (.382), assists (16.9 apg), turnover margin (+2.50) and assist/turnover ratio (1.27); second in scoring offense (75.4 ppg), field goal percentage (.469) and rebound margin (+3.8 rpg); and third in field goal percentage defense (.411) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.315).
No WAC team has ended a season as the league leader in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Rice is currently tops in the conference in scoring offense (75.7 ppg), just a shade above UTEP's 75.4 average.
Individually, Thomas was third in scoring (19.8 ppg) and free throw percentage (.824), tied for fifth in steals (1.5 spg), seventh in field goal percentage (.521) and 12th in rebounding (6.7 rpg). Junior forward Jason Williams was tied for fifth in steals (1.5 spg), ninth in minutes played (33.1 mpg), 13th in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and 14th in scoring (12.9 ppg). Junior forward John Tofi was 14th in rebounding (6.1 rpg). Senior guard Filiberto Rivera was the league leader in assists (6.7 apg), free throw percentage (.868) and assist/turnover ratio (3.17). Junior guard Miguel Ayala was first in three-point field goal percentage (.423) and fourth in three-point field goals made per game (2.1).
Thomas Regains Form
Senior forward Omar Thomas poured in 22 points at SMU on Thursday after being held to three points -- tying his career low -- in the previous game versus San Jose State. Thursday's performance marked the 16th 20-point game for Thomas, and his eighth this season. UTEP is 13-3 in Thomas' career when he scores 20 or more points, including 7-1 this season.
He has scored in double figures in 19 of 20 games this season, and 25 of the last 27 dating back to 2003-04. He had scored 15+ points in 19 straight games -- the longest streak by a Miner player since 1994 -- before being limited to three points by the Spartans a week ago.
Thomas has attempted a free throw in every game this season, and in 30 straight contests dating back to the 2003-04 campaign.
He is on pace to become only the third Miner to score 1,000 points in two seasons, joining Jim Barnes(1962-64) and Antoine Gillespie (1992-94). Thomas has scored 891 career points.
While Thomas has put up some spectacular 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 15-9 in Thomas' career when he leads the team in scoring, and 26-2 when he either ties for the team lead or someone else is the high point man.
The Will and Williams Show
Senior center Will Kimble and junior forward Jason Williams have struggled offensively in recent games. Kimble scored one point in 21 minutes at SMU on Thursday, taking just two shot attempts. After scoring in double figures in back-to-back contests versus Rice and Tulsa earlier this month, he has been held to less than 10 points in each of the last five games. Kimble is averaging 11 points in WAC home games, shooting 58 percent (15-26) from the field. He is averaging one point in WAC road games with a .200 (1-5) field goal percentage. Kimble has averaged 6.5 shot attempts in WAC home games, and 1.7 shot attempts in WAC away games.
Williams had three points against the Mustangs on Thursday, his lowest total in a game since Feb. 23, 2004 versus Hawaii (two points). He has been limited to single-digit points in four of the last five games. During those four games, he has hit 30 percent (9-30) of his shots.
Historically, when Williams has played well the Miners have won. UTEP is 28-5 in his career when he scores in double figures, 14-0 when he leads the team in scoring and 7-0 when he has a 20-point game. Williams has scored in double figures 13 times this season, second only to senior forward Omar Thomas who has put up 10+ points in 19 of 20 games.
Williams, Thomas and SMU's Eric Castro are the only three players listed among the WAC leaders in points, rebounds and steals.
Ayala Provides Firepower in Reserve
Junior guard Miguel Ayala has emerged as UTEP's top bench threat this season, collecting 138 points in 17 games off the pine (8.1 avg.).
The sharpshooter from Tepic, Mexico has drained three or more three-pointers in eight games this season, including six of eight WAC contests. Ayala is shooting 50 percent (25-50) from beyond the arc in league contests, second only to San Jose State's Alex Elam who is hitting 51.3 percent of his attempts from long range. Ayala is the WAC leader in three-pointers made per game for league contests (3.1).
Ayala is the team leader in double-figure scoring games off the bench with six. He has scored in double figures in three straight games for the first time as a Miner.
Road Warriors
UTEP is 4-1 on the road this season after posting a 6-5 road mark in 2003-04. Over the last two years, the Miners are 8-5 in WAC away games.
UTEP actually has a better scoring average, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage on the road than at home this season. The Miners are also averaging fewer turnovers per game on the road than at home.
Four UTEP players have better scoring averages on the road than at home -- senior forward Omar Thomas (18.2 ppg at home/23.2 ppg on the road), senior guard Filiberto Rivera (11.1 ppg at home/14.6 ppg on the road), junior guard Miguel Ayala (8.7 ppg at home/9.2 ppg on the road) and junior forward John Tofi (4.2 ppg at home/7.2 rpg on the road).
Rivera and Thomas have scored 51 percent of UTEP's points in road games, compared to 34 percent in home outings.
Getting it Done at the Line
The Miners have shot 75 percent or better from the charity stripe in 13 of 20 games, and 80 percent or better on nine occasions. UTEP has shot 80 percent or better from the foul line in eight of its last 12 games. The Miners have a stellar .810 free throw percentage in WAC contests.
For the second straight season, UTEP has made more free throws (364) than its opponents have attempted (312). The Miners are averaging 23.4 foul shots per game, compared to 15.6 for opponents. UTEP has shot more free throws than foes in 16 of 20 games this season.
70 is a Magic Number
Scoring 70 points has translated to winning games over the last three seasons. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, UTEP is 37-4 when scoring 70 points (11-0 this season), and 10-31 when totaling less than 70 points (6-3 this season). UTEP has won six games when scoring less than 70 points for the first time since 1997-98 (seven times).
Earlier this year, the Miners scored 90+ points in three straight WAC games for the first time in school history. It marked the first time that UTEP registered three consecutive 90-point games since 1968-69.
UTEP is attempting to lead the WAC in scoring margin for all games and conference games for the first time since 1985-86.
Lethal From Three
UTEP has made 65 three-pointers in eight WAC games, including 13 at Boise State on Jan. 1. UTEP leads the WAC in three-point field goal percentage (.461) and three-pointers made per game (8.1) for conference games only.
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera and junior guard Miguel Ayala are tied for second in three-point percentage for WAC games. Both are shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc (Ayala 25-50, Rivera 20-40). UTEP's starters are a combined 36-78 (.462) from behind the three-point line in conference outings.
Ayala made six trifectas versus Rice on Jan. 6, and Rivera added six more at Nevada on Jan. 12. Against the Owls, Ayala became the second Miner to hit six or more three-pointers in a reserve role. Henry Hall buried six three-pointers in 28 minutes off the bench at BYU on Jan. 11, 1990.
Rivera is Assist Leader
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera leads the WAC in assists for all games (6.7 apg) and conference games only (7.1 apg). He is trying to become just the second Miner to lead the league in assists. Future NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway first achieved this feat during the 1987-88 campaign, averaging 5.7 assists.
Rivera has had more turnovers than assists just four times in 49 career games. He has had no turnovers in eight career contests (three times this season).
UTEP has had 15 turnovers or more just five times in Rivera's 17 games this season. The Miners have had single-digit turnovers on six occasions in 2004-05.
Rivera has had 10 or more assists in two games this season (10 at New Mexico State, 12 versus Alabama State). He is the ninth Miner to post 10 or more 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, Eugene Costello and Ed Haller.
UTEP Nearing 100th Sellout
A capacity crowd of 12,000 witnessed UTEP's 69-65 win over San Jose State on Saturday. It was the Miners' third sellout of the season, and 99th all-time in the Don Haskins Center, which opened on Feb. 3, 1977.
Over the last two seasons, UTEP has had 11 sellouts. The Miners are averaging 9,814 fans this season. UTEP is second in the WAC in average home attendance behind Fresno State (11,728 avg.).
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.
Dynamite Defense
Teams are shooting 41.1 percent from the field against the Miners (best since 1991-92) and 31.5 percent from three-point distance (best since 1996-97). UTEP has forced 316 turnovers in 20 games (15.8 avg.). UTEP is on a pace to force 506 turnovers this season, which would be the third-most in school history behind the 1986-87 Miners (551) and 1980-81 Miners (507).
UTEP has held three teams to less than 50 points (Oklahoma Panhandle State, Occidental College, Princeton) this season, marking the first time that has happened at the school since 1990-91 (three times).
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.
UTEP is an improved board team in 2004-05. The Miners have a +3.7 rebound margin through 20 games, their best since 1989-90 (+4.5 rebound margin). UTEP had double-digit rebound margins against Jackson State (51-30), Arizona State (42-31), Alabama State (41-22) and Tulsa (46-26).
UTEP has won the rebounding battle in 11 of 20 games this season -- including nine of the last 14. The Miners are second in the WAC in rebound margin after finishing sixth last season.
Three Miners are averaging at least six rebounds per game -- senior forward Omar Thomas (6.7 rpg), junior forward Jason Williams (6.2 rpg) and junior forward John Tofi (6.1 rpg). Tofi is sixth in the WAC in rebounding for conference games only (7.8 rpg).
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 16-0 run against Tulsa and Nevada, and a 14-0 spurt versus Oklahoma Panhandle State.
The longest opponent run in 2004-05 is 17-0 by Hawaii on Jan. 20.
Still the Only 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.
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.
Miners Win Sun Bowl Tournament
UTEP defeated Alabama State (89-57) and Princeton (68-42) on Dec. 27-28 to capture its second consecutive State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament title. The Miners hadn't won the tournament in successive years since 1990-91.
Senior forward Omar Thomas was chosen tournament MVP for the second year in a row. He averaged 25 points in the two games, shooting 72 percent (18-25) from the field and 74 percent (14-19) from the line. In four career State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament games, Thomas has averaged 23 points on 71 percent (32-45) field goal shooting and 74 percent (28-38) free throw shooting.
Thomas is the first player to earn MVP honors of the tournament in back-to-back seasons since UTEP's Tim Hardaway in 1987 and 1988. Thomas joins Hardaway, Nate Archibald (1968-69), Gary Brewster (1972, 1974-75), Anthony Burns (1979-80) and Fred Reynolds (1981, 1983) as the only multiple MVP winners in the history of the tournament, which originated in 1961 (tournament officials first began selecting an MVP in 1968).
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.
Miner Nuggets
UTEP has won seven games this month. The school record for victories in January is eight, set in 1984-85 and 1991-92...UTEP's assist/turnover ratio in WAC play is 149-92...the Miners have had more assists than turnovers in 10 of the last 11 games, and 14 times in 20 contests this season...UTEP collected 13 three-point field goals against Boise State on Jan. 1, the most for the Miners since registering a school-record 15 in the 2003-04 season opener versus UT Permian Basin. UTEP's 59.1 three-point percentage versus the Broncos ranks ninth-best (minimum 10 attempts) in school history...the Miners were perfect (10-10) from the foul line versus BSU for the first time since Jan. 13, 1977 against Arizona State (11-11)...starters have scored 1,129 of UTEP's 1,508 points in 2004-05 (75 percent)...Rivera joined Omar Thomas on the State Farm Sun Bowl All-Tournament Team...UTEP has made at least one three-pointer in 125 straight games...UTEP overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Arizona State. The Miners trailed 39-29 and 41-31...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.
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