For Starters
UTEP (24-7) participates in its 20th and final Western Athletic Conference Tournament beginning on Thursday in Reno, Nev. The Miners are seeded second in the tournament and will meet seventh-seed Hawaii (16-12) in a quarterfinal game at 1:00 p.m. MST (noon PST). The Miners finished 14-4 in league play this season, setting a school record for conference victories. Hawaii was 7-11 in WAC action.
The winner of Thursday’s game will face either No. 3 seed Rice or No. 6 seed SMU in a semifinal contest on Friday at 7:00 p.m. MST (6:00 p.m. PST). The Owls and Mustangs will square off on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. MST.
UTEP has posted an all-time record of 25-14 in the WAC Tournament (includes a 77-69 win over Hawaii in 1996, which the Miners later forfeited due to use of an ineligible player). The Miners are 9-5 in the quarterfinals. UTEP’s 25 WAC Tournament wins are the most by any league member all-time. The Miners have won the tournament on four occasions (1984, 1986, 1989, 1990), and finished runner-up five times (1985, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2004). UTEP is 2-1 against Hawaii in the WAC Tournament. The Miners and Bows are hooking up in postseason play for the first time since that fateful 1996 game.
The Miners are 10-2 as a No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament. UTEP is a No. 2 seed for the fifth time (1986, 1989, 1992, 2004 are the others). The Miners have reached the WAC Tournament final every time as a No. 2 seed, winning titles in 1986 and 1989 and taking second in 1992 and 2004.
UTEP is 1-1 on neutral courts this season (beat Arizona State 66-65, lost to Southern Illinois 68-62 in the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational), and 1-4 all-time at the Lawlor Events Center (1-0 this season, defeated Nevada 83-80 in overtime on Jan. 12). Hawaii is 1-0 on neutral floors in 2004-05 and 1-5 lifetime at Lawlor.
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 provides color commentary. The pregame show begins at 12:30 p.m. MST. The game will also be carried on KBUY 1360 AM in Ruidoso, N.M.
On Television
Time Warner Cable Channel 7 in El Paso will televise Thursday’s game. Rich Cellini (play-by-play) and Dave Bollwinkel (color commentary) will handle the call. The game is also available on the ESPN Full Court package.
The Series
UTEP leads the series 34-17. The Miners swept the season series, prevailing 71-70 in El Paso and 71-67 in Honolulu. UTEP has won three straight over its long-time WAC rival after Hawaii won the previous five matchups with the Miners. UTEP and Hawaii have split a pair of meetings on neutral floors. The Warriors beat the Miners 66-63 in a 1995 WAC Tournament quarterfinal game in Albuquerque. A year later, UTEP edged Hawaii 77-69 in a tournament play-in game in Albuquerque, before forfeiting the contest due to use of an ineligible player.
2004-05 Meetings
UTEP 71, Hawaii 70 (Jan. 20 at the Don Haskins Center): Omar Thomas made a pair of free throws with five seconds left, giving UTEP a 71-70 win over the Rainbow Warriors.
The Warriors’ Deonte Tatum missed a jumper in the lane as time expired.
The Miners were in control for much of the first half, taking their biggest lead at 45-32 on a three-pointer by Miguel Ayala with 57 seconds remaining.
But Hawaii answered with a 17-0 spurt -- the longest run by a UTEP opponent this season -- to charge ahead 49-45 on a dunk by Julian Sensley with 15:21 to play.
The Hawaii run grew to 26-4, ending in a layup by Bobby Nash for a 58-49 advantage with 11:40 left.
The Warriors still led by nine points, 64-55, after Kris Groce scored with 7:44 to go.
A 12-4 run by UTEP pulled the Miners to within 68-67 on another Ayala three-pointer with 3:20 remaining. Tatum answered with a driving layup for a 70-67 edge. Ayala was fouled on a three-point attempt with 58 seconds left, and made two of three foul shots to cut the deficit to 70-69.
Hawaii’s Jeff Blackett missed a jumper and Jason Williams grabbed the defensive rebound with 25 seconds to play, setting up Thomas’ free throws.
UTEP managed just three field goals after the intermission. The Miners were 3-18 from the field (16.7 percent) after shooting 53.6 percent in the opening half.
UTEP, however, was 18-25 from the line in the second half and 30-38 on the night. Hawaii went to the line just 13 times, making eight.
Jake Sottos led Hawaii with 20 points. He was perfect from the field (7-7) and three-point land (6-6). Sensley added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Nash had 10 points.
Thomas and Rivera each finished with 18 points for the Miners. Thomas pulled down 15 rebounds, tying a career-high, and Ayala netted 11 points off the bench.
UTEP 71, Hawaii 67 (Feb. 21 at the Stan Sheriff Center): Omar Thomas collected a game-high 27 points as UTEP completed its first sweep of the San Jose-Hawaii road trip in four years with a 71-67 win over the Warriors.
UTEP trailed just once in the first half at 2-0, and led by as many as 11 points before settling for a 33-32 cushion at the intermission.
The Warriors took a four-point advantage twice in the second half, the last at 50-46 on free throws by Jeff Blackett with 13:13 to play.
Hawaii was ahead 54-51 at the midway points of the second half before UTEP used a 9-0 run to seize a 60-54 lead. After the Warriors knotted the game at 62 with 3:56 remaining, Giovanni St. Amant hit a free throw and Filiberto Rivera drained a jumper for a 65-62 margin, and the Miners were in control the rest of the way.
Rivera scored 15 points and St. Amant 11 for the Miners, who shot 50.9 percent and outrebounded the Warriors 32-26.
Jake Sottos had 15 points, Blackett 12 and Julian Sensley 11 for Hawaii, which committed just four turnovers (all in the final 11 minutes).
Scouting The Warriors
Hawaii advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal round by beating 10th-seed San Jose State, 72-48, in Tuesday night’s play-in game. Julian Sensley scored 13 points for the Rainbow Warriors, who have won two games in a row following a five-game losing skid.
Hawaii is 13-4 at home and 2-8 on the road this season (1-0 on neutral floors). After starting the season 8-0, the Warriors are 8-12 since. The Warriors are led by sophomore guard Matt Gibson, who is averaging 13.1 points and 2.7 assists. Sensley, a junior forward, is averaging 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Senior guard Jake Sottos, a former teammate of UTEP’s Filiberto Rivera at Southeastern (Iowa) Community College, is averaging 10.9 points and has hit 65 three-point field goals.
Hawaii has played a bunch of close games. Seventeen contests have been determined by nine points or less, with the Warriors posting a 10-11 mark in those games (1-7 off the island).
Last Game: UTEP 78, Boise State 64
Omar Thomas scored 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds on Senior Night at the Don Haskins Center Saturday, helping UTEP bounce Boise State, 78-64.
Fellow senior Filiberto Rivera added 14 points and nine assists.
After Boise State tied the score 15-15 on a three-pointer by Jermaine Blackburn with 12:52 remaining in the first half, the Miners closed the half with a 28-4 run for a 43-19 lead at the break.
The Broncos scored the first 12 points of the second half to pull within 43-31. Franco Harris' three-pointer at the 15:24 mark sliced the deficit to 11 points (45-34). But UTEP used a 16-6 spurt to go ahead 61-40 with 9:27 left on a layup by Giovanni St. Amant.
The closest Boise State could get the rest of the night was 76-64 on a layup by Eric Lane with 26 seconds to go.
Lane scored all 17 of his points in the second half. Blackburn added 16 points and Coby Karl had 11 before fouling out with 5:02 to play.
Rivera, Thomas Named First Team All-WAC
UTEP seniors Filiberto Rivera and Omar Thomas were both named first team All-Western Athletic Conference on Sunday, based on a vote by league head coaches.
It marks the first time since the 1984-85 season that UTEP has had two first team All-WAC selections. Luster Goodwin and Juden Smith were honored that year.
In addition, junior Miguel Ayala was chosen to the WAC All-Newcomer Team, and junior Jason Williams to the WAC All-Defensive Team.
Rivera was a first team selection a year ago, and Thomas was a second team pick.
Nevada sophomore forward Nick Fazekas was named the WAC Player of the Year, and Wolf Pack guard Ramon Sessions Freshman of the Year. Nevada’s Mark Fox was appointed the Don Haskins Coach of the Year.
Sadler Has Winningest Debut
Doc Sadler has won 24 games this season, more than any other first-year UTEP coach. The legendary Don Haskins formerly held the record with 18 victories during his initial season (1961-62). Haskins and Sadler are the only coaches in school history to fashion a winning record in their first season at the helm of the storied program.
Sadler is one of 38 coaches who are new at NCAA Division I-A institutions this season. Through Sunday, he had the third-most wins (24) and the fourth-best winning percentage (.774) among new head coaches.
UTEP in the NCAA/WAC Stats
Through Sunday UTEP was tied for first in the country in free throw percentage (.791) with Michigan State. Senior guard Filiberto Rivera was tied for sixth in the nation in assists (7.2 apg).
In the WAC stats, UTEP was first in scoring offense (74.4 ppg), scoring margin (+9.9 ppg), free throw percentage (.791), three-point field goal percentage (.362), turnover margin (+2.45) and assist/turnover ratio (1.31). The Miners were second in scoring defense (64.5 ppg) and assists (16.5 apg), and third in field goal percentage (.461) and steals (7.2 spg).
Individually, senior forward Omar Thomas was third in free throw percentage (.836), fourth in scoring (20.2 ppg), sixth in field goal percentage (.519), fifth in steals (1.6 spg) and 10th in rebounding (6.7 rpg). Junior forward Jason Williams was sixth in steals (1.6 spg). Junior forward John Tofi was 10th in blocked shots (0.9 bpg) and 13th in rebounding (6.4 rpg). Rivera was the league leader in free throw percentage (.840), assists (7.2 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (3.42), 10th in steals (1.4 spg) and 15th in scoring (12.9 ppg). Junior guard Miguel Ayala was seventh in three-point field goals made per game (1.9).
NCAA Tournament Watch
UTEP is hoping to parlay a strong showing in this week’s WAC Tournament into a second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
The WAC has had at least two teams in the NCAA Tournament in 20 of the last 21 years (runner-up Fresno State was ineligible in 2003). Since the conference’s inception in 1962, 30 of the 32 WAC teams with 24+ wins on selection Sunday have received bids to the “Big Dance.”
Building Momentum
UTEP won five consecutive WAC games after falling to league-leading Nevada, 62-60, on Feb. 12 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners were 7-1 in their last eight league games.
The five-game WAC winning streak was the longest of the season for UTEP, which opened conference play 4-0.
UTEP is 7-2 in its last nine games, losing to a pair of ranked teams -- Nevada and at Pacific (73-66).
24 Wins Already
The Miners won 24 regular-season games for the first time since 1984-85, when they carried a 24-5 mark into the WAC Tournament (UTEP finished 27-6 that year). The 24 regular-season victories were one shy of the school record of 25, set during the 1983-84 campaign.
UTEP has put together consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1991-92 and 1992-93, when the Miners racked up 27 and 21 wins respectively. UTEP was 24-8 a year ago.
This is the 20th 20-win season in school history. Of the 19 previous 20-game winners, 18 advanced to postseason play (13 NCAA, five NIT). The only exception was the 1981-82 squad, which finished 20-8 but stayed home.
Over the last two years, the Miners are 48-15 (.762). The last time UTEP had a better winning percentage over two seasons was 1985-86 and 1986-87 (52-13, .800), and the last time the Miners won more games was 1987-88 and 1988-89 (49).
Miner Trends
Junior forward Jason Williams has shot 69 percent (9-13) from the field and 75 percent (3-4) from three-point range over the last two games after shooting less than 50 percent in 12 of the previous 14 contests...junior guard Giovanni St. Amant has committed four turnovers over the last eight games, with five error-free nights...Wiliams has had at least one steal in 11 of the last 12 games...senior forward Omar Thomas has scored 20 points or more in five consecutive games for the first time as a Miner. The last UTEP player to achieve this feat was Brandon Wolfram during the 2000-01 season (longest streak that year was six 20-point games)...Thomas has grabbed 12 rebounds in three of the last five outings...junior guard Miguel Ayala has made a three-pointer in 18 of the last 19 games...Ayala has made his last 14 free throws...senior forward Thomas Gehrke has been on the floor for an average of 13.4 minutes in the last eight games, compared to 1.6 in the previous nine outings. He has scored in eight of the last nine games...Gehrke has made 9-14 field goals (.643) over the last eight games, raising his field goal percentage from .316 to .455...senior guard Filiberto Rivera has had more assists than turnovers in 15 straight games (116-33 during that span)...Rivera has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games...over the last nine games, junior forward John Tofi has a .579 (33-57) field goal percentage...over the last nine games, UTEP has averaged 10.4 turnovers...the Miners have shot 47 percent or better in each of the last four games -- a feat they achieved 10 times in the first 27 contests.
Never a Dull Moment
The Miners have made a habit of overcoming big deficits and losing big leads this season.
The Miners have had three comeback victories from deficits of 10 points or greater. The Miners trailed by 11 points at the 1:58 mark of the first half at San Jose State, but went on to win 70-62. IPFW held a 10-point advantage over UTEP with 11:03 remaining in the first half, before the Miners rallied for a 67-58 victory. The Miners also trailed by 10 with 1:06 left in the first half against Arizona State before bouncing back for a 66-65 win.
On the other hand,three of UTEP’s six losses have come after the Miners led by eight points or more. UTEP was up by eight points versus Nevada with 15:37 to go in the game before falling 62-60. The Miners led by nine points with 13:45 left in the first half at Fresno State before succumbing 66-63. UTEP also led by eight points with 15:51 remaining in the first half against Southern Illinois before the Salukis rallied for a 68-62 victory.
Five times the Miners have rallied to win after blowing double-digit leads. UTEP lost a 24-point lead at Nevada, a 13-point lead at home to Hawaii, a 10-point lead at SMU, a 13-point margin at Rice and an 11-point advantage at Hawaii.
UTEP has led wire-to-wire five times this season (versus Tulsa, Occidental College, Oklahoma Panhandle State, Jackson State and Louisiana Tech). The only time a UTEP opponent led the entire way was at Tulsa on Feb. 3.
Miners Good in the Close Ones
Since the start of the 2003-04 season UTEP is 11-3 in WAC games decided by five points or less, including 7-2 in 2004-05. Overall the Miners are 8-2 this season in games determined by five points or fewer. UTEP has beaten Arizona State (66-65), Nevada (83-80 in overtime), Hawaii (71-70), San Jose State (69-65), SMU (60-55), Rice (73-71), Hawaii (71-67) and SMU (79-74), and lost to Fresno State (66-63) and Nevada (62-60).
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 44-4 when scoring 70 points (18-0 this season), and 10-35 when totaling less than 70 points (6-7 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.
Trifecta is a Weapon
UTEP has hit 183 three-pointers, the third-best seasonal total in school history. The 1994-95 Miners drained 214 trifectas, and the 2003-04 Miners hit 197.
The Miners lead the WAC in three-point percentage for all games (.362) and conference games only (.391).
For the first time in school history, UTEP has had three players hit six three-pointers in a game -- Miguel Ayala versus Rice on Jan. 6, Filiberto Rivera at Nevada on Jan. 12 and Giovanni St. Amant against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 25.
The Miners hit a season-high 13 three-pointers at Boise State on Jan. 1, and again versus Louisiana Tech on Feb. 25.
Keys to Success
Here is a look at some trends in UTEP victories this season:
UTEP is 14-1 when its post players (Will Kimble, John Tofi) combine to score 11 points or more. The Miners are 5-1 when Tofi scores in double figures and 4-0 when Kimble scores in double figures.
UTEP is 21-3 when shooting 40 percent or better. The Miners are 9-0 when holding opponents to less than 40 percent shooting.
UTEP is 19-1 when having a better field goal percentage than the opposition.
The Miners are 13-1 when outrebounding foes.
UTEP is 20-3 when committing equal or fewer turnovers than opponents.
UTEP is 18-0 when scoring 70 points or more.
The Miners are 12-1 when their bench outscores the opponent’s reserves.
UTEP is 13-0 when shooting at least 35 percent from three-point range.
UTEP is 20-3 when shooting more free throws than foes.
UTEP is 6-1 when four or more players score in double figures.
UTEP is 16-3 when Jason Williams scores in double figures and 8-1 when Giovanni St. Amant does so.
On a Roll at the Charity Stripe
Over the last nine games the Miners have made 149 of 175 free throws (.851) led by senior forward Omar Thomas, who is 45-48 from the charity stripe during that span. Thomas set a school game record for free throw attempts without a miss (14) at Rice on Feb. 5. He has made 12 or more foul shots in five games this season.
UTEP’s current free throw percentage of .791 would be a school record (current mark is .766 set by the 1968-69 squad). The Miners have shot 75 percent or better from the charity stripe in 22 of 31 games, and 80 percent or better on 15 occasions.
The Miners had a stellar .818 free throw percentage in WAC contests -- a new league record. The previous mark was .805 by BYU in 1988-89.
For the second straight season, UTEP has made more free throws (537) than its opponents have attempted (505). UTEP has shot more free throws than foes in 23 of 31 games this season.
The Miners’ top three guards -- junior Miguel Ayala, Rivera and junior Giovanni St. Amant -- have combined to make 84 percent of their freebies (173-206).
32 Home Wins in Two Years
The Miners have won 32 home games over two seasons for the first time since 1988-89 and 1989-90, when they went 33-5 in the Haskins Center. UTEP is 32-3 at home over the last two years. The .914 winning percentage is the best two-year stretch for the Miners in the Haskins Center since 1987-88 and 1988-89 (33-2, .943). UTEP has won more home games than any other WAC school over the last two years (Nevada is second with 28 homecourt victories).
The Miners’ average margin of victory at home this season has been 19.7 points. Twelve of the 16 wins have been by 13 points or more.
UTEP is 16-2 in WAC home games over the last two years, tying Nevada for the best mark in the league during that span.
Road Warriors
UTEP is 7-4 on the road this season, including 6-3 in WAC play. The seven road wins are the most for the Miners since the 1991-92 campaign, when they were also 7-4 away from home. UTEP won nine road games during the 1986-87 season (9-3).
The 6-3 road record in conference games is the best for the Miners since registering a 6-2 WAC away mark during the 1986-87 season.
UTEP has posted a winning record in WAC road games in back-to-back seasons for only the second time in school history. The 1982-83 and 1983-84 Miners also achieved this feat, going 5-3 in league road games each season.
Last year the Miners were 5-4 in WAC road contests. UTEP is 11-7 (.611) in WAC road games over the last two seasons; only Nevada is better at 13-5 (.722).
Tracking “O.T.”
Senior forward Omar Thomas is just the third player in school history to score 1,000 points in two seasons, joining Jim Barnes (1962-64) who collected 1,308 points in two years, and Antoine Gillespie (1992-95), who racked up 1,099 points in his first two seasons. Barnes was the number one overall choice by New York in the 1964 NBA Draft and Gillespie is UTEP’s second all-time leading scorer.
On the Miner season lists, Thomas is fourth in free throws (179), sixth in free throw percentage (.836), eighth in free throw attempts (214) and fifth in field goals (218). On the career charts, he is second in free throw percentage (.810), seventh in field goal percentage (.524) and ninth in free throws made (333).
He currently rates 17th on the school’s all-time scoring list, and fifth in single-season points.
Fili Puts on a Show
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera’s 18 assists against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 25 tied the most by any player in the country this season. Alabama freshman guard Ronald Steele also had 18 assists on Dec. 1 versus East Tennessee State.
The 18 assists were three shy of the WAC record for a conference game, held by New Mexico’s Kelvin Scarborough who dished out 21 versus Hawaii on Feb. 13, 1987. The NCAA record for assists in a game is 22, shared by three players.
Rivera has 202 assists this season. With two more, he will etch his name into the WAC’s single-season list which is 15 players deep. Colorado State’s Ryan Yoder collected 204 assists (tied for 14th place) during both the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.
Rivera is third on the UTEP career charts with 354 assists. He will finish his career in that slot as Prince Stewart (1988-92) is second with 481 assists.
Two-Headed Two-Guard
Juniors Miguel Ayala and Giovanni St. Amant have teamed to average 14.9 points and 2.8 assists at the shooting guard position. Ayala and St. Amant combined for 35 points on Feb. 25 against Louisiana Tech, their most productive game as a tandem this season.
St. Amant has started 23 games, and Ayala has started eight. Both have better statistics when they come off the bench than when they start. Ayala has scored in double figures 11 times (nine as a reserve), and St. Amant has scored in double figures on nine occasions (six as a starter).
Thomas Putting Up Big Numbers
Senior forward Omar Thomas has had fifteen 20-point games this season, with eight coming on the road. UTEP is 12-3 in 2004-05 when Thomas scores 20 points or more (18-5 in his career). He has scored 20 points or more 23 times in 63 career contests.
Thomas has scored in double figures in 30 of 31 games this season, and 36 of the last 38 dating back to 2003-04. He has attempted a free throw in every game this season, and in 41 straight contests dating back to the 2003-04 campaign.
While Thomas has put up some spectacular numbers in two seasons in the Sun City, statistics suggest that the Miners are a better team when they are spreading the wealth. UTEP is 20-11 in Thomas’ career when he leads the team in scoring, and 28-4 when he either ties for the team lead or someone else is the high point man.
Williams is Mr. Versatile
Junior forward Jason Williams has done a little bit of everything for the Miners over the last two seasons. Currently he is second on the team in steals (1.5 spg) and assists (3.0 apg), and third in scoring (11.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.7 rpg).
Last season he became only the third forward in school history to record 100 assists, joining Johnny Melvin in 1990-91 (102) and Leonard Owens in 2000-01 (103). He is seven away from logging 100 again in 2004-05.
Historically, when Williams has played well the Miners have won. UTEP is 31-8 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.
Rivera is Assist Leader
Senior guard Filiberto Rivera leads the WAC in assists for all games (7.2 apg) and conference games only (7.8 apg). He is only 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 the first 200-assist season by a WAC player since Tulsa’s Greg Harrington registered 201 during the 2000-01 campaign.
Rivera has had more turnovers than assists just four times in 60 career games. He has had no turnovers in 11 career contests, including three of the last six (at San Jose State, at Hawaii, versus Louisiana Tech).
UTEP has had 15 turnovers or more just six times in Rivera’s 28 games this season. The Miners have had single-digit turnovers on nine occasions in 2004-05 (three of the last six).
Rivera has had 10 or more assists in four games this season (10 at New Mexico State, 12 versus Alabama State, 12 against Fresno State, 18 versus Louisiana Tech), tying Hardaway for the top career total in school annals.
Rivera has had two “double-double” games for points and assists, tying Hardaway for the second-top career total in UTEP history. Eddie Rivera (no relation) is the record-holder with three.
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 16-0 runs against Tulsa, Nevada and San Jose State, 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.
Miner Nuggets
UTEP has had one WAC Player of the Week this season. Senior forward Omar Thomas was honored on Jan. 17 after averaging 27.5 points, eight rebounds and going 22-25 from the foul line in games at Nevada and Fresno State...Thomas has had 12 rebounds in three of the last five games, averaging 10.0 rpg during that span...Thomas had a personal-best six steals versus Boise State on Saturday. He leads the team with 49 thefts, one more than Jason Williams (48)...UTEP finished the season with an average home attendance of 10,405 (11,644 in WAC games) and seven sellouts. Five of the last six WAC home games were played before capacity crowds of 12,000. UTEP ranked second in the league in average home attendance behind Fresno State (11,836 avg.)...the Miners’ 43-19 lead at the half against Boise State on Saturday was their largest of the season...UTEP opponents have shot 50 percent or better just four times in the last 37 games...senior guard Filiberto Rivera has had 36 assists over the last three games (12.0 avg.)...Thomas and Rivera were both named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District teams. Thomas was a first team selection and Rivera a second team honoree...UTEP received one vote in this week’s AP and USA Today/ESPN top-25 polls...UTEP has made a three-pointer in 136 straight games...UTEP has won three consecutive WAC road games (Rice, San Jose State, Hawaii) for the first time since 1993-94, when the Miners prevailed at Fresno State, Air Force and Wyoming in succession...junior forward John Tofi has 540 career rebounds...Rivera’s seven steals at San Jose State on Feb. 16 tied the school record and were the most by a Miner since Sharif Fajardo also had seven thefts on Feb. 4, 1999 at Hawaii...UTEP is 21-4 over the last two seasons when Tofi scores in double figures...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)...with 59 three-pointers this season, junior Miguel Ayala has the ninth-top seasonal total in school history. Mark Ingles (1994-95) and Jarvis Mullahon (1999-00) are tied for seventh with 60 trifectas...UTEP is 10-0 this season when nine or more players score, and 21-4 when seven or more players score (3-3 when six or fewer score)...the Miners have had more assists than turnovers in 19 of the last 23 games, and 23 times in 31 contests this season...the Miners were perfect (10-10) from the foul line at Boise State on Jan. 1 for the first time since Jan. 13, 1977 against Arizona State (11-11)...starters have scored 1,771 of UTEP’s 2,306 points in 2004-05 (77 percent).
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