Six players scored in double figures as UTEP recorded its biggest home victory in six years on Tuesday night at the Don Haskins Center, clobbering Texas State 108-60.
The Miners (6-5) built some momentum heading into this weekend's 46th annual State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament by pasting the Bobcats (4-7), who had UTEP coach Tony Barbee concerned prior to tipoff.
"I was worried about them because they have played well all year long, and they were close with Texas at halftime the other night," he said. "We had a couple of good practices after the New Mexico State game [on Saturday]. We're going to get better. We need to have a lot of guys contributing to be successful, and we got that tonight."
It was UTEP's largest margin of victory in the Don Haskins Center since Nov. 29, 2000, a 110-60 thumping of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Miners also scored 100+ points for the first time in nearly two years and, with 108 points, tied the seventh-best scoring output in school history. UTEP's 64 second-half points marked the second-most in a game in school annals.
Stefon Jackson scored 23 points to lead the Miners, who shot a season-best 57.6 percent from the floor. UTEP also set season-highs with 14 three-pointers -- one shy of the single-game record -- and 26 assists.
Darren Clarke added a season-high 18 points. Kevin Henderson, Maurice Thomas and Dale Vanwright scored 13 points apiece, while Jeremy Sampson chipped in with 10. Thomas had his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Malik Alvin broke his own UTEP freshman game record with 11 assists.
UTEP trailed just once, 3-2. The Miners built a 44-25 halftime lead and continued to apply defensive pressure in the second half, limiting the Bobcats to 27.1 percent shooting on the night.
Even walk-on guard Breland Trainer got in on the scoring binge late, putting up nine points in only six minutes.
An encouraging sign for UTEP was the return to health of Vanwright, who shot 3-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range in 21 minutes of work. He had missed nine of the first 10 games with a foot injury, but looked like the player who was regarded as a top-100 national prospect at Bellaire High School in Houston.
Vanwright also pulled down seven rebounds, while dishing out three assists and collecting two steals.
"Dale is the kind of player you need to have at his position in this system," Barbee said. "He will usually be guarded by a bigger player. With his size and athleticism, he can score in the post. He's a good shooter, and one of his best attributes is he's a good passer. Hopefully he can stay healthy. He will be a big addition to this team."
UTEP will face Jackson State on the first day of the State Farm Sun Bowl Tournament Friday at 7 p.m. MST. The Tigers feature one of the nation's top scorers in senior guard Trey Johnson, who is averaging 29.1 points per game.
Drake and Toledo will square off in the nightcap at 9 p.m. Saturday's consolation game is set for 5:30 p.m., with the championship to follow at 7:30 p.m.
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