Jan. 12, 2008
Final Stats
UTEP-Rice Box Score (PDF)
CSTV Highlights 
UTEP closed the first half with a 14-2 run, then built leads of as many as 31 points in the second half on the way to a 71-43 win over short-handed Rice on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center.
"It was a good win at home. We did what we were supposed to do, which is hold serve on our homecourt," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "I thought we really guarded and we came back to outrebound them in the second half."
Stefon Jackson scored 22 points and Randy Culpepper added 18 for the Miners (11-4, 2-0 C-USA), who remained perfect in Conference USA action. Paulius Packevicius was the only Rice player in double figures with 13 points. Rice suffered its seventh loss in eight games to fall to 3-12 and 0-2 in league play.
Minus three of their top five scorers and suiting up two football players and a walk-on who hadn't practiced all season, Rice managed to hang with UTEP for the first 14 minutes. However, the Miners ended the first half with a 14-2 run to extend a 24-19 lead to 38-21.
After Packevicius' layup made the score 40-26 with 17:18 remaining, UTEP went on a 21-4 spurt to build a 61-30 lead with 9:37 to go.
The Miners held the Owls to 29.8 percent shooting, including 21.7 percent in the second half, while forcing 24 turnovers. UTEP outrebounded Rice 38-37 behind Victor Ramalho, who pulled down seven boards.
The Miners shot 46.3 percent. It marked just the second time in 11 games that UTEP had a better field goal percentage than its opponent.
Thirteen Miners played in the game and 10 scored, including freshman center Claude Britten who had season-highs for points (eight) and rebounds (four) in only 11 minutes.
"He takes up a lot of space and he is doing some good things," Barbee said. "It's going to be like all freshmen with him, a rollercoaster ride."
Jackson moved into 20th place on UTEP's all-time scoring list with 1,126 points, passing Antonio Davis, Roshern Amie and Sharif Fajardo on Saturday.
UTEP will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Houston in a nationally televised game (CSTV) beginning at noon MST.
