Jan. 5, 2008
UTEP-TTU Box Score (PDF)
Martin Zeno scored 25 points, and Texas Tech outscored UTEP 25-11 over the final 9:36 en route to a 75-68 win over the Miners on Saturday in Lubbock.
"We played well enough to win, we just made way too many mistakes," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "You can't do that against a team like Texas Tech."
UTEP went ahead 57-50 - tying its largest lead of the night - on a three-pointer by Marvin Kilgore with 9:37 remaining. But Texas Tech (9-5) scored the game's next 10 points, including two three pointers by Alan Voskuil, to build a 60-57 advantage.
After Marvin Kilgore scored a three point play with 3:55 left to tie the game, Voskuil hit another three pointer, and the Miners were playing catch-up the rest of the afternoon.
Following a Zeno free throw, Kilgore was fouled on a three-point attempt with 2:36 to play and made all three charity shots to pull UTEP within 64-63. However, the Red Raiders scored the next five points - four by Zeno - to forge a 69-63 advantage with 56 seconds left and weren't seriously threatened thereafter.
UTEP was held to three field goals over the final 9:36, with two coming in the final 18 seconds.
"We broke down and give them all the credit in the world," Barbee said. "They made plays and we didn't."
Kilgore led the Miners with a career-high 22 points. Randy Culpepper and Tavaris Watts were the only other UTEP players in double figure scoring with 10 points each.
The Red Raiders did a good job of neutralizing the Miners' leading scorer, Stefon Jackson, who entered the game with a 24.8-ppg scoring average. Jackson was 3-for-12 from the field and finished with a season-low nine points. It was Jackson's lowest point total in a game since tallying six points versus Tulsa on Feb. 17, 2007 in El Paso. It also ended a streak of 17 straight games in which Jackson had scored in double figures.
Jackson fouled out with 2:54 to go and the Miners trailing 64-60.
John Roberson scored 16 points and Voskuil had 13 for Texas Tech.
UTEP committed a season-high 23 turnovers, its highest game total since having 27 at New Mexico State on Dec. 9, 2006.
The Miners will try to rebound from their first losing streak of the season on Wednesday when they open Conference USA play at home against SMU. Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. MST. The Miners will also host Rice on Saturday at 2 p.m. MST.
