Feb. 11, 2009
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery by Ivan Pierre Aguirre 
UTEP-UCF Box Score (PDF) 
UTEP limited UCF to two field goals over the final seven-and-a-half minutes on its way to a 73-68 win over the Knights on Wednesday at the Don Haskins Center.
Hoping for a big second half of the Conference USA schedule, the Miners (14-9, 5-4 C-USA) took the all-important first step on Wednesday, securing their first win over the Knights (15-9, 5-5 C-USA) since joining the league in 2005.
They trailed 33-31 at the half, but held UCF to 34.8 percent shooting in the second period. The Miners outscored the Knights 42-35 in the second stanza, including 25-17 over the final 11 minutes.
It marked the fifth game that UTEP has won this season when trailing at the half, something that hasn't happened since 2000-01.
UTEP was behind 51-48 with 11:01 remaining before reeling off eight unanswered points to take a 56-51 advantage on two free throws by Randy Culpepper with 9:50 to play.
UCF went over five minutes without a field goal after Kenrick Zondervan scored with 7:35 left to pull the Knights within 61-58.
There was a little bit of drama in the final 10 seconds after Jermaine Taylor hit a three pointer to cut a six-point Miner lead down to three (71-68), but Stefon Jackson swished two free throws with eight seconds to go to ice the win for the Miners.
Taylor, Conference USA's leading scorer, had a big night with 38 points in 33 minutes. He finished 13-for-22 from the field, 4-for-10 from three point land and 8-for-9 from the line and added six rebounds.
He was the only UCF player in double figures.
UTEP received 25 points from Culpepper, 22 from Jackson and 11 off the bench by Tavaris Watts.
Culpepper was 14-for-16 from the line and Jackson was 8-for-9, helping the Miners go 31-for-41 at the charity stripe.
UTEP will host Marshall on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. MST.
