March 4, 2009
Final Stats
UTEP-UAB Box Score (PDF) 
Stefon Jackson and Tavaris Watts wouldn't be denied in their final home game for the UTEP Miners.
Jackson scored 30 points and Watts added 10, and UTEP turned in a ferocious defensive effort in the second half in a 70-52 drubbing of UAB on Wednesday night.
The Miners (18-11, 9-6 C-USA) pulled away from a slim 34-30 lead at the half by holding the Blazers (20-10, 10-5 C-USA) to 25 percent shooting in the second stanza. UTEP outscored UAB 36-22 in the period.
UAB made just 7-of-28 shots after the break, including 2-of-10 from three point range, in losing for only the second time in nine games. The Blazers had their four-game C-USA road winning streak snapped.
It was a huge win at an important time for the Miners, who are still chasing a no. 4 seed and first round bye in next week's C-USA Tournament.
Everything UTEP needed to have happen did on Wednesday, including Memphis knocking off Houston to drop the Cougars (18-10, 9-6) into a tie for fourth place with the Miners.
UTEP can wrap up the no. 4 seed with a win at Southern Miss on Saturday, as long as the other games in the league go to form. The Miners and the Golden Eagles will square off at 6 p.m. MST in a nationally televised game on CBS College Sports.
UTEP had a couple of big 10-0 runs in the second half against UAB. The first one extended a 41-40 lead to 51-40, and the second expanded a 55-48 margin to 65-48.
The Miners did a much better job of containing UAB star Robert Vaden after he exploded for 41 points in last year's meeting in El Paso. Vaden hit just 5-of-18 shots -- including 4-of-15 from outside -- and finished with 17 points. He was the only Blazer in double figures.
Jackson was 12-for-25 from the field and 6-for-8 from the line for his 12th career 30-point game.
Julyan Stone scored in double figures for only the fourth time in his Miner career, and had a solid all-around stat line with 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
