Dec. 18, 2010
Final Stats | Photo Gallery by Michael P. Reese 
| Photo Gallery by Ivan Pierre Aguirre
Box Score in PDF Format
Randy Culpepper scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the second half, lifting UTEP to an 82-71 win over Texas Tech on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center.
The Miners (8-2) won for the fifth straight time, pulling away from a slim 42-40 halftime lead by holding the Red Raiders (5-6) to 30.6 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes.
Culpepper made back-to-back three pointers to start the second half, part of a 10-3 run that extended UTEP's lead to 52-43. He later nailed a three pointer and jumper on back-to-back possessions, putting the Miners ahead 57-45 with 15:20 to play.
Texas Tech pulled within five points three times, the last at 69-64 with 2:45 remaining on a free throw by Robert Lewandowski, but would get no closer.
Culpepper moved to point guard for a nine-minute stretch after Julyan Stone picked up his fourth foul with 16:21 remaining. The Miners held their own during Stone's absence and were outscored 13-12.
Mike Singletary scored 17 points to lead four Red Raiders in double figures.
Texas Tech got off to a fast start, leading 21-16 with 11:50 remaining in the first half on a three-point play by Brad Reese.
The Miners took the lead for good, 42-40, on a three pointer by Christian Polk 27 seconds before halftime.
Stone had 15 points and 10 rebounds for his second career double-double, and Claude Britten scored 11 points.
UTEP will host Stephen F. Austin on Monday at 8:30 p.m., part of a doubleheader with the Miner women, who will face New Mexico at 6 p.m. Stephen F. Austin is 7-2 this season with close losses at Texas Tech (70-58) and Texas A&M (62-53).
