Feb. 13, 2010
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Randy Culpepper scored 45 points - tied for the second-highest total in both UTEP and Conference USA history - as UTEP ran away from East Carolina, 100-76, on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center.
The Miners maintained their perch atop C-USA with their ninth straight conference victory, tying a school record originally achieved during the 1954-55 season. UTEP is now 19-5 overall and 10-1 in league action. The Miners will shoot for their second consecutive 20-win season - and 23rd overall - when they return to action on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Tulsa. The game will be nationally televised on CBS College Sports beginning at 2 p.m. MT.
The 2009-10 Miners are the 11th team in school history to enjoy a winning streak of nine games or more.
UTEP had never started 10-1 in league play in 67 seasons of conference affiliations.
Culpepper set UTEP and C-USA records for points in a half by exploding for 31 in the opening 20 minutes versus the Pirates (8-17, 2-9 C-USA). He finished 14-for-18 from the field, 9-for-12 from three-point range and 8-for-12 from the line. Two years ago, UTEP's Stefon Jackson scored 30 points in the second half versus East Carolina in the Haskins Center.
The UTEP record for points in a game is 51 by Jim Barnes versus Western New Mexico on Jan. 4, 1964. Culpepper matched the 45 scored by Antoine Gillespie in an overtime game at Hawaii on Feb. 17, 1994.
The C-USA standard is 52 points by Houston's Robert McKiver versus Southern Miss on Feb. 27, 2008. UCF's Jermaine Taylor pinned 45 points on Rice on Feb. 25, 2009.
Culpepper's 45 points are the fifth-most by an NCAA Division I player this season.
Culpepper tied his school record for three pointers made in a game, originally achieved at UCF earlier this season, and tied the C-USA record for three-pointers made in a conference game as well.
He is the fourth UTEP player to score 40 or more points in a game, joining Barnes, Gillespie and Jackson.
"What can you say about Randy (Culpepper)," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "Just an electric performance. When he gets it going like that, it's like he's shooting a golf ball into that hoop."
"It was a great feeling," Culpepper said. "I haven't shot like that since I've been here at UTEP. Once I hit those couple of 3's I told Julyan Stone, 'Keep coming to me, tonight is going to be a career night'. Tonight it felt like I was in high school all over again, because during my high school days I did that consistently."
UTEP set a school team record for first-half points (63), and tied the single-game standards for three-pointers (15) and assists (29). The Miners scored 100 points for the first time in a Conference USA game since joining the league for the 2005-06 season.
This game was over early, as UTEP turned a 16-15 deficit into a 57-23 lead with a 42-7 run stretching over 10 and a half minutes in the first half.
"I thought we came out with great energy," Barbee said. "I worried a little bit, because of their record, how our guys would come out but we've had two great days of practice - great focus, great energy."
The Miners, who led by as many as 38 points, received 13 points and nine rebounds from Derrick Caracter and 11 assists from Julyan Stone.
