Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (4-2) will shoot for its second straight win when it plays host to NM State (5-2) in round two of the "Battle of I-10" at 6 p.m. MT Friday. The Aggies held off a late rally by the Miners for a 77-71 final result in Las Cruces in both team's second game of the season on Nov. 13. Since then the Orange and Blue have won three of four, including most recently defeating FAMU, 67-53, on Nov. 24, before breaking for Thanksgiving. The Aggies are 5-2, including being clipped in a high-scoring affair against New Mexico, 101-94, on Nov. 30 last time out. Jon Teicher (41st year) and Steve Yellen (19th year) will be on the call for Friday's game, which can be followed on 600 ESPN El Paso, the UTEP Miners App and Stadium. For tickets, fans may call the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office at (915) 747-UTEP, email tickets@utep.edu, or visit www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets or in person (Brumbelow Building on UTEP campus, 201 Glory Road) Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY: NM STATE Leads, 116-104: LAST MEETING: at NM STATE 77, UTEP 71 (11/13/2021)
NM State leads the all time series with UTEP, 116-104. It is the Miners' oldest series, while rating as the second oldest for the Aggies. It began in 1914 and the two squads squared off at least twice annually every year since 1944-45 before Covid interrupted that last season. The Orange and Blue are looking for their second straight win in the series when playing in El Paso. This is head coach Joe Golding's first match-up against NM State in the Sun City, while Aggies' head coach Chris Jans is 6-1 against the Miners. NM State has won 11 of the last 12, including the six-point victory over the Miners on Nov. 13 earlier this season. That game marked the most points for UTEP against the Aggies in seven years. UTEP tallied 77 in a one-point win on Nov. 22, 2014.
 
GET TO KNOW NM STATE 
NM State returned four starters and five lettermen total from last year's team that finished 12-8 during a heavily Covid-affected campaign that prevented the Aggies from even playing a game in Las Cruces throughout the entire season. They were one of two teams in the nation without a home game. NM State went 7-6 in WAC action and advanced to the 2021 tournament championship game. The Aggies also brought in 13 newcomers. NM State won three straight and five of six out of the gates before falling to rival New Mexico, 101-94, last time out on Nov. 30. They were picked first in the WAC with transfer Teddy Allen, Johnny McCants, Jabari Rice and Donnie Tillman being named to the All-Preseason team. NM State is under the direction of fifth-year head coach Chris Jans, who is 100-27 in that timeframe.  He is 6-1 against the Miners. Overall Jans is 121-39. Five different players put up at least 7.5 points per game, led by Allen's 18.0 ppg. McNair keys the charge on the glass at 7.1 rpg. NM State is among the WAC leaders and top-100 nationally for 3-pointers per game (10.4, second/25th), field-goal percentage (46.6-second/94th), rebound margin (+5.1-fourth/94th), 3-point field goal percentage (36.3-fourth/94th) and scoring offense (77.1-fourth/97th). Of the Aggies' 400 total field goal attempts, half are from distance. Allen is fourth in the WAC with his 18.0 ppg. He also tops the league in total 3-point attempts (54) and is second for triples made (20). New Mexico State is a major university in Las Cruces, N.M., which was founded in 1888 under the name of Las Cruces College. Notable alumni include actor Scott Bailey, who is best known for his playing the role of Sandy Foster on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, and former Olympic basketball player Chito Reyes. Additionally, Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the planet Pluto (since reclassified to a dwarf planet), taught astronomy at the school from 1955 until his retirement in 1973.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME (at UTEP 67, FAMU 53, NOV. 24, 2021)
UTEP scored the first 11 points on the way to a wire-to-wire 67-53 win against FAMU in front of 4,000-plus fans on Nov. 24 at the Don Haskins Center. Jamal Bieniemy (21 points, five assists, five rebounds), Jorell Saterfield (career-high 14 points, career-best five rebounds), Keonte Kennedy (12 points, team-high nine boards) and Jamari Sibley (career-high 13 points, career-best six rebounds) led the way for the Miners, who were without the services of Conference USA leading scoring Souley Boum and veteran guard Christian Agnew. Both missed their second straight game due to COVID-19 protocols. Tydus Verhoeven added seven gutsy boards to help the efforts in that department, with the Miners holding a 39-32 advantage on the glass. UTEP limited FAMU to 37.5 percent (18-48) from the floor, including just 3-10 (30 percent) on 3-point tosses.
 
TIP-INS FROM THE FAMU GAME
-   For the third straight contest, the Miners enjoyed a scoring run of at least 10 consecutive points. UTEP peeled off 11 consecutive points to begin the game, which helped it post a wire-to-wire win.
-   Jorell Saterfield set career highs across the board, including points (14), rebounds (five), assists (two), blocks (one), field goals made (five) and attempted (12), 3-pointers made (four) and attempted (nine) and minutes (31).
-   It was a similar story for Jamari Sibley, who established personal bests in points (13), rebounds (seven), blocks (two), 3-pointers made (two) and attempted (three), free throws made (five) and attempted (six) and minutes played (24).
-   Jamal Bieniemy attempted the most shots (16) of his collegiate career.
 
ON THIS DATE IN UTEP HISTORY (DEC. 3)
UTEP is looking for its first victory on Dec. 3 since 2006. The Miners are 0-3 on the date since beating New Mexico that year.
 
D-UP
UTEP has held consecutive nonconference opponents to 53 points or less for the first time since  the beginning of the 2007-08 season. The Miners limited UCR to 52 points on Nov. 22 and FAMU to 53 just two days later. Overall the Orange and Blue are holding foes to 59.3 points per game (second C-USA/37th NCAA), aided by forcing 19.8 turnovers per tilt (third C-USA/11th NCAA).
 
SCORING STREAK
Souley Boum (59), Keonte Kennedy (30) and Christian Agnew (10) all have scoring streaks of at least 10 games. Furthermore, Boum is at 16 contests for double-digit scoring efforts while Jamal Bieniemy has done so all six games this year.
 
KEONTE ON THE GLASS
Keonte Kennedy is pulling down a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game, aided by pacing the team in rebounding in four of the six games this season. He's done most of it at the defensive end, with 30 of his 41 boards serving as defensive rebounds.
 
MIX AND MATCH
Last year the Miners used two starting line-ups with a total of six different players starting on the season. It's been quite the difference this year with five line-ups in six games, and 10 different individuals earning a starting nod.
 
CRASH THAT GLASS
UTEP has been flying to the offensive boards, pulling down 12.0 offensive rebounds per contest. That figure is good enough for fifth in the league and 88th nationally. Tydus Verhoeven (12 total) and Keonte Kennedy (11 total) lead the charge in the department for the Miners.
 
ALL ABOUT THOSE POINTS
UTEP  eclipsed 70 in each of the first four contests for the first time in six years, which has helped it put up 70.7 points per game.  Guards Souley Boum (20.7 ppg-first C-USA/34th NCAA), Jamal Bieniemy (16.8 ppg), and Keonte Kennedy (9.5 ppg) lead the way.
 
TURN IT OVER
UTEP is one of 11 teams in the nation to be forcing at least 19.8 turnovers per game, which is aided by coming up with 9.8 steals per game (fourth C-USA/31st NCAA). Keonte Kennedy (2.5 spg-fifth C-USA/27th NCAA), Jamal Bieniemy (2.0 spg eighth/C-USA/87th NCAA), and Souley Boum (1.7 spg-20th C-USA) have been causing fits for the opposition.
 
THAT'S A GOOD MARGIN
UTEP has caused 25+ turnovers twice on the year while committing 14 or less in half of the contests. The result is a +5.5 turnover margin (third C-USA/25th NCAA). UTEP is making 14.3 turnovers per game while forcing 19.8.
 
KNOCK THINGS DOWN
The Miners have shot better than 40 percent four times thus far in 2021-22. Even with consecutive tough outings in terms of shooting, they head into Friday's tilt at 41.8 percent on the floor. Jamari Sibley tops the team at 61.1 percent (11-18) (min. 15 FGA).
 
WIN BIG
All four victories for UTEP have been by double figures while its two setbacks have been by a combined 18 points. The result has been a scoring margin of +11.3 (fourth C-USA/81st nation).
 
JB'S WORLD
Jamal Bieniemy has reached double figures in scoring in all six games this season, eclipsing his prior effort of four that he achieved in nonconference play last year. The guard has led UTEP in scoring four times already this year after doing so a trio of occasions in 2020-21.
 
TALKING 20+ POINT GAMES
Jamal Bieniemy surpassed 20 points three times in 24 contests a year ago, but he's upped his game this year. He already has a pair of such efforts in 2021-22, including going off for 21 points in the 67-53 victory against FAMU on Nov. 24. Souley Boum has a pair this season and 28 in his career between San Fransisco and UTEP.
 
MILESTONE TRACKER
Souley Boum (started at San Francisco) is marching toward 1,000 points (924 points) in a UTEP uniform while Christian Agnew (started at North Alabama) is inching closer for his collegiate career (849). Jamal Bieniemy (started at Oklahoma) is past 300 assists (317) for his college career, including 111 helpers at UTEP. With 17 points this year, Alfred Hollins (started at Oregon State) has moved past career points (532) and hit 100 career games played (101). Tydus Verhoeven (started at Duquesne) is beyond 300 rebounds (313) for his collegiate career, with the majority (207) at UTEP.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON The 2021-22 SEASON
-   This is the 101st season of UTEP men's basketball, with the Miners sporting an all time record of 1426-1096 (4-2 in 2021-22). There are 17 home games (3-1 thus far) and 13 road contests (1-1 thus far) prior to the C-USA Championships (March 8-12, 2022).
-   The Miners returned four starters (Jamal Bieniemy, Souley Boum, Keonte Kennedy and Tydus Verhoeven) and eight lettermen overall. Other returning lettermen are Christian Agnew, Cam Clardy, Gilles Dekoninck and Ze'Rik Onyema. Emmanuel White, who redshirted, also came back.
-   UTEP has six newcomers in the fold in the form of Kezza Giffa, Alfred Hollins, Kevin Kalu, Bonke Maring, Jorell Saterfield and Jamari Sibley.
 -  The Miners brought back four of their five leading scorers from 2020-21 in the form of Souley Boum (18.8 ppg), Keonte Kennedy (8.6 ppg), Jamal Bieniemy (8.6 ppg) and Christian Agnew (6.1 ppg).
 
COMING SOON TO EL PASO
JUCO standout Jon Dos Anjos (nationally-ranked Florida SouthWestern State) has signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UTEP and play for the men's basketball team beginning in 2022-23. Dos Anjos will have two years of eligibility for the Miners. He was a first-team all-league performer for the Bucs in 2020-21, helping them go 18-5 and advance to the semifinals of the FCSAA State Tournament. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while playing in all 23 games, including 20 starts.
 
GOLDING ERA UNDERWAY
Joe Golding has embarked on his first season with UTEP, and as the 20th head coach in program history. He is the eighth head coach for the Miners since legendary Hall of Fame Coach Don Haskins retired following the 1998-99 season. Golding is 162-146 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach, including 4-2 at UTEP. He spent 10 years at ACU (158-144), helping it transition from a Division II to a Division I program. Golding led the Wildcats to the past two NCAA Tournaments played, including a stunning upset as a 14-seed of third-seeded Texas in the first round of the 2021 Big Dance.
LOOKING TO JOIN AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP
First-year head coach Joe Golding (4-2 thus far) is looking to be part of an exclusive group at UTEP. Of the previous 19 head coaches at UTEP, only three have put together a winning season in their first year on the sidelines in the Sun City. Don Haskins became the first when he directed the Miners to a mark of 18-6 in 1961-62. Doc Sadler (27-8, 2004-05) and Tim Floyd (25-10, 2010-11) also achieved the feat. Overall the prior 19 head coaches have combined to forge an average record of 9-13 in their first year with UTEP.
 
EXPERIENCED STAFF
The Miners have an experienced staff on the sidelines for the 2021-22 season, each of whom are in their first year in the Sun City. Between head coach Joe Golding (22 years), associate head coach Jeremy Cox (30 years) and assistant coaches Butch Pierre (37 years) and Earl Boykins (eight years), the Miner coaching staff has a combined 97 years of experience at coaches at 26 different stops along the ways at varying levels of competition. Boykins is the least experienced in terms of coaching, but he's the most accomplished on the court after playing 12 seasons in the NBA.
 
PRESEASON HONORS
Souley Boum was tabbed a Preseason All-Conference honoree, it was announced before the season by the Conference USA office. A 2021 All C-USA third team member, Boum ranked third in C-USA in scoring (18.8 ppg) and fifth in the league in total points (450). He also paced the conference and was 15th in the country with 130 made free throws. Boum knocked down his free throws at a rate of 81.2 percent, which was good enough for eighth in C-USA. He also led UTEP in steals (34) and dished out 60 assists.
 
PRESEASON PREMONITIONS
UTEP was predicted to finish 10th in Conference USA, according to the preseason poll that was announced prior to the season by the league office. UAB (190 points) was slated first, followed by LA Tech (second-184 points), WKU (third-162 points), Marshall (fourth-147 points), Old Dominion (fifth-130 points), North Texas (sixth-124 points), Charlotte (seventh-110 points), Rice (eighth-104 points), Florida Atlantic (ninth-84 points), UTEP (10th-82 points), UTSA (11th-48 points), Southern Miss (12th-42 points), FIU (13th-36 points) and Middle Tennessee (14th-28 points).
 
LOOKING TO REGAIN WINNING WAYS IN C-USA
UTEP entered the 2021-22 season in search of its first winning record in Conference USA play since 2017 when the Miners went 12-6 in the league to finish tied for third. That year capped a run of five straight seasons with winning marks in conference action, the longest since 11 straight such efforts under Don Haskins from 1980-90.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP continues a difficult stretch by playing at No. 8 (AP poll)/No. 7 (coaches' poll) Kansas at 6 p.m. MT on Dec. 7. Jon Teicher (41st year) will be on the call, which can be followed on "The Home Of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso, the UTEP Miners App. It will also be streamed on ESPN+