Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (6-4) will vie for its third straight win when it opens up play against NC Central (6-7) in its opening game of the 60th Anniversary edition of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational at 7 p.m. MT Tuesday (Dec. 21). The event opens up with Bradley vs. Sam Houston at 5 p.m. MT Tuesday, with the victor facing the winner between UTEP and NCCU in the Championship at 7 p.m. MT Wednesday (Dec. 22). The Miners have won back-to-back games for the second time this season, including rallying from 12 points down in the first half to dispatch McNeese, 82-72, on Nov. 16. The Eagles are flying high with three consecutive wins, including hammering Delaware State, 86-53, on Dec. 18, most recently. The game is the second of three straight at home for the Orange and Blue, matching the longest such stretch on the season. Jon Teicher (41st year) and Steve Yellen (19th year) will be on the call, which can be followed on "The Home Of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners App. For more information on the 2021 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational please go to www.sunbowl.org. 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.
 
TALKING TOURNEY HISTORY
UTEP is 88-28 in the event (46-12 first round). It has won 32 tourney titles (32-13 in title tilt).There was no championship game played or awarded in 2010 as awarded, as the match-ups were preset. UTEP is 9-3 in the third-place contest.
 
SERIES HISTORY: FIRST MEETING
This is the first meeting all time between UTEP and NC Central.
 
ALL ABOUT THE FANS
UTEP is averaging 5,118 fans per home game thus far in 2021-22, which trails only the seasonal home average of 5,661 for ODU. Additionally, the Miners have been forced to play in front of 8,537 on the road but are 2-2 away from home this year. That is the highest road average of any Conference USA member.
 
GET TO KNOW NC CENTRAL
NC Central is 6-7 on the season, with a perfect mark between home (4-0) and neutral match-ups (1-0). It enters Tuesday on a three-game winning streak (all at home), including drilling Delaware State by 33 (86-53) last time out on Dec. 18. The issues for the Eagles have come on the road where they are 1-7 thus far. The lone road triumph was at USC Upstate (W, 67-65) on Dec. 1. Six of its seven road losses have been by double figures. The Eagles are under the direction of alum LeVelle Moton, who is 202-164 in his 13th season at the helm of the program. Randy Miller, Jr., paces the team offensively with 13.3 points per game while seven others add between 6-9.4 ppg. Dontavius King (5.6 rpg) and Kris Monroe (5.2 rpg) are the top rebounders on the squad. The balanced offensive attack has helped the team put up 75.2 points per game (third Mid-Eastern/110th NCAA). The Eagles are also among the league and national leaders for (18.1-third/17th)steals per game (10.1-third/21st), offensive rebounds per game (13.3-second/30th), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (29.4-first/63rd) and turnover margin (3.0-third/65th). Boone is the top threat with steals per game, making 1.91 (fourth/78th). Notable alumni at the school include Herman Boone, profiled in the movie Remember the Titans, fashion journalist André Leon Talley and Olympic Gold and Silver medalist Larry Black.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME (AT UTEP 82,  MCNEESE 72, DEC. 16, 2021)
Souley Boum poured in 23 points (17 in second half) to join the 1,000-career point club at the school, Keonte Kennedy notched his second straight big game (17 points) and Jorell Saterfield (13 points) provided a spark off the bench to help the UTEP men's basketball (6-4) team fend off feisty McNeese, 82-72, at the Don Haskins Center on Dec. 16. Boum became the first Miner since Omega Harris (2016-17)  to join the 1,000-career point club at UTEP. It was a one-point UTEP edge (68-67) before the Miners turned up the heat late to close the contest out on a 14-5 surge. Boum, fittingly, had nine points in the game-closing surge. Eleven of the 12 Miners who suited up saw action, with each providing a spark in their own way. Included in that was Ze'rik Onyema, who was +10 on the night and had a dunk and a rebound in five minutes of action. UTEP shook off a slow shooting start to finish at 47.4 percent from the floor with 15 assists to 12 turnovers. The Miners harassed McNeese into making 17 giveaways that were fueled into 28 crucial points for the Orange and Blue. Boum dished out a team-best five assists followed by Kennedy with four. Kevin Kalu came alive with a career-high eight points while Christian Agnew added nine and Emmanuel White matched his career best with seven points.
 
KALU NETS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
UTEP forward Kevin Kalu has been named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Dec. 20. He is the first Miner to claim the honor since Jordan Lathon did most recently during the 2018-19 season (Feb. 25). The Baltimore, Md., product came alive with career highs in points (eight) and assists (two) while adding four rebounds to help hold off upset-minded McNeese, 82-72, on Dec. 16. Kalu played 25 minutes, didn't miss a shot from the field (2-2) or at the charity stripe (4-4).
 
TIP-INS FROM THE UNM GAME
-    The Miners won for the first time on the year when trailing at the break, and in fact erased what was once a 12-point first-half deficit to claim their fifth double-digit victory out of six wins.
-    UTEP emerged triumphant in spite of two starters (Jamal Bieniemy-14.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1,8 steals per game and Tydus Verhoeven- 4.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg. 1.0 bpg) missing the game. Reserve Cam Clardy also was unavailable. It marked the second straight game the Miners were without multiple starters.
-    The Orange and Blue used the same starting line-up in back-to-back games. The Miners have now utilized eight different combinations in 10 contests.
 
LOCK DOWN ON DEFENSE
UTEP has kept six of its past seven opponents to at least five points below their scoring average entering the contest. Those six foes have been held to a total of 66 points combined under the expected output, which works out to 11.0 fewer points per game by the opposition across the board. The defensive lock down started at Pacific (64 points scored, 69 ppg), followed by UCR (52 points scored, 70 ppg), FAMU (53 points scored, 70 ppg), NM State (72 points scored, 77 ppg), at No. 8 Kansas (78 points scored, 85 ppg). and recently at New Mexico. Overall UTEP's scoring defense is 63.9 (third C-USA/78th NCAA).
 
ON THIS DATE IN UTEP HISTORY
UTEP held Hayward State to the second-lowest FG percentage by an opponent in program history at 21.2 percent on Dec. 21, 1964.
 
SCORING STREAK
Souley Boum (63), Keonte Kennedy (34) and Christian Agnew (14) all have scoring streaks of at least 10 games. Furthermore, Boum is at 20 contests for double-digit scoring efforts.
 
MIX AND MATCH
UTEP has used eight starting line-ups in 10 games (80 percent new line-ups), the highest percentage of combinations nationally with at least 10 games played according to a report compiled by the NCAA. Overall 10 different Miners have started. Injuries and Covid-19 protocols have played a big factor in the mix and match this season. It's a huge change from a year ago when the Miners utilized two starting line-ups with a total of six different players starting on the season.
 
CRASH THAT GLASS
UTEP has been flying to the offensive boards, pulling down 11.1 offensive rebounds per contest. That figure is good enough for seventh in the league and 133rd in the country. Keonte Kennedy (17 total) and Tydus Verhoeven (16 total) lead the way followed by 12 from Jamari Sibley and Alfred Hollins and 11 by Kevin Kalu.
 
ALL ABOUT THOSE POINTS
UTEP  eclipsed 70 in each of the first four contests for the first time in six years. It also has a trio of 80+ point efforts, helping it put up 70.4 points per game. Guards Souley Boum (21.1 ppg) Jamal Bieniemy (14.5 ppg), and Keonte Kennedy (11.6 ppg) lead the way followed by Jamari Sibley (6.2 ppg) and Jorell Saterfield (6.0 ppg). The last time UTEP had a player account for at least 20.0 ppg was in 2008-19 (Stephon Jackson), something Boum is currently doing.
 
TURN IT OVER
UTEP is one of 22 teams in the nation to be forcing at least 17.7 turnovers per game, which is aided by coming up with 9.1 steals per game (third C-USA/45th NCAA). Keonte Kennedy (2.2 spg-fourth C-USA/30thth NCAA) and Jamal Bieniemy (1.8 spg-ninth C-USA) have been the catalysts.
 
THAT'S A GOOD MARGIN
UTEP has caused 25+ turnovers twice on the year while committing 14 or less six times. Furthermore, the Miners have made the same or fewer amount of turnovers compared to the opposition in eight of the 10 games this year. The result is a +4.6 turnover margin (second C-USA/24th NCAA). UTEP is making 13.1 turnovers per game while forcing 17.7.
 
THEY ARE CALLED FREE THROWS FOR A REASON
UTEP is taking care of business at the charity stripe, connecting on 75.0 percentage at the line (second C-USA/55th NCAA).
 
KNOCK THINGS DOWN
The Miners have shot better than 40 percent seven times thus far in 2021-22. They head into Tuesday's outing at 41.3 percent on the floor. Jamari Sibley tops the team at 62.5 percent. (min. 15 FGA).
 
WIN BIG
All six victories for UTEP have been by at least eight points, including five by double figures. Its three setbacks to unranked teams have been by a combined 21 points. The Miners lost by 26 at No. 8 Kansas.
 
NOTHING STOPS SOULEY
Souley Boum has dealt with both a broken finger on his non-shooting hand (missed one game) and Covid-19 protocols (missed two games), but he continues to produce. He is pouring in 21.1 ppg (would top C-USA but short of qualifying total). Boum also paces the Miners and is among the C-USA and NCAA leaders for free throws made (52-second/21st) and attempted (61 (third/46th).
 
JB'S WORLD
Jamal Bieniemy reached double figures in scoring in the first seven games of the season, eclipsing his prior effort of four that he achieved in nonconference play last year. That streak was halted when he had just 11 minutes of action at No. 8 Kansas due to an injury. Bieniemy has missed the past three games with injuries. He has led UTEP in scoring four times already this year after doing so a trio of occasions in 2020-21.
 
SIBLEY STEPPING UP
Jamari Sibley was putting up 12.3 pointers per game and 5.3 rebounds per contest during the three games leading up to the New Mexico contest when he was limited to three minutes due to an illness. It was a marked improvement from his effort the first five contests of the campaign when he had 4.8 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
 
KEONTE ON THE GLASS
Keonte Kennedy is pulling down a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game, aided by pacing the team in rebounding in six of the 10 games this season. He's done most of it at the defensive end, with 46 of his 63 boards serving as defensive rebounds.
 
SATERFIELD FROM DOWNTOWN
Jorell Saterfield is proving to be a big-time threat off the bench, particularly from 3-point range. The JUCO transfer is leading the team in 3-point percentage (min. 30 3FGA), nailing 43.8 percent. In fact, all but six of his field goals have been triples.
 
TALKING 20+ POINT GAMES
Souley Boum has a quartet of 20+ point games this season and 30 in his career between San Fransisco and UTEP. 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.
 
MILESTONE TRACKER
Souley Boum (started at San Francisco) recently surpassed 1,000 points in a UTEP uniform (1,010), becoming the first Miner to join the club in five years and 35th overall. For his career he now has a total of (1,404). Christian Agnew (started at North Alabama) is approaching 900 points for his collegiate career (874). Jamal Bieniemy (started at Oklahoma) is moving toward 700 career points (643) for his college career, including 314 at UTEP. He's also past 300 assists (320) for his college career, including 114 helpers at UTEP. Alfred Hollins (started at Oregon State) has moved past career points (541) and surpassed 100 career games played (106). Tydus Verhoeven (started at Duquesne) is beyond 300 rebounds (321) for his collegiate career, with most at UTEP (213).
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON The 2021-22 SEASON
-    This is the 101st season of UTEP men's basketball, with the Miners standing 6-4 in 2021-22. There are 17 home games (4-2 thus far) and 13 road contests (2-2 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: 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 164-148 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach, including 6-4 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 (6-4 thus far) is hoping 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).
 
C-USA UPDATE
Twelve of the 14 schools in the league are .500 or better, including UTEP at 6-4.
 
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 will face either Bradley or Sam Houston State in its final nonconference contest on day two of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. Jon Teicher (41st year) and Steve Yellen (19th year) will be on the call, which can be followed on "The Home Of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso, the UTEP Miners App. 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. For more information on the 2021 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational please go to www.sunbowl.org.