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EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender Bradley before eventually falling, 73-66, in the championship contest of the 60th anniversary edition of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Wednesday evening.
 
There were six ties and seven lead changes in a game that featured big scoring runs from both sides. All-tournament honoree Keonte Kennedy (16 points, five rebounds, three steals), Don Haskins Award Winner Jorell Saterfield (11 points) and Souley Boum (11 points) all hit double figures in scoring for the Miners.
 
Bonke Maring was perfect from the floor and the line for six points off the bench. Jamari Sibley netted six points and five rebounds in reserve action as well.
 
UTEP led by 14 (50-36) early in the second half before a big surge put Bradley back ahead with under five minutes to play, and the Miners couldn't recover. The Orange and Blue did pull even at 64 on a trey from Boum but Bradley went back ahead late. Kennedy had a good look at from 3-point to potentially tie the game with 30 seconds left but it didn't go down, and the Braves did enough in the waning seconds to hold on
 
"Obviously we had a 14-point lead and gave up some threes and lost the lead but you've got to give Bradley credit," UTEP head coach Joe Golding said. "They are a disciplined team and made big shots down the stretch. Our shots (late) just didn't go in. I was proud of our guys and the effort. I am very appreciative of our crowd, they were terrific tonight and made a difference tonight."
 
Bradley connected on a UTEP opponent season-high 12 three pointers and was led by tournament MVP's Terry Roberts's double-double (26 points, 11 rebounds).
 
UTEP's first two points in the contest came in exciting fashion, with Kennedy hammering home a putback emphatically with a one-handed dunk. It was 4-2 Miners after a Christian Agnew slicing lay-up with some English off the glass before the visitors uncorked an 8-3 push to vault into the lead at 10-7 five minutes in.
 
The Miners regrouped and pulled back into the lead (18-15) before a 10-3 surge from Bradley allowed it to possess a four-point advantage (24-20) with six minutes remaining. UTEP countered with 10 straight points, punctuated by an offensive rebound and putback from Maring to make it 30-24 Miners and force the Braves into a timeout.
 
Bradley got four straight points to slow the Miner momentum, and the Orange and Blue settled for a three-point lead (33-30) heading into the locker room.
 
UTEP hit four of its five shots in the second half and went on a 7-0 push early in the frame to extend its lead to nine (43-34) with 16:34 to play in the contest. The Miners kept plowing forward, marching the margin to 14 (50-36) before a 9-2 surge from the Braves forced Golding to call timeout with the lead cut in half (52-45, 12:32 2H). The stoppage didn't help with Bradley eventually pulling back ahead at 64-61 with 4:14 to play.
 
Boum nailed a triple to tie the tilt on the ensuing possession to tie the tilt before both sides traded defensive stops. The Braves found a way to win it late, halting UTEP's three-game winning streak in the process.
 
UTEP will now be idle until it opens Conference USA play at league power UAB at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 30. 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 and CUSATV. Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club. Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!
 
For complete coverage of UTEP men's basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPMBB (Twitter), @utepmbb (Instagram) and on Facebook @UTEPMensBasketball  or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at www.UTEPMiners.com