UTEP MBB Set to Host FIU Friday and Saturday

2/10/2021 9:14:00 AM

UTEP vs. FIU Game Notes

EL PASO – The UTEP men's basketball team will look to get back in the win column when it hosts high-volume shooting FIU on Friday, Feb. 12. The Miners (8-10, 4-8 Conference USA) and Panthers (9-12, 2-10 C-USA) will tipoff at 7 p.m. in the Haskins Center.

The contest features two of the top five scorers in the league. UTEP's Souley Boum ranks fifth in C-USA, averaging a career-high 17.9 points per game, while FIU's Antonio Daye Jr. ranks fourth at 18.0 points per contest. FIU leads the nation in three-point field goal makes (224) and attempts (661).

The Miners and Panthers will be streamed on ESPN+ with Erik Elken calling play-by-play and Leonard Owens providing analysis. Fans can tune into the home of UTEP Basketball 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners app and listen to "The Voice of the Miners" Jon Teicher call the action in his 40^th season.

UTEP was swept at UAB, falling 63-51 on Feb. 5 and 75-60 the next night. Boum averaged 19.5 points, while Bryson Williams averaged 16.0 points in the two losses. During the Feb. 6 contest, the Miners took a 34-32 halftime lead after Keonte Kennedy drained a jumper at the buzzer. However, the Blazers proved why they own the best record in C-USA after blowing out the Miners 43-26 in the second half.

Boum had a recent streak of five games snapped in which he scored 20 or more points. He was the first since Randy Culpepper in 2011 to do so. Boum has put up solid numbers during the season, ranking eighth in free-throw percentage (81.3), sixth in total three-point field goals made (41) and sixth in three-pointers made per game (2.3). Boum is also averaging 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Kristian Sjolund balled out on Saturday, as the sophomore transfer scored a career-high 15 points on a career-high five made three-point field goals. Sjolund finished 5-for-5 from downtown, playing a career-most 27 minutes off the bench.

FIU has lost nine consecutive games in league play and is 1-9 in its last 10 games. The lone victory came against Florida Memorial, 90-74, in a nonconference match up on Feb. 1 in Miami. FIU opened C-USA play with an 82-67 win against Old Dominion, and followed with its second conference win at Middle Tennessee, 68-55, on Jan. 8.

The Panthers ranks fifth in C-USA in points per game (76.1), but ranks last in the league in scoring defense (75.5). The Panthers average 15.3 assists per game, which ranks third in the league. FIU's 10.7 3-pointers per game ranks first in C-USA and sixth national, while its 33.9 percent from downtown ranks fifth in the conference.

Daye Jr. has been the workhorse for FIU Head Coach Jeremy Ballard. He leads the team in scoring, steals (44) and assists (92). Daye Jr. averages 4.3 boards and is shooting 46 percent from the field. Daye Jr. averages 4.8 assists per game, ranking second in the league, while his 2.3 steals per contest also ranks second.

The Miners lead the all-time series 11-2, and is 5-1 versus the Panthers in the Haskins Center. FIU defeated UTEP, 67-65, last season in Miami. The Miners defeated the Panthers, 85-78, in El Paso on Feb. 9, 2019.

Saturday's contest is set for a 7 p.m. tip and will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard on the home of UTEP Basketball 600 ESPN El Paso.

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