Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (2-1) will open up the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock by challenging road-tested Alcorn State (2-1) at 7 p.m. MT Tuesday. The Miners will also face CSU Bakersfield (7 p.m. MT Wednesday) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2 p.m. MT Friday) at the multi-teams event. The Braves enter the event with the No. 3 RPI in the nation according to CBSSports.com while the Islanders are No. 37. As part of a "Taco Tuesday" promotion, fans can purchase margaritas for $5 and three tacos for $5. The game will be broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso and streamed on CUSA.tv. (subscription required) Tickets, which are per day for the event, are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP. Purchasing a ticket for the UTEP contest will afford fans admission into the non-UTEP game for the day. Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso for Tuesday's contest.  
 
SEASON-LONG HOMESTRETCH CONTINUES
The Miners are 2-0 thus far on their season-long five-game homestand after securing a win against their I-10 rivals NM State (67-64, Nov. 12) and blasting Division III Sul Ross State, 99-59 (Nov. 15). The stretch concludes this week with the Miners playing three contests in four days as part of the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock. UTEP faces Alcorn State (7 p.m. Tuesday), CSU Bakersfield (7 p.m. Wednesday) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2 p.m. Friday). The Miners wrap up the month of November on the road with a return visit to NM State on Nov. 30.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 9-1
UTEP is 9-1 all time against Alcorn State, including winning the past three match-ups. This will be the first meeting since the 2015-16 season. All 10 contests have been held in the Sun City. The two sides squared off seven times from 1984-2002 before not locking up against until 2009.
 
GET TO KNOW ALCORN STATE
Road-tested Alcorn State is 2-1 on the year, already having posted victories at Wichita State (66-57, Nov. 12) and at Stephen F. Austin (69-60, Nov. 15). Overall, the Braves will play 13 straight games away from home (including two neutral) to begin the season as part of a brutal start out of the gates. The strong beginning this year should come as no surprise given that Alcorn State won the SWAC regular-season championship in 2021-22 on the way to qualifying for the NIT. It was predicted second in this year's preseason league poll. The Braves returned three starters from a year ago in the form of Dontrell McQuarter, Byron Joshua and Oddyst Walker. Other notable returnees include Preseason All-SWAC honorees Dominic Brewton and Keondre Montgomery. Alcorn State is very balanced offensively with Brewton (13.0 ppg), Montgomery (12.5 ppg), Trevin Wade (10.5 ppg) and Joshua (10.3 ppg) all averaging at least 10.0 ppg. Montgomery is the top rebounder (7.0 rpg) for the squad while Byron paces it in assists (3.3 apg). Overall, Alcorn State is producing 64.3 points per game, aided by nailing 40.4 percent (19-47) from 3-point range (first SWAC/43rd NCAA). The Braves are equally as good at defending the 3-ball, keeping the opposition to 25.4 percent (18-71) from beyond-the-arc (second SWAC/25th NCAA). It harasses foes into 16.3 turnovers per game, helped by 9.7 steals per contest (second SWAC/63rd NCAA). Alcorn State also does a good job at the charity stripe, nailing 75.6 percent (second SWAC/59th NCAA). Notable alumni include Alex Haley (author of roots), Steve "Air" McNair (Former NFL quarterback).
 
LAST TIME OUT: AT UTEP 99,  ALCORN STATE 59 (11/15/22)
UTEP posted a school-record 24 steals while Otis Frazier III poured in a career-high 23 points to pace five different Miners in double figures in a 99-59 victory against Division III foe Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. The Miners forced 32 turnovers by the Lobos, equaling the most by a UTEP opponent since Norfolk State was harassed into also making 32 on Dec. 28, 2009. It led to a 44-8 Miner margin for points off turnovers. UTEP also had a 28-3 advantage on fastbreak points and 51-25 differential on bench scoring. UTEP connected on 59.1 percent from the floor and showed of its balanced approached offensively on the way to tallying a season-high 99 points. Kevin Kalu (career-high 13 points), Jamari Sibley (season-high 13 points), Ze'Rik Onyema (11 points) and Carlos Lemus (career-high 10 points) joined Frazier III in double figures for scoring while Tae Hardy added eight and Malik Zachery established career bests in both points (six) and assists (five). Calvin Solomon chipped in four points, four rebounds and five helpers.
 
STEALING THE SHOW
Six different Miners had at least three steals against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15 to help them surge past the prior school standard of 21 which had stood since 1994 (against Cardinal Stich on Dec. 20, 1994). Several of those steals were the result of UTEP players hitting the deck in pursuit of loose balls, even with the game well in hand.
 
PROGRESS ON THE BOARDS
A year ago the Miners had a -7.2 rebounding margin (30.1-37.2), but through three games this season UTEP has appeared to have made some strides. The Orange and Blue are +5.7 (34.7-29.0) in the category through three contests, and have yet to be outrebounded in a game this year. That includes winning the rebounding battle at No. 12 Texas, 32-27, in the season opener on Nov. 7.
 
ONYEMA STEPPING UP
After failing to reach double figures in scoring over his first two seasons with the Orange and Blue, forward Ze'Rik Onyema has done so in all three games this season. He's second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) while making a ridiculous 80.0 percent (12-15) of his shots thus far. He also leads the squad in rebounds per game (5.3 rpg), aided by a career-high tying seven boards in consecutive contests.
 
FRAZIER III HAS A BREAKOUT GAME
Otis Frazier III erupted for a career-high 23 points in only 18 minutes of action in the win against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. The effort more than doubled his prior career high while elevating his scoring average to a team-best 12.7 points per game. He is tied for the team lead in free throws made (nine) while rating third in rebounding (4.0 rpg) and fourth in assists (1.7 apg).
 
DISHING OUT DIMES
Point guard Shamar Givance has distributed a team-best 3.3 assists per game (10th C-USA) through three contests. He almost has twice as many assists (10) as turnovers (six) even though he is second on the team in playing time (26.3 mpg).
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Seven different players are scoring between 6.0 to 13.0 points per game through the first three games of the campaign, with Otis Frazier III (12.7 ppg), Ze'Rik Onyema (11.7 ppg) and Tae Hardy (10.3 ppg) all in double figures to lead the way. Jamari Sibley (7.7 ppg), Mario McKinney Jr. (7.0 ppg), Kevin Kalu (6.7 ppg) and Calvin Solomon (6.0 ppg) have also shown off their offensive prowess thus far. It's very early in the year, but the last time the Orange and Blue had at least seven plays contribute 6.0 or more ppg in a season was in 2017-18 when seven players pitched in at least 7.0 ppg.
 
VAULTING UP THE RANKINGS IN STEALS
After coming away with a school-record 24 steals in the victory against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15, UTEP's average for steals per game shot up from 5.0 spg all the way to 11.3 spg. That effort allows the Miners to suddenly lead Conference USA and rank 26th nationally in the category.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 19 points in all three games this year, including going off for a season-high 51 against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. Overall, Miner reserves are contributing 31.3 points per game to place fifth in Conference USA and 82nd nationally.

TURNOVER MACHINES
After forcing the most turnovers (32) by a Miner opponent in nine years in the win against Alcorn State on Nov. 15, UTEP foes are now averaging 22.3 turnovers per game. That effort leads Conference USA and is 10th in the country.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
Even though the Orange and Blue are struggling a bit on free throws (60.9), they are doing a good job of getting the opposition in foul trouble and at getting to the charity stripe. The Miners are attempting 23 free throws per contest, good enough for second in Conference USA and 67th in the nation. Ze'Rik Onyema (9-12), Otis Frazier III (9-11) and Calvin Solomon (4-11) have been the most consistent at earning free throws.
 
KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS
UTEP has connected on 48.9 percent from the floor, which is fifth in Conference USA and 75th nationally. Making that feat even more impressive is the fact that the Miners thus far are shooting 23.9 percent (11-46) from beyond-the-arc.
 
PLENTY OF PRODUCTION TO REPLACE
Between Jamari Sibley, Kevin Kalu and Ze'Rik Onyema, the Miners returned just 20.8 percent of their rebounding, 11.1 percent of their scoring and 9.0 percent of their assists from the 2021-22 squad. In total, the Miners lost four starters and 12 letter winners from last year's squad, including a pair of All-Conference USA performers in Souley Boum (second team) and Jamal Bieniemy (third team).
 
WHAT A CROWD
UTEP played in front of an almost capacity crowd of 11,315 fans in the win against NM State on Nov. 12. It marked the largest home attendance for the Miners since an actual sellout (12,000) of the Don Haskins Center when they beat WKU, 93-89, in a game commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Texas Western NCAA Champions.
 
NEW-LOOK TEAM
UTEP lost four starters and 12 letter winners from last year's team, giving the Miners a new look in year two under head coach Joe Golding. UTEP brought in six Division I transfers (Otis Frazier III, George Mason, Shamar Givance, Evansville, Tae Hardy, Southern Miss, Garrett Levesque, Tarleton State, Mario McKinney Jr., NM State and Calvin Solomon, Stephen F. Austin) while adding four junior-college transfers (Jon Dos Anjos, Florida SouthWestern College), Derick Hamilton, Bossier Parish CC, Carlos Lemus, Chipola College and Malik Zachery, South Plains) and two true freshmen (Antwonne Holmes, Chapin HS, El Paso, Texas, and Jamal Sumlin, Rhodes HS, Cleveland, Ohio). It should be noted that Dos Anjos spent his freshman campaign at Loyola Marymount (Calif.) before going the junior-college route.
 
EXPERIENCED D1 TRANSFERS
The Miners' six DI transfers combined to play in 312 contests, including making 150 starts, prior to their arrival in the Sun City. Shamar Givance (Evansville, 118 GP, 63 GS) and Calvin Solomon (Stephen F. Austin, 82 GP, 56 GS) are the most experienced of the bunch, but Otis Frazier III, George Mason, 35 GP), Mario McKinney Jr. (NM State, 38 GP, 5 GS) and Tae Hardy (Southern Miss, 30 GP, 26 GS) also have 30+ appearances.
 
HOME COOKING
Tuesday's contest is the third of 18 at home (2-0 thus far) for the Orange and Blue this year. They will have 10 Conference USA tilts. UTEP will play three times in four days this week as part of the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic Presented by Speaking Rock (a multi-teams event). It will also have the 61st-annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 21-22). The Miners entered the 2022-23 campaign having registered three straight seasons with 10+ wins at home, including compiling 12 victories inside the Don Haskins a year ago. Aiding in that effort was UTEP leading C-USA in total attendance (88,125) with nearly 90,000 fans passing through the turnstiles.
 
LIFE ON THE ROAD
UTEP fell at No. 12 Texas, 72-57, in its season opener on Nov. 7. It marked the first time to begin the season with a true road game since a
73-61 victory at Pac-12 foe Washington on Nov. 21, 2000. Overall, the Miners will have 13 road games (0-1 thus far) on the year (three nonconference, 10 C-USA). UTEP went 7-6 in 2021-22 on the road, its first winning road record since forging a mark of 8-2 in 2013-14.
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Nov. 7 opener at No. 12/12 Texas was broadcast nationally on the Longhorn Network. It marked the first of 17 contests to be broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+, and one each on ESPNU, FS1, the Longhorn Network and Stadium.

A YEAR IN REVIEW
-    UTEP (20-14) posted its first 20+ win season since going 22-11 in 2014-15. It marked the 27th 20+ win campaign in program history.
-    The Miners notched their first postseason appearance since 2015 and first postseason win since 2009.
-    The Miners finished 11-7 in league play to secure their first winning conference record since forging a mark of 12-6 in 2016-17. That was aided by winning 10 of 14 down the stretch, including halting back-to-back C-USA West Division Champion North Texas' 15-game winning streak, 70-68, on "Senior Day" on March 5.
-    UTEP downed Old Dominion, 74-64, on March 9 for its first victory at the C-USA Championships in five years.
-    UTEP's seven road wins were the most since going 8-2 in 2013-14.
-    The Miners had their first winning road record (5-4) in league play since 2016-17.
-    UTEP's five league road wins surpassed its total (four) of such games from the prior three seasons combined.
-    UTEP had a six-game conference USA winning streak (Jan. 15 to Feb. 5), which was its longest since also posting six straight wins  in 2016 (2/4-20/16). It marked the fifth winning streak of at least six C-USA games since the Miners joined the league in 2005-06.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP
-    This is the 102nd season of UTEP men's basketball. The Miners made history by starting five African-Americans to defeat Kentucky, 72-65, and win the 1966 NCAA Championship on the way to inspiring the Disney hit movie Glory Road. Overall, UTEP has 17 NCAA Tournament appearances (last in 2010), 11 NIT bids (last in 2015), 12 conference championships (last in 2010) and 27 seasons with at least 20+ victories (last in 2022). The Miners have won five league tournaments (last in 2005).
-    The Miners have a strong presence in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with Don Haskins, Nate Archibald, Nolan Richardson, the 1966 team and Tim Hardaway all representing UTEP.
-    UTEP finished 20-14 in 2021-22, which was its most wins since going 22-11 in 2014-15.
-    The Miners returned one starter (Jamari Sibley), and eight letter winners overall. The two other returning letter winners are Kevin Kalu and Ze'Rik Onyema.
-    UTEP has 12 newcomers: Jon Dos Anjos, Otis Frazier III, Shamar Givance, Derick Hamilton, Tae Hardy, Antwonne Holmes, Carlos Lemus, Garrett Levesque, Mario McKinney Jr., Calvin Solomon, Jamal Sumlin and Malik Zachery.
 
GET TO KNOW COACH GOLDING
Joe Golding is in his second year at UTEP, and is 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 180-159 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 22-15 at UTEP. Last year he became the fourth head coach (20 total) in program history to have a winning season in their first year on the sideline. Don Haskins was 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 combined to forge an average record of 9-13 in their first year with UTEP. Previously Golding  spent 10 years at Abilene Christian (158-144), helping it transition from a Division II to a Division I program. Golding led the Wildcats to the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Tournaments, including a stunning upset as a 14-seed of third-seeded Texas in the first round of the 2021 Big Dance.
 
PRESEASON PREMONITIONS
UTEP was predicted to finish eighth out of 11 teams in Conference USA for the 2022-23 season, but keep in mind that last year's edition of the Miners was underestimated. The Orange and Blue were tabbed to finish in 10th place a year ago before tying for the fifth-most wins in league play by forging a mark of 11-7 in 18 C-USA tilts. Overall UAB was predicted to finish first, followed by WKU and North Texas at second and third, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will continue the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock with by playing against CSUB at 7 p.m. MT on Wednesday. The Miners will then wrap up the event against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on 2 p.m. Friday. The games will be broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso and streamed on CUSA.tv. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
 
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