Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (5-1) will look to extend its winning streak to six when it takes on I-10 rival NM State (2-2) at the Pan-American Center at 7 p.m. MT Wednesday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. The Miners have peeled off five straight wins in the month of November for the first time since the 2019-20 season (eventual 8-1 start), including forging a perfect record (3-0) at the Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock during the week of Thanksgiving. The Aggies spent Thanksgiving in the "Sin City" for the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, besting San Diego (90-77, Nov. 25) before falling to UC-Irvine (85-68, Nov. 26) last time out. Wednesday's match-up is the second of three potential meetings on the year between the rivals, with the Aggies joining Kent State, NC A&T and the Miners to comprise the field for the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 21-22). UTEP knocked off NM State, 67-64, at home on Nov. 12 for its first victory in the series since the 2019-20 season. The Orange and Blue are now vying for their initial win in Las Cruces, N.M., in 12 years, having last beaten the Aggies at the Pan-American Center on Nov. 30, 2010. Wednesday's match-up is 12 years to the date of that contest. The game will be broadcast on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso with Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) on the call. It will also be streamed on ESPN+.It is a match-up of two top-100 RPI teams according to CBSSports.com, with UTEP rating 22nd and the Aggies placing 81st.
 
THAT'S HOW YOU DEFEND THE DON
UTEP went 5-0 on its season-long homestretch, including winning three times in four days at the Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock. The Miners are 5-0 at home in 2022-23, matching the best start in three years. The 2019-20 edition shot out to a 9-0 start in El Paso before ultimately concluding the season with a mark of 13-4 at the Don Haskins Center.
 
SERIES HISTORY: NM STATE LEADS, 120-104
NM State leads the all time series with UTEP, 120-104. It is the Miners' oldest series, while rating as the second oldest for the Aggies. It started in 1914 and the two squads squared off at least twice annually every year since 1944-45 before Covid interrupted that two years ago. UTEP knocked off the Aggies, 67-64, at home on Nov. 12 for their first win in the series three years to the date. Now, the Miners are shooting for their initial road victory in the series 12 years to the date when the two sides square off Wednesday. Five of the past six games have been decided by five points or less, but NM State has managed to claim 12 of the past 14 contests.
 
GET TO KNOW NM STATE
NM State compiled a mark of 27-7 a year ago while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly three decades. The Aggies are 2-2 this year with a new-look roster (two letter winners, no starters) back from that unit. They also have a new coaching staff, with Greg Heiar assuming the reins after Chris Jans accepted the head coaching position at SEC school Mississippi State in the offseason. Most recently, Heiar won the NJCAA Division I National Championship with Northwest Florida State College. The program was 6-15 the previous year before Heiar took over.  LSU transfer Xavier Pinson leads the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) and minutes (31.8 mpg) while rating second in assists (5.0 apg-2nd WAC/64th NCAA). Deshawndre Washington  (13.5 ppg) and  Issa Muhammad (12.0 ppg), who both starred for Heiar at Northwest Florid State College join Pinson in double figures for scoring, as does Anthony Roy (10.0 ppg). Washington also tops the team in rebounding (7.8 rpg-4th WAC) and assists (6.3 apg-1st WAC/16th NCAA). NM State will be playing just its second home game of the year, having blasted N.M. Highlands, 101-52, in its season opener on Nov. 7. The Aggies are 147-15 at home since 2011-12, and haven't dropped more than two games in Las Cruces, N.M., in a season since that year (14-3). Most recently NM State went 1-1 at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, defeating San Diego, 90-77, in its opener of the event on Nov. 25 before falling in the championship game against UC-Irvine, 85-68, on Nov. 26. The high-flying attack produces 80.8 points per game (4th WAC/52nd NCAA), aided by shooting 47.8 percent (5th WAC/66th NCAA) overall and 39.6 percent (2nd WAC/24th NCAA) from beyond-the-arc. They share the ball well with 16.3 assists per game (3rd WAC/51st NCAA) thanks largely to Washington and Pinson. 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.
 
LAST TIME OUT: AT UTEP 72, TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 67, (11/25/22)
UTEP shot 47.2 percent from the floor while frustrating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's high-flying offense (entered averaging 78.0 ppg) on the way to closing out the Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock in fine fashion with a 72-67 win at the Don Haskins Center on Nov, 25. UTEP held the Islanders, who returned all five starters from their 2022 Southland Conference Championship team that played in the NCAA Tournament, to 37.5 percent (24-64) from the floor. Aiding that effort was the Miners keeping A&M-Corpus Christi to 20.8 percent (5-24) from beyond the arc. Jamari Sibley (12 points), Tae Hardy (12 points) both hit double figures in scoring while Shamar Givance, Mario McKinney and Calvin Solomon pitched in eight points and Otis Frazier III added seven to help the offensive efforts. UTEP won the battle of the boards, 39-38, aided by Ze'Rik Onyema pulling down nine caroms. The Miners trailed for only 35 seconds in the game and were up by as many as 20 points (58-38) in the second half before the Islanders made a furious rally to cut the differential down to two (65-63, 2:17 2H). UTEP kept its composure, with two Solomon free throws with three seconds left putting away the Islanders for good.
 
TAKING DOWN 2022 POSTSEASON TEAMS
Three of the Miners' five wins this year have come against teams that played postseason basketball a year ago, including two that went to the NCAA tournament. UTEP knocked off NM State (2022 NCAA second round) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2022 NCAA first four), in addition to Alcorn State (2022 NIT). All three of those teams won their conference.
 
WIN CLOSE
Three of the Miners' victories this year have been by five points or less, demonstrating their toughness and grit. UTEP toppled NM State by three (67-64, Nov. 12), CSU Bakersfield by one (68-67, OT, Nov. 23) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by five (72-67, Nov. 25).
 
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
UTEP is riding a five-game win streak, marking the second time under head coach Joe Golding that it has peeled off at least five straight victories. The Miners enjoyed a six-contest surge in the middle of Conference USA play last year. If the Orange and Blue can knock off NM State on the road Wednesday, it would afford them their first nonconference winning streak of at least six tilts since beginning the 2015-16 season at 6-0. The last time A Miner squad had an out-of-conference winning streak longer than six games was in 1985-86 (11 straight).
 
D-UP
UTEP held all three opponents at the Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock to fewer than 40 percent from the floor, marking the first time three consecutive opponents have shot below 40 percent since a six-game stretch to conclude the 2019-20 campaign.
 
LOCK THEM DOWN
After then No. 12 Texas (now No. 2) scored 72 points in the opener on Nov. 7, no Miner opponent has managed to eclipse 70 points in the ensuing five games. The end result has been a scoring defense of 65.0 (sixth C-USA/101st NCAA).
 
CLOSING OUT GAMES
Even though the Miners have had some close calls this year, they are 5-0 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also perfect on the season (5-0) when leading at the half.
 
C-USA GETTING IT DONE OUT OF CONFERENCE
All 11 Conference USA schools sport a winning record (through Nov. 27), with Florida Atlantic (5-1), UAB (5-1) and UTEP (5-1) all having just one loss to this point in the year. Overall, league teams have combined to forge a record of 53-19.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
Even though the Orange and Blue are struggling to knock down free throws (58.4 percent), they have done well to pile up the attempts. UTEP is attempting 26.8 tosses per contest (second C-USA/7th NCAA), aiding by piling up 43 attempts against Alcorn State on Nov. 22. It marked the most free throw attempts by UTEP since taking 47 in a season-opening victory against Loyola on Nov. 14, 2016. The Miners' 15.7 free throws made per contest is second in the conference and 46th in the nation. Overall, UTEP has attempted 161 free throws compared to 122 by the opposition. Tae Hardy (19-30), Calvin Solomon (13-28), Ze'Rik Onyema (12-21) and Shamar Givance (13-20) all have 20+ attempts thus far.
 
HARDY DOING IT ALL
Southern Miss transfer Tae Hardy is doing a little bit of everything this year, pacing the Miners in scoring (11.8 ppg), sharing the team lead in blocks per game (1.0 bpg) while rating second in assists per game (2.3). He's also shown tremendous endurance, leading C-USA and rating 103rd in the country with 33.4 minutes per game. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in all six contests of the season

GIVANCE PICKING UP SCORING
After combining for a total of 13 points the first three contests of the campaign, Evansville transfer Shamar Givance is picking up his scoring. He has notched at least eight points in three straight games, including a pair of double-digit efforts. He has also gotten his teammates involved with a team-leading 3.0 assists per game (11th C-USA). Givance has come up clutch as well, making two free throws with 3.0 seconds left to help lift UTEP to a 68-67 OT win against CSUB on Nov. 23. The tallies were part of his season-high scoring output of 14 points.
 
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 did so in the first five games his year before tallying five points last time out against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 25. He recorded his first career double-double (10 points, career-high 10 rebounds in the win vs. Alcorn State on Nov. 22. He tops the squad in rebounding (6.3 rpg), is second in field-goal percentage (71.9) and third for second in scoring (9.8 ppg). He put up 2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 2021-22.
 
KALU FINISHING AT THE RIM
Kevin Kalu has done good work inside, making 13-of-17 for a team-leading 76.5 field-goal percentage on the season. Overall, he is putting up 5.5 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year).
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Seven different players are scoring between 7.0 and 12.0 points per game thus far, with Tae Hardy (11.8 ppg) and Otis Frazier III (10.2 ppg) are in double figures to lead the way while Ze'Rik Onyema (9.8 ppg), Mario McKinney Jr. (9.8 ppg),  Jamari Sibley (8.2 ppg), Shamar Givance (7.5 ppg) and Calvin Solomon (7.2 ppg) round out the group. It's early in the year, but the last time the Orange and Blue had at least seven players contribute 7.0 or more ppg in a season was in 2017-18.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP's pressure defense has resulted in 9.3 steals per game to rate third in Conference USA and 48th in the country. Aiding that figure was a school-record 24 steals in the victory against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. Six different Miners had at least three steals in the contest 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 thefts were the result of UTEP players hitting the deck in pursuit of loose balls, even with the game well in hand.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in all six games this year, including going off for a season-high 51 against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. Overall, UTEP reserves are contributing 26.7 points per game to place eighth in Conference USA and 96th nationally.
 
GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners' have used the opponent's 19.5 turnovers per game to help them get out into transition for easy baskets. The Orange and Blue are accounting for 13.3 fastbreak points per game, which is fourth in Conference USA and 84th in the country.
 
DON'T TRY THE 3
UTEP has been stingy at shutting down opponents from 3-point range, with foes shooting 25.5 from beyond-the-arc. That effort is first in Conference USA and 16th in the nation.
 
TURNOVER MACHINES
The opposition has had a hard time of taking care of the ball against UTEP, with foes averaging 19.5 turnovers per game (second Conference USA/15th NCAA). That figure was aided by forcing the most turnovers (32) by a Miner opponent in nine years in the win against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. All six foes have recorded at least 16 giveaways, with a pair making 20+.
 
KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS
UTEP has connected on 48.0 percent from the floor, which is third in Conference USA and 61st nationally. The Miners have hit at least 40.0 of their shots in all six games, including better than 49.0 percent in three of the past four contests. Making that feat even more impressive is the fact that the Miners thus far are shooting 23.2 percent (22-95) from beyond-the-arc.
 
TALKING OVERTIME
UTEP went to overtime in back-to-back contests at the Jim Forbes Classic presented by Speaking Rock, defeating Alcorn State, 73-61, in double OT on Nov. 22 before besting CSUB, 68-67, in OT the ensuing day. It marked the first time since the 2016-17 season that the Miners posted consecutive wins in OT. That year UTEP knocked off  FIU (88-87, 2OT, 1/14/17) and Florida Atlantic (66-65, OT, 1/16/17) in back-to-back contests during the 2016-17 season. Overall, UTEP is now 69-46 all time in overtime contests, including 3-1 under head coach Joe Golding.
 
THERE WAS 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
UTEP is 5-0 at home thus far, and is scheduled to play 18 total times at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners will have 10 Conference USA tilts. It will also play host to 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 (0-1 thus far in situation) to be broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+, and one each on ESPNU, FS1, the Longhorn Network and Stadium. Wednesday's game at NM State will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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 183-159 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 25-15 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 returns home to play host to NAIA foe Northern New Mexico at 2 p.m. MT Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso and streamed on CUSA.tv (subscription required). Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/or by calling (915) 747-UTEP. 
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Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball.
 
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