Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (8-3, 1-0 C-USA) faces off with preseason MAC favorite Kent State (9-3) in the championship contest of the 61st-annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational at 7:30 p.m. MT Thursday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. I-10 rival NM State (6-5) will challenge NC A&T (5-7) in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m. MT Thursday. The Miners fought past NC A&T, 75-62, to punch a ticket for the 47th time in 60 appearances to the title tilt while the Golden Flashes (net ranking of 25th) knocked off NM State, 73-63, to secure their spot in the championship game. UTEP is on a two-game winning streak while KSU has peeled off three in a row. This will be the third time that UTEP and Kent State are meeting in the finals of the tournament, with the Golden Flashes emerging victorious in 1999 and the Orange and Blue doing so in 2014. UTEP is 8-0 at home (third time since 2000) while KSU stands 3-3 on the road. The contest will air on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso with Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) on the call, and it will also be streamed for free on the Sun Bowl's YouTube channel. For more information on the 2022 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational please go to www.sunbowl.org. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
 
THE RUBBER MATCH
UTEP is playing in its 47th championship game at the tournament, and for the third time Kent State is standing in the way of the title. It's the most such match-ups in the championship contest for the Miners, who previously faced Denver, Missouri, Princeton, Purdue and Texas A&M twice. The Golden Flashes won in 1999 while the Orange and Blue avenged that loss in 2014.
 
TALKING TOURNAMENT HISTORY
UTEP is 90-29 in the event (48-12 first round). It has won 32 tourney titles (32-14 in title tilt). There was no championship game played or awarded in 2010, as the match-ups were preset. UTEP is 9-3 in the third-place contest. The Miners' most-recent title at the event was in 2019. Prior to that triumph, the Orange and Blue had a three-year stretch (2012-14) as tournament champions. Last year UTEP went 1-1 in the event, besting NC Central, 70-61, in its first-round game on Dec. 21, 2021, before falling in the championship tilt to Bradley, 73-66, on Dec. 22, 2021.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 2-1
UTEP is 2-1 against the Golden Flashes, including 1-1 when facing them in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. Both of the match-ups against KSU in the tournament occurred with the title on the line. The Miners fell, 90-80, to Kent State in the championship contest at the 1999 tournament (Dec. 29, 1999), but they avenged that with a 78-75 triumph to take home the crown at the 2014 event (Dec. 22, 2014). UTEP won the only other meeting, 50-47, at the Show Me Classic in Columbia Missouri on Dec. 7, 1973.
 
GET TO KNOW KENT STATE
Kent State went 23-11 a year ago, including 16-4 in MAC play, and was defeated in the league tournament championship contest. It accepted a bid to the Basketball Classic (same event UTEP played in) and was knocked off in the first round by Southern Utah (which went on to defeat UTEP). The Golden Flashes are rolling again this year, and at 9-3 are well on their way to a 26th consecutive season of finishing .500 or better. They are also one of eight teams this century without a losing season. They returned five players with 14 or more starts from last year. They have a NET ranking of 25th, and all three losses (all on the road) have come by a combined 14 points against the College of Charleston (74-72, Nov. 23) at No. 2 Houston (49-44, Nov. 26) and at No. 18 Gonzaga (73-66, Dec. 5). It is currently riding a three-game win streak, including handling NM State, 73-63, in its first game of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on Dec. 21. KSU is led by reigning MAC Player of the Year Sincere Carry, who paces the team in scoring (17.1 ppg-eighth MAC) and assists (5.2 apg-second MAC/37th NCAA). Malique Jacobs joins him in double figures (13.5 ppg), but he is turning heads defensively with a NCAA leading 3.7 steals per game. Miryne Thomas (11.4 ppg) is also a threat for the Golden Flashes, who are producing 77.1 ppg (fourth MAC/98th NCAA) while giving up just 62.1 ppg (second MAC/43rd NCAA). That opponent scoring output is due to foes shooting just 37.0 percent (first MAC/13th NCAA). One downside to that physical defense has been 19.2 fouls per game (313th NCAA). KSU connects on 8.7 3-pointers per contest (second MAC/77th NCAA). It takes good care of the ball with 12.5 turnovers per game (sixth MAC) while forcing 17.8 (first MAC/20th NCAA). The Golden Flashes also come up with 10.4 steals per contest (first MAC/10th NCAA). They are under the direction of 12th-year head coach Rob Senderoff, who is the winningest coach in program history and was named the 2022 MAC Coach of the Year. The Golden Flashes are 5-2 all time in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, including taking home the title in 1999. Notable alumni include comedians and TV show hosts Steve Harvey and Drew Carey and Alabama head football coach Nick Saban.
 
LAST TIME OUT: AT UTEP 75, NC A&T 62 (12/21/22)
Shamar Givance (18 second-half points) and Derick Hamilton (career-high tying 11 points, career-best five rebounds) each came up big in key moments to help UTEP derail a feisty NC A&T squad, 75-62, in its opening game of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on Dec. 21. UTEP shot 50.0 percent from the floor (29-58), piled up a season-high (against DI opponents) 48 points in the paint and held the Aggies to 39.6 percent from the floor. The Orange and Blue forced 14 turnovers that led to 24 points and had a 34-10 advantage in bench scoring as well. UTEP won the boards (35-31), with Kevin Kalu notching eight rebounds (one shy of career high) to set the tone. Tae Hardy tallied eight points while Carlos Lemus came off the bench to score seven. UTEP shared the ball well with 15 assists on the 29 made field goals, with a team-high four from Solomon. The Miners took care of the ball as well with a season-low 11 turnovers.
 
GIVANCE TAKES OVER
Senior Shamar Givance scored all 18 of his points against NC A&T on Dec. 21 in the second half. That included a stretch when he was responsible for all 12 points by the Miners in a four-minute sequence down the stretch to stave off any comeback bids by the Aggies in their eventual 75-62 triumph.
 
LUCKY 13
The Miners' 13-point margin of victory (75-62) against NC A&T on Dec. 21 was their biggest of the season against a Division I opponent, eclipsing a 12-point outcome (73-61) against Alcorn State in double OT on Nov. 22. The 75 points also marked the most by UTEP vs. DI opposition this year, topping the 73 vs. Alcorn State.
 
ON THE BOARDS
UTEP won the rebounding battle in a game for the third time this season against a Division I opponent when it outrebounded NC A&T, 35-31, on Dec. 21. The Miners are 2-1 in those contests, with the lone setback at No. 12 Texas (Nov. 7).
 
HOT SHOTS
For the first time this season when facing a Division I foe, the Miners finished with a shooting percentage of at least 50.0 when they were went 29-58 (50.0 percent) from the floor against NC A&T on Dec. 21. They did so in spite of going 3-16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range.
 
BACK ON TRACK AT THE LINE
After connecting on just 15-37 at the charity stripe (40.5 percent) in the win against LA Tech on Dec. 17, the Miners were much better in their triumph against NC A&T. UTEP knocked down 14-19 for a readout of 73.7. Shamar Givance (6-6) and Tae Hardy (4-4) led the charge in the department.
 
BEST START IN THREE SEASONS
UTEP has burst out to a mark of 8-3 on the season, which equals the best start to a campaign since the 2019-20 squad also came out at 8-3 (eventually 9-3). That team finished at 17-15.
 
BACK TO OUR IDENTITY
After yielding 90+ points in back-to-back games against Division I opposition (L, 95-70, at NM State- Nov. 30; L, 91-70, at DePaul- Dec. 10), the Miners have returned to form the past two games by keeping LA Tech (W, 60-55, Dec. 17) and NC A&T (W, 75-62, Dec. 21) in check. Both teams shot less than 40 percent, with the Bulldogs being held to an opponent season-low 29.4 shooting percentage.
 
PROGRESS IN THE SECOND HALF
During the Miners' first seven contests of the campaign against Division I opposition, they had been outpaced by an average score of 40.1-31.4 (281-220) in the second half of those games. UTEP has started to make progress in the department, notching a positive second-stanza scoring differential in each of the past two tilts. The Miners were +9 (44-35) against NC A&T on Dec. 21 and +2 against LA Tech on Dec. 17.
 
KALU CRASHING THE GLASS
Kevin Kalu has been all over the boards the past three contests, leading the team in each of the tilts. He set a career high with nine rebounds at DePaul on Dec. 10 before matching that in the win against LA Tech on Dec. 17. Most recently, Kalu secured a eight rebounds in the win against NC A&T on Dec. 21. Overall, he is now accounting for 3.6 rebounds per game, aided by a team-high tying 15 offensive boards. Keep in mind that Kalu is doing this while coming off the bench.
 
FREE THROWS WIN BALL GAMES?
The old saying goes that free throws win ball games, but UTEP is 8-3 despite struggling at the charity stripe (185-304, 60.9 percent). It is 5-1 on the season when shooting 60 percent or less in a contest and 3-2 when eclipsing that figure. Included in the win count when falling short of 60 percent was a 40.5 percent (15-37) effort in a 60-55 triumph against LA Tech on Dec. 17. It marked the first time the Miners had won a game with 20+ misses at the charity stripe since topping UTSA, 81-74, on March 5, 2016 (20-40). It was the lowest FT% in a contest since making 14.3 percent (1-7) in a 58-45 setback to LA Tech on Jan. 18, 2015. UTEP was a bit more conventional in the 75-62 win against NC A&T on Dec. 21, going 14-19 (73.7 percent), including 14-16 (87.5 percent) in the second half.
 
KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS
UTEP has nailed at least 40.0 percent of its shots in all 11 games, the longest such stretch to begin a season since the 2010-11 team eclipsed 40 percent over the first 15 contests. It's the longest stretch at any point in a campaign since  UTEP did so 17 straight times in 2016-17. Overall, the Miners are connecting on 47.1 percent of their shots (seventh C-USA/79th NCAA). UTEP has been particularly accurate with 2-point attempts, making 56.4 percent inside the arc.
 
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
UTEP has a +5.4 scoring margin (34.0-28.6) in the first half of contests this year, but in the second half that figure swings the other way to -1.5 (35.5-37.1). The Miners' offensive output has been similar, but they have not been able to carry over the defense from the opening stanza. Foes are shooting 47.0 in the second half (36.8 in the first half), including 37.3 percent (26.4 in the first half) from 3-point range. That has resulted in opponents averaging 8.5 more ppg (37.1-28.6) in the second half compared to the first half. The Miners, though, have a positive second-half scoring differential in each of the past two contests, with a +2 advantage against LA Tech on Dec. 17 and a +9 margin against NC A&T on Dec. 21.
 
PACK THE DON
UTEP is leading Conference USA in both overall attendance (39,666) and average attendance (4,958) in 2022-23. UAB (26,570) is the closest team for total attendance while Middle Tennessee (4,135) is the nearest for average attendance. Last year the Miners led in overall attendance and were second in the league in average attendance.
 
8-0 AT HOME FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS CENTURY
UTEP has shot out to 8-0 at home, joining the 2019-20 team (9-0 start) and 2003-04 squad (8-0 start) as the only this century to win its first eight home contests. The 2019-20 squad became the first to post nine consecutive home wins to begin the campaign since the Miners were undefeated at the Don Haskins Center (18-0) in 1988-89. This year, the Miners have a +14.5 (75.1-60.6 ppg) scoring differential in the Sun City. UTEP is shooting 48.3 percent compared to 37.7 by the foes, has a +5.5 turnover margin (14.9-20.4) and has taken nearly 100 more free throws (231-137) in those eight contests.
 
TAKING DOWN 2022 POSTSEASON TEAMS
Three of the Miners' eight 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. UTEP also has a victory against LA Tech, which was a stellar 24-10 last season.
 
WIN CLOSE
Exactly half (four of eight) 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), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by five (72-67, Nov. 25) and LA Tech by five (60-55, Dec. 17). UTEP is 4-0 in such contests this season.
 
D-UP
UTEP has held six of its past eight opponents to below 40 percent from the floor, including forcing LA Tech into an UTEP opponent-season low 29.6 percent (16-54) shooting on Dec. 17. NM State (57.7 percent, Nov. 30) and then No. 12 Texas (54.8 percent, Nov. 7) are the only Miner opponents this year to hit at least 50 percent from the floor. Overall, foes have been limited to 41.7 percent compared to UTEP's readout of 47.1 percent (seventh C-USA/79th NCAA).
 
LOCK THEM DOWN AT THE DON
UTEP has a scoring defense of 60.6 ppg at the Don Haskins Center this season, with opponents shooting 37.7 overall and just 25.5 percent from 3-point range. None of the eight opponents have tallied more than 67 points in El Paso, with three held in the 50's.
 
TIME TO DO THAT ON THE ROAD
The Miners are allowing 86.0 points per game on the road, with the opposition making 53.5 percent overall and 46.2 percent from beyond-the-arc. All three foes have topped 70 points, including a pair above 90.
 
CLOSING OUT GAMES
Even though the Miners have had some close calls this year, they are 8-0 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also perfect on the campaign (8-0) when up at the half.
 
C-USA GETTING IT DONE OUT OF CONFERENCE
Conference USA's 11 squads have been thriving out of conference, with a combined mark of 86-32 between the 11 programs (through Dec. 21). Florida Atlantic (10-1) has one loss while Charlotte, North Texas, UAB and WKU all have just two setbacks.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
UTEP has been aggressive offensively, which has resulted in it going to the line early and often. The Miners are first in C-USA and third nationally with 27.6 free throw tosses per game, 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. UTEP's 16.8 free throws made per contest is second in the conference and 23rd in the nation. Overall, UTEP has attempted nearly 100 more tosses at the charity stripe than opponents 304-214). Tae Hardy (37-55), Calvin Solomon (22-43), Shamar Givance (34-43) and Ze'Rik Onyema (15-33) all have 30+ attempts.
 
HARDY DOING IT ALL
Southern Miss transfer Tae Hardy is doing a little bit of everything this year, pacing the Miners in scoring (12.9 ppg) while rating second in blocks per game (0.5 bpg) and assists per game (2.3). He's also shown endurance, leading the squad at 31.6 minutes per game. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in all 11 contests of the season, including a pair of 20+ point efforts. He has led or shared the top spot on the team in scoring in six tilts. Shamar Givance (two) is the only other play on the squad with more than one such efforts. Hardy also has a team-high six double-digit scoring efforts.
 
GIVANCE THE LEADER
Evansville transfer Shamar Givance, the only senior on the roster, has contributed in multiple ways this season while running the point for the Orange and Blue. He tops the team in assists per game (4.1-seventh C-USA)  and steals per game (1.7-eighth C-USA) while rating second in playing time (29.4) and free-throw percentage (min. 10 FTA, 79.1 percent) and ranking third in scoring (8.9 ppg). He has dished out at least five assists in five of the past six contests and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of +1.8 (seventh C-USA). Givance has shown the ability for clutch play, making two free throws with 3.0 seconds left to help lift UTEP to a 68-67 OT win against CSUB on Nov. 23.
 
SUPER MARIO
NM State transfer Mario McKinney Jr. has been a big key to UTEP's early success. After reaching double digits in scoring in five of his first seven appearances (all off the bench), he earned his initial start of the year against LA Tech on Dec. 17. Overall, McKinney Jr. is second on the team in scoring (10.4 ppg), aided by a career-high 24 points on the road against his former squad on Nov. 30. He is tied for second on the squad for double-figure scoring efforts (five) and places third in rebounding (4.2 rpg).
 
ONYEMA MAKING A LEAP
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 five contests this year (five straight to begin the season). He has also recorded his first career double-double (10 points, career-high 10 rebounds) in the win vs. Alcorn State on Nov. 22. He paces the team in rebounding (5.0 rpg), is third in field-goal percentage (64.3) and fifth for scoring (7.3 ppg). He put up 2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 2021-22.
 
CALVIN'S CORNER
Stephen F. Austin transfer Calvin Solomon has been an impact player for UTEP in his first year with the Miners. He is one of three players (Shamar Givance and Tae Hardy are the others) to have started all 11 contests on the season. Solomon shares the squad lead in offensive boards (15), is second in rebounding (4.9 rpg) and second in steals per game (1.6-12th C-USA) and rates sixth in scoring (6.7 ppg). Solomon has been assertive at attacking the defense with his 43 free-throw attempts tying for second on the unit.
 
KALU FINISHING AT THE RIM
Kevin Kalu has done good work inside, making 23-of-30 for a team-leading 76.7 field-goal percentage on the season. Overall, he is putting up 5.3 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year). He's also gotten after it on the glass recently, with at least eight rebounds in three consecutive contests, including a career-high nine boards at both DePaul (Dec. 10) and vs. LA Tech (Dec. 17). He shares the team lead in offensive boards (15).
 
MAKING THE MOST OF HIS MINUTES
Sophomore junior-college transfer Derek Hamilton has shown tremendous potential in his eight appearances off the bench this year. He is accounting for 4.3 points per game despite playing only 5.2 minutes per contest. Hamilton has missed only four field goals (13-17) all season, for a team-leading 76.5 percent from the floor. He also tops the team in free-throw percentage (min. 10 attempts) by going 8-10 (80.0 percent). Most recently he tallied a career-high tying 11 points in 10 minutes of action in the victory against NC A&T on Dec. 21.
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Seven different players are scoring between 6.0 and 14.0 points per game. Tae Hardy (12.9 ppg) and Mario McKinney Jr. (10.4 ppg) are in double figures to lead the way while Shamar Givance (8.9 ppg), Otis Frazier III (7.8 ppg), Ze'Rik Onyema (7.3 ppg), Calvin Solomon (6.7 ppg) and Jamari Sibley (6.0 ppg) round out the group. Furthermore, there have already been 11 players (out of 13) to register at least one double-digit scoring contests.
 
TURNOVER MACHINES
UTEP is forcing the opposition into 18.9 turnovers per game to lead Conference USA and rank 11th nationally. The Miners harassed the first eight foes to commit at least 15 turnovers, the longest stretch to begin a season since the initial 12 opponents did so in 1974-75. Four opponents have made at least 20 giveaways, including 32 by Sul Ross (Nov. 15), which was the most in nine years by a UTEP opponent. No foe has committed less than 14.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP's pressure defense has resulted in 9.3 steals per game to place second in Conference USA and rank 34th 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 Orange and Blue are currently on pace for 297 steals this season, which would break the school record (288, 2009-10).
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in all 11 games this year (nine with 24+ points), including going off for a season-high 51 against Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. UTEP's campaign best vs. DI foes is 34, which happened both at DePaul (Dec. 10) and against NC A&T (Dec. 21). Overall, UTEP reserves are contributing 29.4 points per game to rank third in Conference USA and 32nd nationally. Super sub Mario McKinney Jr. has been vital in this category, tallying 10.4 ppg while coming off the pine in eight of his nine total appearances.
 
GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners have used the opponent's 18.9 turnovers per game to help them get out into transition for easy baskets. The Orange and Blue are accounting for 11.4 fastbreak points per game, which is fourth in Conference USA.
 
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 on Nov. 23. 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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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 379 contests, including making 165 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 8-0 at home thus far, allowing it to join the 2019-20 team (9-0) and the 2003-04 unit (8-0) as the only this century to start at least 8-0. The Miners are scheduled ot play 18 total times in the Don Haskins Center, with eight nonconference (7-0 thus far) and 10 Conference USA tilts (1-0 thus far). UTEP wraps up the nonconference portion of its home slate with the 61st-annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational this week (beat NC A&T, 75-62, in opening game). The Miners are well on their way to a fourth straight season with 10+ wins. 
 
LIFE ON THE ROAD
UTEP is 0-3 on the road, including falling 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 (0-3 thus far) on the year, with three nonconference (0-3) and 10 in C-USA (0-0 thus far). 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. The Miners' next road game will come at UAB on Dec. 29.
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Miners will have 17 contests (0-3 thus far in situation) to be broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (0-1), and one each on ESPNU, FS1 (0-1), the Longhorn Network (0-1) 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 three 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 186-161 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 28-17 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 be idle for a week before playing at league preseason favorite UAB at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 29. The contest will stream nationally on ESPN+. Jon Teicher will also be on the call on the "Home of UTEP Basketball", 600 ESPN El Paso.
 
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Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball.
 
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