Game Notes In PDF Format
 

OPENING TIP

Riding a two-game road winning streak, the UTEP men's basketball team (16-10, 9-5 C-USA) will play at Conference USA East Division leader Middle Tennessee (19-7, 10-3 C-USA) at 5 p.m. MT/ 6 p.m. CT Monday. The Miners are coming off their first road sweep in six tries of LA Tech and Southern Miss, including an 84-70 victory against the Golden Eagles on Feb. 19. They have won eight of 10 in league play for the first time since 2016-17, and they will now play for the third time in five days on the road with a game being made up due to a Covid-19 postponement from earlier in the year. It's the first time since 1983-84 that UTEP is having three league road games in a five-day trip (2-1 that year). The Blue Raiders are also hot, as they are have won five straight and 10 of 11. Most recently they completed a road sweep of FIU and FAU, with the 87-79 victory at FAU on Feb. 19. MT is undefeated at home at 12-0 on the year (6-0 C-USA) while UTEP stands 7-5 on the road (5-3 C-USA). The contest will conclude the Orange and Blue's road portion of the C-USA slate. Jon Teicher (41st year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on CUSA TV.

 

SERIES HISTORY: MIDDLE TENNESSEE LEADS, 7-5

Middle Tennessee holds a slight 7-5 edge in the series with UTEP, including a 4-2 margin at home, but UTEP did post a 60-56 win in its last trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on March 4, 2020. That was the most-recent meeting between the programs as they did not lock up last year.  Furthermore, the Orange and Blue have won back-to-back meetings with the Blue Raiders.

 

THIS & THAT

-    Souley Boum (19.7 ppg) leads Conference USA in scoring while Jamal Bieniemy (15.8 ppg) is seventh. The only time a Miner has paced C-USA in ppg was Stefon Jackson (23.6 ppg) in 2007-08.

The last time UTEP had a 20.0 ppg scorer was Jackson (24.5 ppg) in 2008-09.

-    Both Souley Boum (19.6 ppg) and Jamal Bieniemy (17.9) are better than 17.5 ppg in league play, making the Miners the lone team in the league to have a pair of players doing so.

-    Souley Boum tops C-USA in free throws made (131-16th NCAA). He is 24-27 the past three tilts and has made at least five free throws in 15 different games.

-    Souley Boum (36.3 mpg-second C-USA/17th NCAA) and Jamal Bieniemy (34.1 mpg-seventh C-USA) both find themselves in the top 10 in Conference USA for playing time.

-   Tydus Verhoeven (1.04-12th) and Jamari Sibley (1.0-13th) are both in the top 15 of the league for blocked shots per contest.

-   Jamal Bieniemy (2.5/game-ninth C-USA), Souley Boum (2.1/game-18th C-USA)and Jorell Saterfield (1.9-20th) are all among the C-USA leaders for 3-pointers per contest. 

-    The Miners have won eight of 10 improve to 9-5 in C-USA after a 1-3 league start. It's the most league victories since 2016-17 (12-6).

-   UTEP is 5-1 over its past six road games, its best league stretch since winning also going 5-1 in a six-contest stretch in 2017. It is assured of its first winning league road record since 2016-17 (5-4). The 7-5 overall road record is its most wins since finishing 8-2 in 2013-14. That year is also the last time they had a winning road record.

-    The Miners' five league road surpasses their total (four) of such games from the prior three seasons combined. It is also most C-USA road victories since going 7-1 in 2013-14.

-    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.

-    UTEP won its last five games in January for the first time since also doing it in 2014.

-   The Miners are 14-2 on the season when drilling at least eight 3-point shots. That record includes a school-recording tying 15 makes from distance against Southern Miss in the 87-54 win on Jan. 8. UTEP nearly matched that with 14 at USM on Feb. 19.

-   The Miners stand at 12-2 when scoring 70+ points (5-0 getting into the 80's).

-   UTEP sports a mark of 15-4 on the campaign when limiting foes to 72 points or less, including 5-1 when keeping them in the 50's.

-   The Miners are 5-1 in games decided by five points or less.

-   UTEP is 15-4 when making at least 40 percent of its shots and 7-0 when the opponent falls shy of that figure. It is also 10-1 when shooting better than foes. 

-   The Miners are 13-1 when leading with five minutes to play.

-   Fourteen of UTEP's 16 wins of the year have been the come-from-behind variety, including the season-best 13 points overcome against UTSA on Jan. 11. There have been rallies of at least seven points six times total this season.

-   The Miners have secured a win in all four Mainland timezones in the US.

-   UTEP's 16 total wins surpasses the effort from last year's Covid-affected season when it finished at 12-12. The Miners were 17-15 in 2019-20.

-   UTEP has had its top three scorers (Souley Boum-18.6 ppg, Jamal Bieniemy-14.6 and Keonte Kennedy-13.3) on the court in the same game just six times out of 26 total games this season.

 

GET TO KNOW MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Middle Tennessee rolled to a 9-4 mark in nonconference play, but it has been even better in league action. After an 0-2 start to C-USA play, the Blue Raiders are 10-1 to enter Monday's match-up at 19-7 overall (10-3 C-USA). They have won five straight and 10 of 11. MT is a flawless 12-0 at home (6-0 in C-USA), with 10 of the wins by double figures. It is a balanced attack offensively with Josh Jefferson (15.0 ppg-ninth C-USA), Donovan Sims (10.7 ppg) and Eli Lawrence (10.7 ppg) all in double figures for scoring. Two other players contribute at least 8.0 ppg for a squad putting up 75.1 points per game (fifth C-USA/81st NCAA). Middle Tennessee is also among the league and national leaders for steals per game (8.4-second/35th), turnover margin (2.7-fourth/49t9) free-throw percentage (74.9-third/61st), scoring margin (7.7-fourth/68th), blocked shots per game (4.2-fifth/72nd) and 3-pointers per game (8.3-fifth/90th). Jefferson nails 2.6 3-pointers per game (eighth C-USA) while Teafale Lenard blocks 1.2 shots per contest (sixth C-USA). Lawrence also comes up with 1.5 steals per game (12th C-USA).Notable alumni include Kelly Holcomb (NFL QB from 1995-2007) and James McGill Buchanan (Nobel Prize Winner).

 

GOING BACK IN TIME (UTEP 84, AT SOUTHERN MISS 70  FEB. 19, 2022)

Jamal Bieniemy (19 points), Tydus Verhoeven (13 points), Souley Boum (12 points), Jorell Saterfield (12 points) and Christian Agnew(11 points), all hit double figures in scoring to help lead UTEP an 84-70 road vanquishing of Southern Miss on Feb. 19. UTEP finished the game 14-26 from 3-point range, one shy of tying the school record. It was 8-16 in the opening half to help it build a 42-32 advantage at the break. It also forced 18 turnovers, which led to 21 points. It allowed them to complete a home and away sweep of the Golden Eagles for the first time since the 2008-09 season. Furthermore, UTEP has won at both LA Tech and Southern Miss on the same trip for the initial occasion in its sixth attempt. The Miners have won back-to-back league road games for the second time this season, and it marks the first time that the Miners have won consecutive C-USA contests on the same trip since the 2019-20 season. 

 

TIP-INS FROM THE SOUTHERN MISS GAME

-   There were three ties and four lead changes, with the Miners using an 11-0 run midway through the opening half to turn a 20-18 deficit into a 29-20 lead in the span of 1:08. UTEP never trailed after that.

-   Alfred Hollins and Jamari Sibley both pitched in seven points off the bench. Sibley also had nine rebounds, one shy of his career best.

-   Southern Miss was led by Isaih Moore's 25 points, but UTEP held USM leading scorer Tyler Stevenson scoreless.

-UTEP dished out 17 assists on 29 field goals made, with seven by Bieniemy and five from Boum.

-   The Miners took good care of the ball with 10 assists while coming up with 10 steals.

 

A GLANCE AT THE C-USA STANDINGS

North Texas (13-1) has the best league record and tops the C-USA West Division while Middle Tennessee paces the C-USA East Division at 10-3. The Miners are currently in fourth place in the C-USA West Division, one game back of both UAB and LA Tech at 10-4.

    

LOCK DOWN ON DEFENSE

UTEP has kept 14 of its past 23 opponents to at least five points below their scoring average entering the contest, including most recently at LA Tech on Feb 17. Those 14 foes have been held to a total of 153 points combined under the expected output, which works out to 10.9 fewer points per game by the opposition across the board. Furthermore, UTEP has only allowed 10 teams to reach the 70's and just one into the 80's. The overall affect has been a scoring defense of 66.1 to rank third in C-USA and 89th nationally.

 

ON THIS DATE IN UTEP HISTORY

UTEP defeated No. 15 Arizona, 68-61, on Feb. 21, 1975. It is part of an eight-game winning streak for the Miners.

 

ALL ABOUT THE FANS

UTEP is averaging 4,632 fans per home game in 2021-22, which trails only the seasonal home average of 4,981 for ODU among C-USA programs. 

 

TALKING STARTING LINE-UP COMBINATIONS

UTEP has used 12 starting line-ups in 26 games, but has found stability of late with the same starting five for 13 straight contests. Overall, 11 different Miners (out of 15 on the roster) have started. Injuries, illnesses and Covid-19 protocols have played a big factor in the mix and match this season. It's a huge change from a year ago when the Miners utilized two starting line-ups with a total of six different players starting on the season. In 2019-20 there were eight, seven in 2018-19, 17 in 2017-18, eight in 2016-17 and 14 in 2015-16.

 

ALL ABOUT THOSE POINTS

UTEP has posted 80+ points in five different contests this year, including most recently tallying 84 at Southern Miss on Feb. 19. That equals the most such games since 2017-18. The Miners also eclipsed 70 points in each of the first four contests for the first time in six years. Guards Souley Boum (19.7 ppg), Jamal Bieniemy (15.8 ppg) andKeonte Kennedy (13.3 ppg) and are all in double figures for scoring average while Jorell Saterfield is at 7.3 ppg. Tydus Verhoeven (6.4 ppg), Jamari Sibley (5.0 ppg)  and Alfred Hollins (5.0 ppg) are also above 5.0 ppg. As a squad the Miners are accounting for 69.4 ppg.

 

THAT'S A GOOD MARGIN

UTEP has caused 17+ turnovers 11 times on the year while committing 14 or less on 20 occasions (11 games with 10 or less). Furthermore, the Miners have made the same or fewer amount of turnovers compared to the opposition in 21 of the 26 games this year. The result is a +3.5 turnover margin (second C-USA/25th NCAA). UTEP is making 12.0 turnovers per game (sixth C-USA/100th NCAA) while forcing 15.3 (third C-USA/46th NCAA). 

 

TURN IT OVER

UTEP is third in Conference USA and 40th in the country by forcing 15.3 turnovers per game, which is aided by coming up with 7.9 steals per game (fourth C-USA/67th NCAA). Keonte Kennedy (2.1 spg), Jamal Bieniemy (1.8 spg-fifth C-USA/92nd NCAA) and Souley Boum (1.7-seventh C-USA) have all been key to leading the charge.

 

SCORING STREAK

Souley Boum (77), Keonte Kennedy (36) and Jamal Bieniemy (25), Tydus Verhoeven (18) Alfred Hollins (16) all have scoring streaks of at least 10 games. 

 

CALLED FREE THROWS FOR A REASON

UTEP is taking care of business at the charity stripe, connecting on 77.0 percentage at the line (second C-USA/23rd NCAA). Three different Miners have hit at least 80 percent from the charity stripe this year (min. 20 attempts). They are Souley Boum setting the tone at 87.3 percent (fourth C-USA/34th NCAA) followed by Jamal Bieniemy (85.7 percent) and Christian Agnew (80.0 percent). 

 

WIN BIG

The Miners have 11 wins by at least eight points, including six double-digit efforts. UTEP even managed that feat at Old Dominion despite having only having five minutes of action in overtime (W, 78-70 on Jan. 15).

 

WIN SMALL

UTEP is 5-1 on the year in games decided by five points or less.

 

NOTHING STOPS SOULEY

Souley Boum has dealt with both a broken finger on his non-shooting hand (missed one game), Covid-19 protocols (missed two contest) and illness (missed one game) but he has produced all year long. He is pouring in 19.7 ppg (first C-USA/25th NCAA), aided by 20+ point-outings in six of the last nine contests and 12 times total on the season. He has 20 double-digit scoring efforts (in 22 appearances). Boum has done plenty of damage at the free-throw line, making 131 (first C-USA/16th NCAA) of 150 (third C-USA/34ty NCAA). He has five games with at least 10 free-throws attempted. Boum has also come up with 1.7 steals per game (sixth C-USA/97th NCAA) and dishes out 3.0 assists per game (16th C-USA) for second on the team in helpers.

 

JB'S WORLD

Jamal Bieniemy has played big across the board this season. He leads the team in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5-15th C-USA), assists per game (3.7-10th C-USA) and 3-pointers made (59-10th C-USA) while rating second in points per game (15.8-seventh C-USA) and steals per contest (1.8-fifth C-USA/92nd NCAA). He has 19 double-digit scoring games to his credit, including a career-high 36-point effort at Rice (Feb. 5) that was the most points by a Miner in 12 years. He has had double-digit scoring streaks of seven (out of the gates) and 11 games, both of which eclipsed his prior best of five. Bieniemy suffered an injury at No. 8 Kansas that caused him to miss the ensuing two tilts, before returning to play for the final two nonconference contests.

 

KEONTE DOES IT ALL

Keonte Kennedy was having a career year before sustaining an injury against Bradley on Dec. 22 that has forced him to miss all 13 league games. He leads the team in rebounding (5.9 rebounds per game) and steals (2.1 steals per game- while rating third on the squad in scoring (13.3 points per game). He has started all but one game he has appeared in (11 of 12), and is playing 34.0 mpg (third on team).

 

SATERFIELD FROM DOWNTOWN

Jorell Saterfield has proved to be a threat in his first year as a transfer from Ranger College. That is especially true from 3-point range. He is leading the team in 3-point percentage (min. 30 3FGA), nailing 47.0 percent (47-100). That figure has been helped by him going 38-78 the past 18 contests total. Currently, he is on pace to break UTEP's single-season record for 3-point percentage (min. 1.0 3/game) that is held by Roy Smallwood (1999-00, 28-61, 45.9 percent, in 28 GP). Overall, he is putting up 7.3 points per game (fourth on team,

 

TYDUS DOING THE DIRTY WORK

Post Tydus Verhoeven is doing a little bit of everything down low for the Miners. He leads the team in blocked shots (1.04 blocks per game-12th C-USA) and offensive rebounds (37). He is also second on the team in rebounding (4.7 rpg). His scoring output has also gone up lately with at least eight points in six of the past seven contests, putting him at 6.4 ppg.

 

TALKING 30+ POINT GAMES

Souley Boum (32-Marshall, Feb. 13, 32-FIU, Jan. 23) has a pair of 30+ scoring efforts this year. He now has three such scoring bursts in his career, making him one of 11 Miners all time with at least that many. Jamal Bieniemy (36- at Rice, Feb. 2) also has a 30+ point game to his credit, the first of his career.

 

TALKING 20+ POINT GAMES

Souley Boum has posted 12 games with at least 20+ points this season and 38 in his career between San Francisco (seven-2017-18) and UTEP (31). Jamal Bieniemy has surpassed 20 points six times in 2021-22, tripling his total (two) from last year.

 

MILESTONE TRACKER

Souley Boum (started at San Francisco) joined the 1,000 point club at UTEP, the first member in five years and 35th overall. He is now up to 1,296 points (14th all time at UTEP). For his career he boasts a total of 1,690 points while appearing in 114 games (78 at UTEP). He has also made 204 3-pointers, with 157 at UTEP (fifth all time at school). Christian Agnew (started at North Alabama) has gone past 900 points for his collegiate career (924). Jamal Bieniemy (started at Oklahoma) has moved past 900 career points (906) for his college career, including 577 at UTEP. He's also eclipsed 375 assists (387) for his college career, including 181 helpers at UTEP. He has appeared in more than 100 collegiate games (112), including 47 (all starts) at UTEP. Alfred Hollins(started at Oregon State) has moved beyond 600 career points (624) and surpassed 100 career games played (121). Tydus Verhoeven(started at Duquesne) has more than 370 rebounds (388) for his collegiate career, with the majority at UTEP (282). He has also topped 100 career blocks (131), with 60 at UTEP. Verhoeven is past 100 games played (109), with 83 at UTEP.

 

CAN'T CATCH A BREAK

Due to injury or illness, the Miners have lost 35 man games this year (Keonte Kennedy-14, Christian Agnew-six, Souley Boum-four, Cam Clardy-three, Tydus Verhoeven-three, Jamal Bieniemy-two, Alfred Hollins-one, Bonke Maring-one and Ze'Rik Onyema-one). No individual has started in every single contest, and UTEP has used 12 different line-up combinations. At least one starter has missed a game in 16 straight games and 19 contests total this season. Additionally, no one on the roster has appeared in every contest. 

 

THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP

-   This is the 101st 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 26 seasons with at least 20+ victories (last in 2015). The Miners have won five league tournaments (last in 2005).

-   UTEP is 16-10 in 2021-22, which surpasses its win total from last year's Covid-affected season (12-12 finish). There are 17 home games (9-5 thus far) and 13 road contests (7-5 thus far) prior to the C-USA Championships (March 8-12, 2022).

-   The Miners returned four starters (Jamal Bieniemy, Souley Boum, Keonte Kennedy and Tydus Verhoeven) and eight lettermen overall. Other returning lettermen are Christian Agnew, Cam Clardy, Gilles Dekoninck and Ze'Rik Onyema. Emmanuel White, who redshirted, also came back.

-   UTEP has six newcomers: Kezza Giffa, Alfred Hollins, Kevin Kalu, Bonke Maring, Jorell Saterfield and Jamari Sibley.

-  The Miners brought back four of their five leading scorers from 2020-21 in the form of Souley Boum (18.8 ppg), Keonte Kennedy (8.6 ppg),Jamal Bieniemy (8.6 ppg) and Christian Agnew (6.1 ppg).

 

COMING SOON TO EL PASO

JUCO standout Jon Dos Anjos (nationally-ranked Florida SouthWestern State) has signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UTEP and play for the men's basketball team beginning in 2022-23. Dos Anjos will have two years of eligibility for the Miners. He was a first-team all-league performer for the Bucs in 2020-21, helping them go 18-5 and advance to the semifinals of the FCSAA State Tournament. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while playing in all 23 games, including 20 starts.

 

SPORTSCENTER TOP-10 PLAY

Senior Alfred Hollins tipped in a shot at the buzzer to lift  UTEP to an exhilarating 70-68 win over then Conference USA East Division leader Florida Atlantic at home on Jan. 27. The play went on to gain national notoriety, earning the number three spot for the daily Sportscenter top-10 plays list on ESPN's signature program. 

 

THE COMEBACK AT CHARTWAY

UTEP trailed Old Dominion (Jan. 15) by seven points (63-56), with 77 seconds remaining before tallying the final seven points in regulation to force OT. The Miners went on to claim the 78-70 triumph for one of their most memorable comebacks. The game was also the first of a six-contest winning streak. Here's the breakdown to force OT beforeSouley Boum tallied 13 of UTEP's 15 points in the extra session for the notable win.

Team Play                                                                                        Time       UTEP       ODU

UTEP Tydus Verhoeven free throw made                            1:08         57                 63

ODU   C. Smith missed 3-pointer                                                 00:57      57                 63

UTEP Tydus Verhoeven defensive rebound                        00:57      57                 63

UTEP Jamari Sibley 3-pointer (Souley Boum assist)         00:39      60                 63

ODU   A.J. Oliver two missed free throws                                  00:32      60                 63

UTEP Tydus Verhoeven defensive rebound                        00:32      60                 63

UTEP J. Bieniemy 3-pointer made (Souley Boum assist) 00:13      63                 63

 

GOING BACK IN THE ARCHIVES

After research from local media, members of the athletic department and even the Miners' passionate fan base (via Twitter), the closest comeback that can be found similar to that was in the 1987 NCAA Tournament at Arizona on March 13, 1987. In that tilt, UTEP trailed by five with 50 seconds left (78-53) before forcing OT on the way to the 98-91 OT win.

 

MEMORABLE WIN VS SOUTHERN MISS

UTEP blasted Southern Miss, 87-54, on Jan. 8. The 33-point victory was UTEP's biggest in league play in seven years when it waxed USM by 34 (74-40) on Jan. 10, 2015. The Miners nailed a school-record tying 15 triples, the most by the Miners at home 12 years when they also had 15 against East Carolina on Feb. 13, 2012. 

 

BOUM NAMED C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK     

Souley Boum was named the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Jan. 31. He became the first Miner to be so recognized since Daryl Edwards on Feb. 24, 2020. Boum had the best two-game scoring stretch of his career in helping lead the Miners to a perfect 2-0 record with wins over Florida Atlantic and FIU. He put up 60 points on the weekend (28 vs. FAU) and a season-high 32 points against FIU on 21-of-34 shooting, including 9-18 on 3-point shots. 

 

KALU NETS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

UTEP forward Kevin Kalu was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Dec. 20. He became the first Miner to claim the honor since Jordan Lathon did during the 2018-19 season (Feb. 25, 2019). The Baltimore, Md., product came alive with career highs in points (eight) and assists (two) while adding four rebounds to help hold off upset-minded McNeese, 82-72, on Dec. 16. Kalu played 25 minutes and didn't miss a shot from the field (2-2) or at the charity stripe (4-4).

 

GOLDING ERA UNDERWAY

Joe Golding is in the midst of his first season with UTEP, and as 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 174-154 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach, including 16-10 at UTEP. He spent 10 years at ACU (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.

 

POISED TO JOIN AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP

First-year head coach Joe Golding (16-10 thus far) is poised to have a winning season in his first season on the sidelines with the Miners. Of the previous 19 head coaches at UTEP, only three have put together a winning record in their first year on the sidelines in the Sun City. Don Haskins became 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 have combined to forge an average record of 9-13 in their first year with UTEP.

 

EXPERIENCED STAFF

The Miners have an experienced staff on the sidelines for the 2021-22 season, each of whom are in their first year in the Sun City. Between head coach Joe Golding (22 years), associate head coach Jeremy Cox(30 years) and assistant coaches Butch Pierre (37 years) and Earl Boykins (eight years), the Miner coaching staff has a combined 97 years of coaching experience  at 26 different stops along the way at varying levels of competition. Boykins is the least experienced in terms of coaching, but he's the most accomplished on the court after playing 12 seasons in the NBA.

 

PRESEASON HONORS

Souley Boum was tabbed a Preseason All-Conference honoree, it was announced before the season by the Conference USA office. A 2021 All C-USA third team member, Boum ranked third in C-USA in scoring (18.8 ppg) and fifth in the league in total points (450). He also paced the conference and was 15th in the country with 130 made free throws. Boum knocked down his free throws at a rate of 81.2 percent, which was good enough for eighth in C-USA. He also led UTEP in steals (34) and dished out 60 assists.

PRESEASON PREMONITIONS

UTEP was predicted to finish 10th in Conference USA (currently 8-5, fourth C-USA West), according to the preseason poll that was announced prior to the season by the league office. UAB (190 points) was slated first, followed by LA Tech (second-184 points), WKU (third-162 points), Marshall (fourth-147 points), Old Dominion (fifth-130 points), North Texas (sixth-124 points), Charlotte (seventh-110 points), Rice (eighth-104 points), Florida Atlantic (ninth-84 points), UTEP (10th-82 points), UTSA (11th-48 points), Southern Miss (12th-42 points), FIU (13th-36 points) and Middle Tennessee (14th-28 points).

 

LOOKING TO REGAIN WINNING WAYS IN C-USA

UTEP (9-5) thus far in C-USA play) is one victory shy of its first winning record in Conference USA since the 2016-17 season when the Miners were 12-6 to finish tied for third. That year capped a run of five straight seasons with winning marks in conference action, the longest since 11 straight such efforts under Don Haskins from the 1980-90.

 

UP NEXT

UTEP returns to El Paso to play host to UAB at 7 p.m. MT Saturday (Feb. 26) in the first of three straight home games to wrap up the regular season. Jon Teicher (41st year) and Steve Yellen (19th yea) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+. For tickets, fans may call the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office at (915) 747-UTEP, email tickets@utep.edu, visit www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets or in person (Brumbelow Building on UTEP campus, 201 Glory Road).