Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (9-8, 2-4 C-USA) will look to split its two-game roadswing when it plays at Charlotte (12-5, 3-3 C-USA) at 2 p.m. MT/4 p.m. ET Monday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. It is the first of two meetings on the season between the programs, with the 49ers making the trek to El Paso for a match-up on Feb. 9. Charlotte is a spotless 8-0 at home, including blasting UTSA, 72-54, on Jan. 14. The Miners are in search of their first road victory (0-6), but their three away setbacks in league play have been by a combined nine points. That is the smallest differential when starting 0-3 on the road in conference action in program history (happened 18 times previously). Furthermore, UTEP has either led/tied or been within two points in the final minute of regulation in all three of those contests and the past five losses overall. The first three league road tilts have all been decided by six points or less for the initial occasion since the 2004-05 campaign. Most recently the Miners fell at Rice, 83-82, on a buzzer beater on Jan. 14, despite tallying a season high (vs. DI foes) in points. Jon Teicher (42nd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also stream nationally on ESPN+
 
BUSY STRETCH CONTINUES
UTEP will play for the third time in six days with the contest at Charlotte Monday. The Miners then conclude a stretch of six games in two weeks by welcoming FIU (7 p.m.-Thursday) and Florida Atlantic (7 p.m., Jan. 21) to El Paso.
 
SERIES HISTORY: CHARLOTTE LEADS, 7-6
Charlotte holds a 7-6 advantage in the series, including a 5-1 record when playing in the Queen City. The 49ers claimed the only meeting last year between the programs, 66-53, at home on Jan. 13. UTEP had won two straight against Charlotte before the setback. The two sides first squared off in both 2000-01 and 2001-02 before not meeting again until the 49ers joined Conference USA for the 2013-14 campaign.
 
GET TO KNOW CHARLOTTE
Charlotte bolted to a 4-0 start on the season before dropping back-to-back games. The 49ers regrouped by putting together another four-contest winning streak. After falling in the C-USA opener against UAB, Charlotte won two straight-both at home-before being swept on its trip through the "Sunshine State." The 49ers got back on track last time out with a 72-54 home victory against UTSA on Jan. 14, improving to 8-0 in the "Queen City" this season. Four players produce at least 8.5 points per game, including leading scorer Brice Williams (12.2 ppg-18th C-USA). 6-11 forward and 2022 C-USA Freshman of the Year Aly Khalifa has a well-balanced skill set, pacing the squad in assists (3.3-ninth C-USA), rebounding (7.0-sixth C-USA) and blocked shots (0.7 bpg) while checking in second in scoring (10.9 ppg-24th C-USA). Igor Milicic Jr. (9.8 ppg) and Lu'cye Patterson (8.9 ppg) have also been consistent scoring threats. While the 49ers put up 69.1 points per game (ninth C-USA), they do plenty of other things well. They lead the league fewest fouls per game (13.8-14th NCAA), fewest turnovers per contest (10.6-20th NCAA) and free-throw percentage (74.4-62nd NCAA). Charlotte is also among the league and national leaders for scoring defense (60.9 ppg-second C-USA/22nd NCAA), 3-point percentage (38.2-second C-USA/30th NCAA), field-goal percentage (47.7-second C-USA/41st NCAA) and field-goal percentage defense (41.3-fifth C-USA/84th NCAA). Charlotte has a deep bench that accounts for 24.8 points per game (sixth C-USA/67th NCAA). Notable university alumni include Clay Aiken (Broadway star/American Idol runner-up) and John Maine (former MLB pitcher).
 
LAST TIME OUT: AT RICE 83, UTEP 82, (1/14/23)
UTEP forced two turnovers in the final 30 seconds to help turn an 81-76 deficit into an 82-81 lead with six seconds left, but Rice's Travis Evee made an off-balanced floater at the buzzer to lift the home side past the Miners, 83-82, in a high-flying game inside Tudor Fieldhouse on Jan. 14. The Miners led by six (53-47) with 14:26 remaining in regulation before a 13-0 run allowed the Owls to rip control of the contest (60-53, 10:05 2H). UTEP refused to quit and continued to battle, chipping away at the deficit. It was still down by five (81-76) with 31 seconds left before the Orange and Blue made their move. Mario McKinney Jr. converted on a lay-up to make it a three-point affair (81-78). UTEP then forced a turnover on the inbounds play with a steal by Tae Hardy, leading to another lay-up from McKinney Jr. to cut the deficit to one. Calvin Solomon then came up with another theft and managed to find Hardy as he was falling out of bounds. Hardy drove and was fouled with six seconds left for the one-and-one attempts. He stepped up and sank both tosses to put the Miners up by one. Rice inbounded to Evee, who went coast-to-coast and sank the one-footed floater from the left wing as time expired to lift the Owls to the win. Hardy poured in 20 points to go along with a career-high five steals, Shamar Givance recorded his second double-double (16 points, 10 assists) of the year before fouling out late in the contest. McKinney Jr. (14 points) and Solomon (12 points) also reached double figures in scoring.
 
PUTTING UP THE POINTS
UTEP's 82 points were the most against a DI opponent on the season, which was aided by nailing 50.0 from the floor. It was the Miners' most points in a road game since tallying 84 at Southern Miss on Feb. 19, 2022, which was also their last victory away from home. The last time UTEP had lost a road contest when scoring 82+ points was at Marshall (L, 91-86) on Jan. 31, 2019.
 
TAKE CARE OF THAT BALL
The Miners had their second-lowest sum (12) for turnovers on the season in the setback at Rice on Jan. 14.
 
POUND THE PAINT
UTEP accounted for 56 points in the paint at Rice on Jan. 14, equaling its season high achieved vs. Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. When facing DI opposition, that figure is the most since tallying 60 in a 91-68 victory at Marshall on Jan. 28, 2017.
 
STEALING AGAIN
UTEP came up with 13 steals at Rice on Jan. 14, its most against a DI opponent since also having 13 in a 75-61 victory against Tulsa at the 2010 C-USA Tournament (March 11, 2010). The Miners have also had consecutive contests with 10+ steals for the first time since doing so against Tulane (10) and Rice (11) in the 2010-11 season.
 
NARROWING THE GAP
After its first three defeats on the season were all by at least 15 points, the Miners' five setbacks since have been by a combined 15 points. UTEP either led/was tied or within two points inside of one minute of regulation in each of those games, with all of them being decided by six points or less.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
UTEP was down, 19-5, with 11:57 to play in the opening half against UTSA, but it refused to panic. The Miners countered with a 25-6 surge over the next 11 minutes on the way to leading, 30-25, (00:48, 1H). UTEP would never trail from that point on. It marked the biggest comeback of the Joe Golding era and the largest in three years. The Orange and Blue fought back from 13 down to best UTSA (69-64, Jan. 20, 2022) last year while overcoming a 19-point differential to knock off Rice (68-62, Feb. 22, 2020) in the '19-20 campaign.
 
BEATING UP ON EACH OTHER
For the most part Conference USA team have been beating up on each other since the onset of league action. Only Florida Atlantic (6-0), North Texas (5-2) and UAB (4-3) have a record above .500 in C-USA play. The other eight teams are .500 or worse.
 
SIMPLY THE BEST
UTEP tops Conference USA in three different categories heading into Monday's game at Charlotte. The Miners pace the league in turnovers forced per game (18.2-11th NCAA), steals per game (9.4-21st NCAA) and 3-point FG% defense (30.2-48th NCAA).
 
NO QUIT IN THIS GROUP
UTEP has faced deficits of at least nine points in four straight games, including trailing by 14+ points in two of them. The Miners, though, have rallied back to either tie or take the lead in all of those contests. UTEP clawed back from 15 down against Rice (Dec. 31) before succumbing in OT. The Miners erased a 10-point differential at LA Tech (Jan. 7) to pull even, and then after trailing by 10 again with 8:20 left, got within one on three occasions before falling, 60-58. UTEP overcame a 14-point deficit (19-5, 11:57 1H) in a 69-57 win against UTSA on Jan. 11. Most recently, the Orange and Blue fought back from nine down at Rice (Jan. 14) to lead by one with six seconds left before falling, 83-82, on a buzzer beater.
 
QUITE A RUN ON THE BOARDS
The Miners have been even or better on the boards in seven straight contests, which is the longest streak since doing so in nine straight games during the 2009-10 campaign. Overall, UTEP has a +2.4 rebounding margin (36.7-34.4).
 
ALL OVER THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP has pulled down at least 10 offensive rebounds in seven straight games. The last time there was a longer such streak was 2008-09 (eight in a row), which happened twice that year. UTEP's 11.3 offensive boards per contest is third in C-USA and 100th in the country.
 
TIED FOR MOST OT GAMES IN REGULAR SEASON
UTEP's four overtime contests this year tie the 1994-95 and 2011-12 Miners for the most such games in a regular season in program history.
 
ONE OT GAME SHY OF TYING SCHOOL RECORD
With one more overtime contest, this year's team will match the 1994-95 and 2011-12 teams for the single-season school record for overtime games at five. Both the '94-95 and '11-12 squads had four regular-season OT contests and one postseason OT tilt.
 
BACK-TO-BACK OT
The Miners played back-to-back OT games at two different points this year, which is something that had never previously occurred at the school. Earlier this season, UTEP won consecutive OT games for the first time since the 2016-17 season (W, 88-87, FIU, 2OT, Jan. 14, 2017; W, 66-65, FAU, Jan. 16, 2017) with a double-overtime win against Alcorn State, (73-61, Nov. 22) and a 68-67 OT vanquishing of CSUB (Nov. 23). More recently the Orange and Blue dropped consecutive contests that both went to OT (L, 79-73, 2OT, at UAB, Dec. 23; L, 72-67, OT, Rice, Dec. 31).
 
TALKING DOUBLE OVERTIME
UTEP has had two games (1-1 record) go to double overtime this year, marking the first time in program history that the Miners have had multiple double-overtime games in the same season.
 
LOTS OF OT UNDER GOLDING
Overall, UTEP is now 69-49 all time in overtime contests, including 3-3 under head coach Joe Golding. The six OT contests under Golding tie with former head coach Tim Floyd as the most during the first two seasons on the sideline for a Miner head coach
 
GUARDING THE THREE
UTEP has kept 10 teams on the year to below 30 percent from the floor on 3-point attempts. The effort has helped the Miners sport a 3-point field-goal percentage defense of 30.2 to lead C-USA and check in 48th in the country.
 
SUB 40 PERCENT
UTEP has held five of the past eight opponents to less than 40 percent shooting from the floor, which has lowered the opposition's overall field-goal percentage of 41.7. That is good enough for fifth in C-USA and 99th nationally. Last time out, however, Rice (Jan. 14) did connect on 56.9 percent of its shots, including 64.0 percent (16-25) after the break.
 
TALKING INJURIES
UTEP has battled through some injuries this season, with 21 man games across the board lost to injuries/illness. The breakdown is as follows: Malik Zachery (seven games), Jon Dos Anjos (six games),  Otis Frazier III (three games), Mario McKinney Jr. (three games) and Carlos Lemus (two games) have all missed time this year.
 
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT 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 seemingly turned the corner, outscoring its foes during the second half in six of the past eight contests.
 
FREE THROWS WIN BALL GAMES?
The old saying goes that free throws win ball games, but UTEP is 5-4 (had been 5-1 before losing three straight) on the season when shooting 60 percent or less in a contest and 4-4 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.
 
KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS
UTEP nailed at least 40.0 percent of its shots in its first 11 contests, the longest stretch to begin a season since the 2010-11 team eclipsed 40 percent over the first 15 contests. After consecutive contests below that figure, the Miners have been 40 percent or better in each of the last four tilts. That includes connecting on 50.0 percent at Rice on Jan. 14. Overall, the Orange and Blue are making 45.4 percent from the floor compared to 41.7 percent (fifth C-USA/99th NCAA) by the opposition. The Miners have been particularly accurate with 2-point attempts, drilling 54.0 percent inside the arc.
 
PACK THE DON
UTEP is leading Conference USA in both overall attendance (52,878) and average attendance (4,807) in 2022-23. UAB is the closest team for both total attendance (41,319) and average attendance (3,756). Last year the Miners led in overall attendance and were second in the league in average attendance.
 
WAS RARE AIR TO HOME START
UTEP 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 Miners are now 9-2 in El Paso after toppling UTSA, 69-57, on Jan. 11, to halt a two-game skid in El Paso. This year, UTEP has a +11.1 (71.2-60.1 ppg) scoring differential in the Sun City. UTEP is shooting 46.3 percent compared to 38.0 by the foes, has a +3.5 turnover margin (15.7-19.3) and has taken nearly 100 more free throws (275-181) in those 11 contests.
 
TAKING DOWN 2022 POSTSEASON TEAMS
Three of the Miners' nine 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
Almost half (four of nine) 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).
 
D-UP
Even with three consecutive opponents shooting better than 40 percent from the floor, UTEP is ranked fifth in C-USA and 99th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (41.7). That is possible because the Orange and Blue have kept nine below 40 percent, including forcing LA Tech into an opponent-season low 29.6 percent (16-54) shooting on Dec. 17.
 
LOCK THEM DOWN AT THE DON
UTEP has a scoring defense of 60.1 ppg at the Don Haskins Center this season, with opponents shooting 38.0 percent overall and just 25.9 percent from 3-point range. None of the 11 opponents have tallied more than 67 points (in regulation) in El Paso, with three held in the 50's and one in the 40's.
 
FINISHING GAMES WITH THE LEAD
Even though the Miners have had some close calls this year, they are 9-1 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also strong on the campaign (9-2) when up at the half.
 
C-USA GOT IT DONE OUT OF CONFERENCE
Conference USA's 11 squads thrived out of conference, with a combined mark of 87-34 between the 11 programs. The league features four programs with top-100 NET rankings, in the form of FAU (11), North Texas (53), UAB (62) and Charlotte (76).
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
UTEP has been aggressive offensively, which has resulted in it going to the line early and often. The Miners are second in C-USA and 16th nationally with 23.9 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 14.4 free throws made per contest is fourth in the conference and 70th in the nation.
 
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-eighth C-USA), rating third in assists per game (2.0) and steals per game (1.5-10th C-USA) and fifth for blocks per contest (0.4). He's also shown endurance, placing second on squad at 31.8 minutes per game (10th C-USA). He is one of three Miners to start all 17 games (Shamar Givance and Calvin Solomon) are the others. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in 15 of the 17 games on the year. After being held to nine combined points in a two-game stretch, he has led the Miners in scoring in back-to-back contests with 15 vs. UTSA (Jan. 14) and 20 at Rice (Jan. 14). He has a quartet of 20+ point efforts. He has led or shared the top spot on the team in scoring in 10 tilts. Hardy also has a team-high 10 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 (4.8-third C-USA/56th NCAA) and playing time (32.4-sixth C-USA) while rating second in scoring (10.4 ppg) and steals per game (1.8-seventh C-USA) and third for free-throw percentage (min. 10 FTA, 69.9 percent). He has dished out at least five assists in nine of the past 12 contests, and has notched double-doubles at both UAB (17 points, 10 assists, Dec. 29) and at Rice (16 points, 10 assists, Jan. 14). He has also produced seven straight double-digit scoring games, averaging 13.7 points in the sequence. 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. He also nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with four seconds left in regulation at UAB before the Miners eventually fell in double overtime.
 
SUPER MARIO
NM State transfer Mario McKinney Jr. has been a big key for UTEP. 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. He has since returned to coming off the pine where he can provide an instant spark for the Orange and Blue. Overall, McKinney Jr. is the leading scorer among reserves and third overall (10.1 ppg) on the team, aided by a career-high 24 points on the road against his former squad on Nov. 30. He is third on the squad for double-figure scoring efforts (eight), fourth in steals per game (1.1-25th C-USA and tied for fifth in rebounding (3.6 rpg).
 
FRAZIER III'S IMPACT FELT
George Mason transfer Otis Frazier III has been a valuable piece for the Miners in 2022-23 despite having to battle through some injuries that cost him three games. He has started 11 of 13 games played, rating fourth on the team in scoring at 8.0 ppg and tied for fifth in rebounding (3.5 rpg). He has done that while playing only 20.1 minutes per game. Frazier III is also connecting on 51.3 percent of his shots (fourth on team). His numbers are a stark improvement from his two years at George Mason, where he averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 35 games played.
 
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 is second on the team in rebounding (4.5 rpg-24th C-USA), third in offensive boards (22) and field-goal percentage (58.6) and sixth for scoring (5.8 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 17 contests on the season. Solomon leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg-10th C-USA), steals per game (2.1-fourth C-USA/50th NCAA) and offensive rebounds (31) while placing second in assists per game (2.1) and checking in fifth in scoring (7.4). He has been particularly strong on the glass of late, averaging 8.6 rebounds the past five contests. He has one double-double (16 points, 11 boards) on the year, which came at UAB (Dec. 29).
 
KALU GETTING IT DONE
Kevin Kalu has done good work inside, leading the team in field-goal percentage (68.0). Overall, he is putting up 5.1 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year). He's also gotten after it on the glass recently, with 57 rebounds the past nine games (6.3 rpg). That includes a career-high 10 rebounds at UAB (Dec. 29). He is second on the team in offensive boards (29) and is accounting for 4.2 rpg overall (third on team). He had 2.2 rpg last year.
 
MAKING THE MOST OF HIS MINUTES
Sophomore junior-college transfer Derek Hamilton has shown some potential in his 13 appearances off the bench this year. He is chipping in 3.1 points per game despite playing only 4.4 minutes per contest. Hamilton tops the team in free-throw percentage (min. 10 attempts) by going 8-10 (80.0 percent) and is second in field-goal percentage (66.7).
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Six different players are scoring between 5.5 and 13.0 points per game. Tae Hardy (12.9 ppg-eighth C-USA), Shamar Givance (10.4 ppg) and Mario McKinney Jr. (10.1 ppg) lead the way in double figures. Otis Frazier III (8.0 ppg), Calvin Solomon (7.4 ppg) and Ze'Rik Onyema (5.8 ppg) round out the group. There have been 11 players (out of 13) to register at least one double-digit scoring contests.
 
TURNOVER MACHINES
UTEP is forcing the opposition into 18.2 turnovers per game to lead Conference USA and place 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. Five opponents have made at least 20 giveaways. Sul Ross State (Nov. 15) had 32, which was the most in nine years by a UTEP opponent. Sixteen of 17 foes have committed at least 14 turnovers.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP's pressure defense has resulted in 9.4 steals per game to lead the league and rank 21st 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). The Orange and Blue are currently on pace for 300 steals this season, which would break the school record (288, 2009-10).
 
STEALING THE SHOW
Shamar Givance piled up a career-high seven steals at UAB on Dec. 29, which ties as the most in program history against D1 opposition and rates tied for second overall at the school against opponents of all levels. His efforts helped the Miners post 12 steals. UTEP heads into Monday's tilt with five contests of 10+ steals on the season, including back-to-back such efforts for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign. That included in 13 at Rice (Jan. 14), equaling the most against a DI foe since also having 13 against Tulsa on March 11, 2010.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in 15 of 17 games this year (12 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 26.1 points per game to rank third in Conference USA and 53rd nationally. Super sub Mario McKinney Jr. has been vital in this category, tallying 10.1 ppg while coming off the pine in 13 of his 14 total appearances.
 
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 got off to an 8-0 start at home (now 9-2), 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 to play 18 total times in the Don Haskins Center, with eight nonconference (finished 7-1) and 10 Conference USA tilts (2-1 thus far). The Miners have seven home tilts remaining (all in C-USA) and are well on their way to a fourth straight season with 10+ home wins.
  
LIFE ON THE ROAD
UTEP is 0-6 on the road, but the Miners have dropped the past three away games by a combined nine points. They also either were leading/tied or within two points in the final minute of regulation of all three of those tilts. UTEP began the year at No. 12 Texas (L, 72-57, Nov. 7), its first true road game to start a year since a 73-61 victory at Pac-12 foe Washington on Nov. 21, 2000. Overall, the Miners will have 13 road games (0-5 thus far) on the year, with three nonconference (finished 0-3) and 10 in C-USA (0-2 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.
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Miners will have 17 contests (1-5 thus far in situation) broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (1-3), 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 187-166 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 29-22 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 to El Paso for a two-game homestand against FIU (Thursday- 7 p.m.) and league-leading Florida Atlantic (7 p.m.). Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. Both contests will be streamed nationally on ESPN+. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
 
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Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball.
 
For complete coverage of UTEP men's basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPMBB (Twitter), @utepmbb (Instagram) and on Facebook @UTEPMensBasketball  or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at www.UTEPMiners.com