OPENING TIP
Fresh off a thrilling come-from-behind road win at Charlotte, the UTEP men's basketball team (10-8, 3-4 C-USA) will open a two-game homestand by playing host to FIU (8-10, 2-5 C-USA) at 7 p.m. MT Thursday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. It is the first of two matchups on the season between the programs, with UTEP heading to the Eastern Time Zone for a Feb. 23 tilt. The Miners are coming off a 60-58 victory at Charlotte on Jan. 16, a game in which they trailed by as many as 13 points in the opening frame. It continued a recent trend in which six of the past seven games have gone down to the final possession of regulation, with two going to OT. The Panthers have lost three straight, including being clipped by second-place North Texas, 64-57, at home on Jan. 16. UTEP is a stout 9-2 at the Don Haskins Center on the season while FIU is winless (0-6) on the road thus far, with an average margin of defeat of 17.7 points in those contests. UTEP is looking to get back to .500 in league play and secure its third win in the past four contests after a 1-3 start to C-USA action. A victory would be the 600th all time for the Miners in the Don Haskins Center, which opened for the final five home games of the 1976-77 season. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP. Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also stream on ESPN+ with Erik Elken and former Miner Omar Thomas describing the action.
 
BUSY STRETCH CONCLUDES THIS WEEK
UTEP will wrap a busy stretch of six games in two weeks by welcoming FIU (7 p.m.-Thursday) and No. 24 Florida Atlantic (7 p.m., Saturday) to El Paso. Included in the sequence was having three games in six days. UTEP is 2-2 thus far during the stretch.
 
BACK HOME BRIEFLY
UTEP is in the middle of playing five of seven games away from home, with the lone contests at the Don Haskins Center in the stretch occurring this week. The Miners hit the road again at North Texas on Jan. 28, and they will wrap up the brutal sequence at Middle Tennessee (Feb. 2) and at WKU (Feb. 4).
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 14-2
UTEP leads the series with FIU, 14-2, aided by a mark of 8-1 in El Paso. The Miners have won six straight at home in the series, including a 79-68 vanquishing of the Panthers on Jan. 29, 2022, in the most-recent match-up. This is the fourth straight contest in the series that will occur in El Paso before that trend is bucked with the Orange and Blue playing in Miami on Feb. 23. UTEP is 12-2 (including the C-USA tournament) against the Panthers since they joined the league.
 
GET TO KNOW FIU
FIU got out of the gates fast at 4-2 before hitting the wall with four consecutive losses. The Panthers regrouped by running off four of five, including an OT win against defending C-USA tournament champion UAB (90-87, Jan. 7). They have dropped three straight since to slip to 8-10 overall and 2-5 in league play. Included in the current skid was a hard-fought 77-73 OT loss to league leader and now No. 24 Florida Atlantic on Jan. 11. It has been hindered by an 0-6 road record (0-3 in C-USA away games), having lost all of those contests by at least nine points. They are, though, 8-4 (2-2 C-USA) in Miami this year. The Panthers put up 71.9 points per game (sixth C-USA), aided by nailing 46.5 percent from the floor (fourth C-USA/80th NCAA), but they have been hurt by allowing foes to tally 74.4 ppg (ninth C-USA/299th NCAA). FIU tries to make up for that by forcing 16.7 turnovers per game (third C-USA/25th NCAA), including 9.0 steals per theft (second C-USA/30th NCAA). Arturo Dean (2.4 spg-first C-USA/13th NCAA) and Denver Jones (1.8 spg-seventh C-USA) have wreaked havoc on the opposition for that department. The Panthers also protect the rim with 4.2 blocks per contest (fourth C-USA/69th NCAA), as Seth Pinkey (1.5 bpg-fourth C-USA) and Mohamed Sanogo (1.2 bpg-sixth C-USA) set the tone in that area. Jones is also explosive offensively with 18.9 ppg to place third in C-USA and 42nd in the nation. Dean (12.2 ppg-16th C-USA) is also in double digits on the year for scoring, with three other players pitching in at least 7.0 ppg. It is a rebound by committee approach for FIU, with Dean (4.2 rpg) leading the way, but four other players contribute at least 3.4 rpg. The team is still being outrebounded overall, though, with a -4.2 margin (33.1-37.3). Notable school alumni include Andy Garcia (actor) and Dennis Lehane (author of Mystic River).
 
LAST TIME OUT: UTEP 60, at CHARLOTTE 58 (1/16/23)
UTEP overcame a 13-point first half deficit on the way to handing Charlotte its first home loss of the season with a 60-58 victory at Halton Arena on Jan. 16. The Miners wrapped a 16-2 run around halftime to turn a 25-20 deficit into a 36-27 (18:27 2H) advantage that they would never relinquish. Charlotte got within one but UTEP's defense held the line. The final example of that was forcing the 49ers to misfire on four shots in the final 24 seconds, including a desperation 3-pointer with two seconds left to set off a celebration on the UTEP sideline. Tae Hardy (game-high 19 points), Calvin Solomon (10 points) and Jon Dos Anjos (season-high tying 10 points) all reached double figures in scoring for the Orange and Blue, who connected on 49.0 percent (24-49) from the floor. It marked the second time in the past three contests that Dos Anjos provided 10 points off the bench. UTEP was 6-13 (season-high 46.2 percent) on 3-point tosses, with three by Hardy. The Miners also took great care of the ball by committing a season-low nine turnovers, which allowed them to overcome Charlotte winning the boards (28-23) and shooting 47.8 percent (22-46). The 49ers also hit six triples. Mario McKinney Jr. (eight points) buoyed the efforts of Dos Anjos off the pine, helping the Orange and Blue hold a 23-18 differential in bench scoring. Charlotte was paced by 11 points from Jackson Threadgill, who was the lone 49er to reach double figures. UTEP locked up the 49ers' leading scoring Brice Williams, keeping him to eight points on 3-9 shooting.
 
TAKE CARE OF THAT BALL
After four straight games with at least 18 turnovers, including a pair of 22+, UTEP has valued the basketball the past three contests. The Miners had 14 giveaways in the win against UTSA (Jan. 11), 12 in a buzzer-beating loss at Rice (Jan. 14) and a season-low nine in the triumph at Charlotte (Jan. 16).
 
FIRE AWAY
UTEP nailed 6-13 from 3-point range at Charlotte (Jan. 16), with the 46.2 readout setting a season high. It also marked just the second game this year that UTEP drilled at least 40 percent from beyond the arc (11-20, 44.0 percent, Northern New Mexico, Dec. 3).
 
A CHANCE TO GET BACK TO .500 IN C-USA
After getting off to a start of 1-3 in league play for the second straight year, the Miners can get back to .500 in C-USA with a win against FIU on Thursday. UTEP did so last year, reeling off six straight after the slow start on the way to finishing at 11-7 in C-USA contests.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
In its past two victories, UTEP has had to overcome big first-half deficits to pull out the win. Last time out the Miners dug themselves a 19-6 deficit eight minutes into the contest at Charlotte (Jan. 16). UTEP recovered and closed the half on a 27-8 surge to take a lead it would never relinquish to match the second-biggest comeback under head coach Joe Golding. That rally for the win came on the heels from fighting back from a 14-point deficit (19-5, 11:57 1H) against UTSA. Similar to the game at Charlotte, UTEP countered with a 25-6 surge to take the lead for good in the biggest comeback under Golding and largest in three years. In the 2019-20 campaign, the Miners overcame a 19-point differential to knock off Rice (68-62, Feb. 22, 2020).
 
WHO NEEDS FAST STARTS ANYWAY
Charlotte scored the first six points of the game on the way to building a 19-6 lead eight minutes into the contest on Jan. 14. UTEP fought back to go ahead at the break and maintained it over the final 20 minutes to improve to 4-1 on the season when the opponent scores first.
 
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.
 
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 No. 24 Florida Atlantic (7-0), North Texas (6-2), Rice (4-3) and Middle Tennessee (4-3) are above .500 in C-USA play. The other seven teams are .500 or worse. UTEP is currently tied for sixth at 3-4, but if it can stack some wins together it could quickly vault up the standings.
 
SIMPLY THE BEST
UTEP tops Conference USA in three different categories. The Miners pace the league in turnovers forced per game (17.9-11th NCAA), steals per game (9.4-21st NCAA) and 3-point FG% defense (30.5-56th NCAA). It is
 
NO QUIT IN THIS GROUP
UTEP has faced deficits of at least nine points in five straight games, including trailing by 13+ points in two of them. UTEP is 2-3 in the stretch somehow and has rallied back to either tie or take the lead in all those contests. The Miners posted a 14-point come-from-behind win against UTSA (Jan. 11), their largest rally in three years. They followed that up by fighting back from down 13 in a triumph at Charlotte (Jan. 16). UTEP erased a 15-point deficit before succumbing in OT to Rice (Dec. 31), while twice fighting back from 10 down with under 10 minutes left in a 60-58 setback at LA Tech. UTEP also wiped out a nine-point differential to lead by one with six seconds left before falling, 83-82, on a buzzer beater at Rice on Jan. 14.
 
IT WAS QUITE A RUN ON THE BOARDS
The Miners were outrebounded at Charlotte (Jan. 16), halting a seven-game streak in which they were even or better on the glass. It had been the longest surge since doing so in nine straight games during the 2009-10 campaign. Overall, UTEP has a +1.9 rebounding margin (35.8-34.0).
 
ALL OVER THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP finished with five offensive rebounds at Charlotte (Jan. 16), stopping a stretch of seven games with at least 10 offensive rebounds. It had been the longest such run since posting eight in a row (twice) in 2008-09. UTEP's 10.9 offensive rebounds per game is third in C-USA.
 
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 30.5 to lead C-USA and check in 56th in the country.
 
TALKING INJURIES
UTEP has battled through some injuries this season, with 22 man games across the board lost to injuries/illness. The breakdown is as follows: Malik Zachery (eight 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 made some progress, outscoring its foes during the second half in six of the past nine contests.
 
FREE THROWS WIN BALL GAMES?
The old saying goes that free throws win ball games, but UTEP is 6-4 (had been 5-1) 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 tilts below that figure, the Miners have peeled off five straight games better than that. UTEP has hit at least 49.0 percent in back-to-back tilts for the first time this season, making a combined 49.6 percent (59-119) in the stretch. Overall, the Orange and Blue are connecting on 45.6 percent from the floor compared to 42.0 percent (sixth C-USA) by the opposition. The Miners have been particularly accurate with 2-point attempts, drilling 53.8 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 total attendance (41,319) while WKU is second in average attendance (3,923). 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' 10 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
Half (five of 10) 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), LA Tech by five (60-55, Dec. 17) and at Charlotte by two (60-58, Jan. 16).
 
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 10-1 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also strong on the campaign (10-2) 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. The Miners are second in C-USA and 20th nationally with 23.3 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 13.9 free throws made per contest is fourth in the conference and 96th 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 (13.2 ppg-ninth C-USA), rating third in assists per game (1.9) and steals per game (1.6-ninth C-USA) and tied for fourth in total blocks (six). He's also shown endurance, placing second on squad at 32.1 minutes per game (10th C-USA). He is one of three Miners to start all 18 games (Shamar Givance and Calvin Solomon) are the others. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in 16 of the 18 games on the year. After being held to nine combined points in a two-game stretch, he has led the Miners in scoring in three straight contests with 15 vs. UTSA (Jan. 14) , 20 at Rice (Jan. 14) and 19 at Charlotte (Jan. 16). He has a quartet of 20+ point efforts. He has led or shared the top spot on the team in scoring in 11 tilts. Hardy also has a team-high 11 double-digit scoring efforts. He also has shown ice in his veins, nailing two free throws of the one-and-one variety with six seconds left to give UTEP a one-point lead at Rice (Jan. 14) before the Owls emerged victorious, 83-82, on a buzzer beater.
 
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 (4.7-second C-USA/58th NCAA) and playing time (32.5-seventh C-USA) while rating second in scoring (10.1 ppg) and steals per game (1.7-eighth C-USA), third for free-throw percentage (min. 10 FTA, 68.9 percent) and tied for third in rebounding (3.9 rpg). He has dished out at least five assists in nine of the past 13 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 hit double figure for scoring in seven of the past eight games. 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 (10.0 ppg) on the team, 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 (ninth), tied for third in rebounding (3.9 rpg) and is fourth in steals per game (1.1).
 
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 12 of 15 games played, tying for fourth on the team in scoring at 7.5 ppg and sixth in rebounding (3.3 rpg). He has done that while playing only 19.8 minutes per game. Frazier III is also connecting on 50.0 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 (4.2 rpg), third in offensive boards (22) and field-goal percentage (59.2) and sixth for scoring (5.6 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 18 contests on the season. Solomon leads the team in rebounding (5.9 rpg-10th C-USA), steals per game (2.2-fourth C-USA/39th NCAA) and offensive rebounds (33) while placing second in assists per game (2.0) and checking in fifth in scoring (7.4). He has been particularly strong on the glass of late, averaging 8.0 rebounds the past six 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, tying for the team lead in field-goal percentage (66.7). Overall, he is putting up 4.8 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year).  He is second on the team in offensive boards (29) and tied for third in rebounding (3.9 rpg), which was aided by a career-high 10 boards at UAB (Dec. 29).
 
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 13.5 points per game. Tae Hardy (13.2 ppg-ninth C-USA), Shamar Givance (10.1 ppg) and Mario McKinney Jr. (10.0 ppg) lead the way in double figures. Otis Frazier III (7.5 ppg), Calvin Solomon (7.5 ppg) and Ze'Rik Onyema (5.6 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 17.9 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. All but one team (Ken State-10, Dec. 22) has committed at least 14 giveaways.
 
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). The charge has been led by Calvin Solomon (2.2 spg-fourth C-USA/39th NCAA), Shamar Givance (1.7 spg-eighth C-USA) and Tae Hardy (1.6 spg-ninth C-USA), making the Miners the lone team in the league with three in the top 10 of the category.
 
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 Thursday's tilt with five contests of 10+ steals on the season.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in 16 of 18 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 25.9 points per game to rank third in Conference USA and 49th nationally. Super sub Mario McKinney Jr. has been vital in this category, tallying 10.0 ppg while coming off the pine in 14 of his 15 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 started off 0-6 on the road, including dropping its first three C-USA contests by a combined nine points. The Miners either were leading/tied or within two points in the final minute of regulation in each of those tilts. The nine points was the smallest differential when starting 0-3 on the road in conference action in program history (happened 18 times previously). The Orange and Blue had a breakthrough last time out, rallying from 13 down to defeat Charlotte, 60-58, on Jan. 16. 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 (1-6 thus far) on the year, with three nonconference (finished 0-3) and 10 in C-USA (1-3 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 (2-5 thus far in situation) broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (2-3), 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 188-166 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 30-22 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 wraps up the two-game homestand against No. 24 and league leading Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. As part of "Golf Night," fans can purchase two tickets and receive a TWC golf towel for $30. Jon Teicher (42nd year) and Steve Yellen (20th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed nationally on ESPN+. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
 
Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club.
 
Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!
 
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