Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The undefeated UTEP men's basketball team (4-0) will venture to the "Golden State" to continue the SoCal Challenge by facing off against Pac-12 member Cal (2-2) in a nationally-televised contest (CBS Sports Network) at 9:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. MT Monday (Nov. 20). Tulane and Bradley will lock up in the first contest of the evening (7:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. MT). The victors from each game will play for the championship at 7:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. MT on Wednesday (Nov. 22). The third/fourth-place tilt will follow. The Miners opened the MTE (multiple-team event) by posting a wire-to-wire 71-63 victory against Austin Peay on Nov. 17. The Bears are coming off a narrow 63-60 setback against Montana State on Nov. 16, a game in which they trailed by as many as 14 as early in the second half. Cal had two chances to tie the contest in the waning seconds but was unable to connect. The Miners are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2019-20 when they began the season at 5-0. Jon Teicher (43rd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso.
 
EXAMINING 4-0 STARTS TO THE SEASON
The Miners are 4-0 to begin the year, something that hasn't happened since a 5-0 opening in 2019-20. It is the sixth time since 2000 that the Orange and Blue have won at least their first four games. It also occurred in 2015-16 (6-0), 2014-15 (4-0), 2009-10 (5-0) and 2000-01 (6-0).
 
PLAYING FROM AHEAD
UTEP posted a wire-to-wire win against Austin Peay on Nov. 17, marking the second such victory this season. It also happened against USAO on Nov. 9. Furthermore, the Miners have yet to trail in the second half in this young campaign. The game vs. UC Santa Barbara was tied at 44 at the break, but UTEP opened the second stanza on an 8-0 run and never looked back.
 
FIRST CHANCE VS. POWER PROGRAM THIS YEAR
The Miners' match-up against Cal will be their first against a Power Six member (traditional Power Five + Big East) this season, with UTEP set to play at another Pac-12 program (Oregon) on Dec. 9. UTEP is in search of its initial win again against a Power Six school under head coach Joe Golding and first since knocking off Arizona State on the road, 76-63, on Dec. 16, 2020. The last time the Orange and Blue defeated a Power Six program in a neutral-site match-up was a 77-73 triumph against Xavier (Big East) on Nov. 28, 2014.
 
WINNING WITH DEFENSE
After relying on big scoring outputs (120-71, McMurry- 11/6/23; 123-72, USAO- 11/9/23; 89-76, UC Santa Barbara- 11/13/23), the Miners' defense was the decisive factor in the 71-63 triumph against Austin Peay last time out on Nov. 17.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT SLOWS A BIT
The Miners enjoyed a three-game scoring stretch with at least 89 points to begin the year. The last time UTEP did so at any point in the season was 14 years ago. That year, the Orange and Blue also had a three-contest span (12/19/09-12/28/09). Making this season's effort stand out a bit is that the Miners had back-to-back 100-point outings for just the second time in school history. It also happened in 1968-69.
 
SHINING ON NATIONAL TV
The Miners put on a show against UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 13, running past the Gauchos, 89-76, in front of a nationally-televised audience (CBS Sports Network). UTEP now has a chance to build on that mark this week, with neutral-site match-ups vs. Cal on Monday (Nov. 20) and either Tulane or Bradley on Wednesday (Nov. 22). Both of the tilts will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
 
GET TO KNOW CAL
Cal is 2-2 on the young season with first-year head coach Mark Madsen directing the Bears. Madsen, a former Stanford standout and two-time NBA Champion with the well-known nickname "Mad Dog," took the job after an extremely successful four-year run with Utah Valley. The Wolverines posted back-to-back 20-win seasons his final two campaigns, including setting a school record for victories (28) last year. He has overhauled the roster, bringing in seven scholarship players and 11 newcomers altogether. Two notable names include Texas Tech transfers Fardaws Aimaq and Jaylon Tyson. Aimaq, a preseason second-team All-Pac 12 honoree, is a 6-11 post who starred for Madsen at Utah Valley before landing with the Red Raiders. He registered his 45th career double-double in the season opener. Tyson also had a double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) in his debut for the Bears, doing so against Pacific on Nov. 10 after his waiver was approved by the NCAA. Overall, Tyson paces the squad in scoring (20.0 ppg-second Pac-12/55th NCAA), rebounding (10.3 rpg-first Pac-12/27th NCAA), assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.7 spg) while Aimaq does so for blocks (1.5). Jalen Cole, who previously played with both Virginia Tech and Northern Arizona, rates second on the team in scoring (15.8 ppg). He is a sharpshooter who is first in the Pac-12 and 21st nationally for 3-pointers made (13). Aimaq (15.5 ppg), Jalen Celestine (10.7 ppg) and Devin Askew (10.0 ppg) round out the double-digit scorers. Overall, Cal is producing 73.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting while yielding 69.8 ppg. Foes are connecting on 45.4 percent, including 37.8 percent from distance, but the Bears have compensated by controlling the glass (+9.3; sixth Pac-12/62nd NCAA) and taking good care of the ball (11.5 turnovers per contest). Cal, just like the Miners, opened the season with four straight home games. The Bears won two of three out of the gates before falling last time out, 63-60, to Montana State on Nov. 16. Notable university alumni include Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple Computer), Aaron Rodgers (Super Bowl winning QB) and Chris Pine (actor).
 
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between the programs.
 
PACK THOSE BAGS
After playing four straight games within the friendly confines of the Don Haskins Center to begin the season, UTEP will have three in a row and five of the next seven away from home. There will be a pair of neutral-site match-ups as part of the SoCal Challenge, before the first true road contest at LMU on Nov. 25. Following two home tilts (vs. Texas A&M-CC, Nov. 29 & vs. Western New Mexico, Dec. 4), the Orange and Blue round out the sequence with contests at Oregon (Dec. 9) and at Abilene Christian (Dec. 17).
 
TAE DOING IT ALL
Senior Tae Hardy has done it all for the Miners thus far in 2023-24, pacing the team in both scoring (17.3 ppg-third CUSA) and assists per game (6.8 apg-first CUSA/10th NCAA). He has also proven to be a sharpshooter from beyond-the-arc, knocking down 45.5 percent (10-22) to rate second in CUSA and 86th nationally (among qualified individuals).
 
GOING BACK IN TIME
UTEP jumped out to a 5-0 lead 28 seconds into the game and never looked back in a 71-63 wire-to-wire win against Austin Peay on Nov. 17. The Miners extended it to nine (15-6) before the Governors trimmed the margin to three. The Orange and Blue responded with a 10-0 run to go out by double digits, settling for a 11-point advantage (38-27) at the break. Austin Peay never got closer than five the rest of the way.
 
BEST SCORING GAME AS A MINER
Tae Hardy went off for 25 points in the win vs.  Austin Peay on Nov. 17. It marked his highest scoring output as a Miner, who transferred from Southern Miss for the start of last year. Overall, Hardy has surpassed 20 points in scoring 10 times in his career, including six with the Orange and Blue.
 
OTIS ON THE BOARDS
UTEP had a slight edge in rebounds (35-32) against Austin Peay, with Otis Frazier III setting the tone in the department. He matched his career high with nine boards while adding eight points.
 
CALVIN DROPPING DIMES
UTEP recorded 21 assists on 26 made field goals against Austin Peay on Nov. 17, with Calvin Solomon showing off his passing prowess with a career-best seven helpers to top the squad.
 
TOPPING THE COUNTRY IN FG%
UTEP heads into the SoCal Challenge leading the nation in field-goal percentage (57.9 percent). The Miners have connected on better than 50.0 percent from the floor in all four of their games, with its "worst" effort being a readout of 54.0 percent (34-63) in the 89-76 victory against UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 13.
 
POUNDING THE PAINT HELPS
A big role in UTEP pacing the country in field-goal percentage has been its ability to get points in the paint. More than half (218-403, 54.1 percent) of the Miners' points on the season have come in the paint. Through four games, the Orange and Blue have piled up exactly 100 more points in the paint (218-118) than the opposition.
 
LET'S GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners are accounting for 25.8 fastbreak points per game, which is first in CUSA and sixth in the country. The Miners have tallied at least 14 points on the break in all four contests this year, including a season-best 47 against USAO on Nov. 9.

SHARING IS CARING
UTEP is dishing out 24.5 assists per contests to lead CUSA and rate third in the country. The Miners have surpassed 20 assists in three of the four games, including setting a school record with 33 in the opener vs. Division III opponent McMurry on Nov. 6. Even with 21 turnovers last time out vs. Austin Peay, the Miners boast a +1.85 assist-to-turnover ratio (98 helpers to 53 giveaways). That effort tops CUSA and ranks 25th in the country.
 
TAKING OUT A PRESEASON FAVORITE
UC Santa Barbara has been to two of the past three NCAA Tournaments and set a school record for wins (27) last year, but the Miners weren't intimidated. UTEP led for 25 minutes, including never trailing in the second half, on the way to taking out the in the 2023-24 preseason favorites in the Big West, 89-76, on Nov. 13.
 
COMING OUT PARTY FOR ZID
Zid Powell record a season-high 23 points, including 17 in the first half, to produce his first 20-point game as a Miner and seventh overall at the DI level in the 89-76 win against UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 13. The Buffalo transfer eclipsed 20 points six times in his lone season with the Bulls, including torching the mighty Falcons of Bowling Green for a career-high 27 points on Jan. 17, 2023. Overall, on the season Powell is second on the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game. He has already become a fan favorite in El Paso, with his ability to slash through the defense and hammer home dunks in traffic.
 
SCORING UP AND DOWN THE ROSTER
Heading into the game against Pac-12 foe Cal, five different Miners are averaging double figures in scoring. Senior Tae Hardy (17.3 ppg-third CUSA) and Buffalo grad transfer Zid Powell (13.5 ppg) lead the way, followed by RS-freshman Elijah Jones (12.5 ppg). Junior Otis Frazier III (11.8 ppg) and JUCO Honorable-Mention All-American (Tyler JC) Corey Camper Jr. (10.5 ppg) round out the list. Senior Calvin Solomon (9.8 ppg) is just shy. Aiding the balanced approach were eight different Miners (most on record) hitting double figures in scoring in the 120-71 season-opening win against McMurry on Nov. 6.
 
SAME GOES FOR PLAYING TIME
Nine of the 10 Miners who have played in all four of the games are securing at least 10.0 minutes per game, including Tae Hardy (29.4 mpg) leading the way. Zid Powell (22.3 mpg), Otis Frazier III (21.5 mpg), Calvin Solomon (21.2 mpg) and Corey Camper Jr. (20.7 mpg) are also above 20.0 mpg while Kevin Kalu (19.5 mpg) is just shy.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP has recorded at least nine steals in all four contests, which has led to it pacing CUSA and checking in fourth nationally at 14. 2 thefts for game. Foes have committed 17 or more turnovers in three of the four games, setting up the Miners' transition offense.
 
LOTS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OPPOSITION
Seven different Miners are making at least 1.0 steal per game, including three at better than 2.3 per contest. Otis Frazier III (2.8 spg- second CUSA/36th NCAA) tops the team, followed by Calvin Solomon and Zid Powell at 2.3 per game (fourth CUSA/100th NCAA). David Terrell Jr. (1.8 spg-11th CUSA), Elijah Jones (1.5 spg), Corey Camper Jr. (1.0 spg) and Tae Hardy (1.0 spg) round out the list. Last season, Solomon joined Randy Culpepper and Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway as the lone Miners in program history to average at least 2.0 steals per game.
 
KALU CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
Kevin Kalu has been all over the boards for the Miners in 2023-24. The junior is pulling down a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game (second CUSA), including 5.7 defensive boards per contest (second CUSA). Aiding that was a career-high 13 caroms against USAO on Nov. 9.
 
TOP-10 RANKINGS ALERT
It's early on, but UTEP is ranked among the top-10 nationally in eight different categories. The Miners lead the country in field-goal percentage (58.5) and are second in free-throw attempts per game (31.0). UTEP is also third in assists per game (24.5), fourth for bench scoring (44.3) and steals per game (14.2), sixth in fastbreak scoring (25.8 ppg) and scoring offense (100.8) and ninth for turnovers forced per contest (20.5). The Orange and Blue pace CUSA in all of those categories except turnovers forced per game, where they check in second.
 
WORTH THE WAIT
RS-freshman Elijah Jones joined UTEP as a midseason transfer from ECU last year, meaning his debut wouldn't come until this season. The wait has been worth it. Jones, who has come off the bench in all four contests, is third in the team in scoring (12.5 ppg). He was the named the CUSA Freshman of the Week on Nov. 13 after averaging 19.0 points on 16-17 shooting in the first two games of the year. Jones, a 6-8 forward has demonstrated a good shooting stroke. He has nailed 80.0 percent (20-25) from the floor. That effort leads CUSA and is third in the country.  For good measure, Jones is tied for the team lead in blocked shots (three) while adding 3.8 rebounds per game.
 
HIGH-OCTANE BENCH
UTEP's reserves have been key to the Miners' 4-0 start on the year, with the bench pouring in 44.3 points per game. That average is the best in CUSA and fourth nationally. Overall, UTEP's back-ups have compiled 177 points compared to just 78 from the opposition's reserves, a differential of almost 100 (+98).
 
DERICK CAN'T MISS
Derick Hamilton hasn't attempted enough field goals per game to qualify nationally for field-goal percentage, but he has done enough to show off his talents thus far in 2023-24. Hamilton is a perfect 12-12 from the floor in 29 total minutes of action. He's due to miss at some point, but the high-percentage shooting shouldn't come as a surprise given he was 22-33 last year (66.7 percent) in 20 appearances.
 
KNOCKING DOWN THE 3-BALL
UTEP has drilled 27-75 (36.0 percent) from 3-point range in the young season, good enough for third in CUSA. The Miners hit nine treys in the opener vs. McMurry (11/6/23) before following that up with 10 against USAO (11/9/23). UTEP only had three contests last year in which it made at least nine triples. It's a stark improvement thus far from the 2022-23 campaign, with UTEP finishing 346th in the nation with a readout of 29.4 percent (158-537) from beyond-the-arc.
 
TALKING 100-POINT GAMES
UTEP finished with the second-most points (120, now third) in program history in the win vs. McMurry on Nov. 6. The Miners followed that up with a school-record 123 points in routing USAO. It was the first time UTEP started a season with consecutive 100+ point showings. In fact, the only other time the Orange and Blue ever posted back-to-back 100-point games came during the 1968-69 season when they blasted Montana (103-90, 12/28/68) and then drilled Tahoe Paradise (109-63, 1/2/69). Prior to the outbursts this year, the Miners hadn't topped 100 since besting Rice, 101-89, on Jan. 8, 2021. UTEP now stands at 33-2 all time when surpassing 100 points in a contest, including 31-0 in El Paso (22-0 at the Haskins Center). UTEP has won 18 straight games when hitting the century mark.
 
DUST OFF THE RECORD BOOKS
UTEP dented the record book in the first two games of the season.
-School-record 123 points vs. USAO (11/9) and third-most points (120) vs. McMurry (11/6). The 243 points are the most in a two-contest span in program history.
- Dished out a program-best 33 assists vs. McMurry, smashing the prior standard of 29.
- School-record 50 field goals vs. McMurry, crushing the previous mark (46) that had happened in both 1979 (vs. Illinois Tech, 12/22/79) and in 1966 (vs. NM State, 2/1/66).
- Second-most second-half points (71) at the school vs. USAO and tied for seventh-highest total (61) after the break against McMurry.
- Tied for fourth-most first-half points (59) against McMurry.
- Won back-to-back games by at least 49 points for first time ever, including tying for the seventh-biggest margin of victory (51) vs. USAO (W, 123-71).
- Posted 19 steals vs. McMurry, tying as the third most at the school, while the 18 thefts against USAO earned a share of fifth place.
 
STAYED HOME EARLY
UTEP played four straight (4-0) to start the season at home, something that hadn't happened since the 2019-20 campaign when it had five consecutive home games out of the gate (5-0 record). That included knocking off rivals NM State and New Mexico within the span of a week that year.
 
THE BEST FANS IN CONFERENCE USA
UTEP led Conference USA in attendance last year in both total number of fans (81,941) and average attendance (4,552). It marked the second straight season that the Miners have paced CUSA in at least one of those categories. Last year, UTEP's advantage for per-game average was noticeable, with WKU more than 500 fans behind on average at 4,026. The Miners are off to a good start in the area in 2023-24, topping the league in total fans (19,288) while rating second behind NM State for average attendance (4,822).
 
MORE THAN A MILLION FANS
UTEP has attracted more than one million fans to the Don Haskins Center over the past decade. A total of 1,116,176 individuals have passed through the turnstiles from the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign to the end of the 2022-23 season. That figure makes the Miners the only school out of the nine members in Conference USA to have topped one million fans in that timeframe.
 
HOME COOKING
UTEP is in search of its fifth straight season with at least 10 wins at home. The Miners compiled 11 victories at the Haskins Center last year, including going 3-0 at the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic Presented by Speaking Rock to claim the crown. The Orange and Blue have started strong this year, winning all four home games out of the gates with a +30.3 (100.8-70.5) scoring differential.
 
ROSTER RUNDOWN
UTEP returned its leading scorer (Tae Hardy-12.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 spg) and rebounder (Calvin Solomon-6.0 rpg, 9.6 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg) from last year's team. Overall, the Miners brought back 54.3 percent of their scoring and 50.5 percent of their rebounding. It is a stark difference from the situation the Orange and Blue faced going into the 2022-23 campaign, when they had just 20.8 percent of the rebounding and 11.1 percent of the scoring back. UTEP has seven lettermen in the fold, including three starters (Hardy, Solomon and Otis Frazier III; 7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Jon Dos Anjos (4.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg) , Derick Hamilton (2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg), Antwonne Holmes and Kevin Kalu are the other returning lettermen. The Miners landed six newcomers, including junior-college All-American Corey Camper Jr. (19.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg at Tyler JC) and DI transfers Zid Powell (13.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg at Buffalo) and Baylor Hebb (Colorado State). UTEP also has a pair of true freshmen (Trey Horton III, David Terrell Jr.) and another JUCO transfer (Sebastian Cole). Garrett Levesque (Tarleton State) and Elijah Jones (ECU) have also made their respective Miner debuts after redshirting the 2022-23 campaign.
 
DI EXPERIENCE
UTEP has ample DI experience across its roster, with a combined 454 games played (210 starts) among the Miners as of the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Calvin Solomon leads with way with 114 appearances (88 starts).
 
PRESEASON HONORS
UTEP seniors Tae Hardy and Calvin Solomon were tabbed to the 2023-24 CUSA All-Preseason Team in a vote by the league's nine head coaches. The Miners joined Middle Tennessee and WKU as the only programs in the conference to have a pair of members on the squad.
 
NEW-LOOK LEAGUE
UTEP joined Conference USA as the newest school in the league for the 2005-06 campaign. It entered the 2023-24 season as the most-tenured member. The 11 programs who were part of CUSA when the Miners moved to it have since departed to other conferences. Joining UTEP as returning league members are FIU, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee and WKU while Jax State, Liberty, NM State and Sam Houston are all in their first year.
 
CUSA IS UP FOR GRABS
UTEP was predicted to finish fifth in Conference USA in 2023-24, but it's anyone's guess as to who will take home the regular season crown this season with so much turnover in the league. Five of the top six teams from the standings a year ago have departed for other conferences, including regular season and tournament champion Florida Atlantic. FAU made waves nationally by making a run to the Final Four in the NCAA. The second (North Texas) and third-place (UAB) teams squared off in the NIT finale, and fifth-place Charlotte won the CBI. In fact, only one team (Middle Tennessee) that finished among the top six in the regular season last year is back. Incidentally, the Blue Raiders and newcomer Liberty are picked to win the league, followed by WKU (third), LA Tech (fourth), the Miners (fifth), Sam Houston (sixth), FIU (seventh), NM State (eighth) and Jax State (ninth).
 
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
It's extremely early in the season, but UTEP (4-0) and Liberty (4-0) are the only two programs in CUSA to still be undefeated. Nationally, there are 67 teams with a perfect winning percentage.
 
A YEAR IN REVIEW
-    UTEP had a new-look squad in 2022-23 with head coach Joe Golding having to overhaul the roster after the Miners returned just one starter and three letterwinners total from a 20-win team a year prior.
-    The Orange and Blue managed a 14-18 record, including a 67-64 victory against NM State on Nov. 12, 2022, for their first win against the Aggies in three years. That was the start of a five-game winning streak, which was aided by back-to-back OT triumphs.
-    The five straight victories in November were the longest in the month in four years, which was aided by a mark of 3-0 in the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic Presented by Speaking Rock.
-    The Miners came within a point of winning the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, falling 47-46 to eventual NCAA Tournament participant Kent State on Dec. 22, 2022. UTEP experienced a tough 1-4 stretch early in league play, with those four setbacks by a combined 14 points.
-    UTEP remained resilient on the way to forging seven league triumphs, capped by a 77-65 "Senior Day" triumph against Middle Tennessee on March 4, 2023.
-    The Orange and Blue tied the single-season school record for overtime games at five, matching the 1994-95 and 2011-12 teams. All five of the OT games were in the regular season, which are the most ever at the school. Both the 1994-95 and 2011-12 Miners had in four OT games during the regular season and one postseason OT tilt.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP
-    This is the 103rd 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.
-    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).
-    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.
 
GET TO KNOW COACH GOLDING
Joe Golding is in his third 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 196-176 in his 13th season as a collegiate head coach, including 38-32 at UTEP. Those 38 wins already place him ninth at the school, having passed current Texas head coach Rodney Terry (37) with the triumph vs. Austin Peay on Nov. 17. Jason Rabedeaux (46 wins, 1999-02) is Golding's next target. Golding could possibly climb to sixth place by year's end. In 2021-22, Golding 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.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will wrap up the heralded SoCal Challenge by facing either Bradley or Tulane on Wednesday (Nov. 22). The contest will be broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be carried nationally on CBS Sports Network.