EL PASO, Texas – Eight different Miners reached double figures in scoring as a balanced and unselfish UTEP men's basketball team roared past Division III member McMurry, 120-71, in its season-opening victory at the Don Haskins Center Monday evening.
The Orange and Blue's (1-0) 120 points rate as the second-highest total in school history, trailing only the 121 points against New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 30, 2000. RS-freshman
Elijah Jones led the way with 19 points on a perfect shooting effort (8-8, FG, 3-3 on 3-pointers) in his Miner debut.
Tae Hardy (14 points),
Corey Camper Jr. (13 points),
Jon Dos Anjos (12 points),
Otis Frazier III (12 points),
Calvin Solomon (12 points),
David Terrell Jr. (11 points) and
Derick Hamilton (10 points) reached double digits as well. Buffalo transfer
Zid Powell fell just shy with nine points.
The Miners were credited with a school-record 33 assists, shattering the prior standard of 29 that had happened on four prior occasions. Hardy set the tone in the department with 10 helpers to secure the first double-double of his career.
The selfless approach across the board offensively-five different individuals had at least four assists-led to open looks all game and UTEP finishing the contest at 63.3 percent (50-79) from the floor. That included a readout of 39.1 percent (9-23) from 3-point range, with both Hardy and Jones connecting on a trio from distance.
At the other end of the court, UTEP limited an up-tempo War Hawks team to 31.5 percent (23-73) from the field and 30.0 percent (9-30) from 3-point range. The Miners also harassed McMurry into 27 turnovers that resulted in 39 points.
UTEP piled up 19 steals in the contest, which tie for third on its single-contest record books. Solomon and Frazier III shared the team high with four apiece. Hardy, Powell and Terrell Jr. each registered three thefts. Furthermore, UTEP swatted seven shots, with Jones leading the pack at three rejections.
The Miners won the battle of the boards, 50-39, with Dos Anjos equaling his career high (eight) as he flirted with a double-double.
McMurry was paced by 24 points from CJ LeBlanc while Matt Pena added 13 points.
The War Hawks led early (7-6, 16:43 1H) before the Miners ripped off a 12-2 run to vault ahead by nine (18-9, 14:40 1H). Fittingly, Jones capped it with a lay-up off a dime from Hardy. UTEP would not trail from that point, and it carried a 16-point advantage (59-43) into the locker room. The Miners' 59 points equal the program's fourth-most points scored over the first 20 minutes of action.
UTEP poured it on in the second stanza, outscoring the visitors by a count of 61-28. The 61 points match the sixth-highest second-half total at the school.
The Miners will continue their season-opening four-game homestand when they play host to NAIA member USAO at 7 p.m. MT Thursday.
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