Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (5-3) will look to halt a mini skid when it plays host to Division II member Western New Mexico (2-5) at 7 p.m. MT Monday. The Miners have dropped three straight contests, including a 67-63 setback vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last time out on Nov. 29. That loss proved to be the first at home for the Orange and Blue, who enter Monday's match-up with a mark of 4-1 inside the Don Haskins Center. The Mustangs have fallen in consecutive games, but the tilt against UTEP will go down as an exhibition for them while counting in the standings for the Miners. Jon Teicher (43rd year) and Steve Yellen (21st year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with Mando Medina and former Miner Hooper Vint describing the action. Tickets start as low as $9.15. For more information, please visit www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets or call (915) 747-UTEP.
 
THAT'S A LOT OF GAMES
UTEP played a total of eight games in the month of November, doing so over a 24-day span (average one tilt every three days). It was the highest total of contests in November since the 2013-14 season when the Miners also competed eight times in the first month of the campaign.
 
PACE SLOWS IN DECEMBER
The Miners are slated for six games in December, a much more reasonable pace than they had to begin the year. Four of the six contests will be held at the Don Haskins Center. Included in that home docket is participating in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 20-21).
 
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
During UTEP's mini three-game skid, two of the setbacks have by four points. The Miners were clipped by Bradley, 63-59, in the championship contest of the SoCal Challenge on Nov. 22 while falling, 67-63, against back-to-back Southland Conference Tournament Champions Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 29. The Miners are now 1-2 on the season in contests decided by five points or less, having defeated Pac-12 member Cal, 75-72, on a 3-point buzzer beater by Tae Hardy on Nov. 20.
 
NOVEMBER SUCCESS AGAIN
Even with the challenging close to the month, UTEP secured a winning record in November for the fifth consecutive campaign. The Miners are 14-7 under head coach Joe Golding in November contests, and they haven't had a losing record in the opening month of the season since going 2-4 in 2018-19.
 
GOLDING THREE SHY OF 200 WINS
Third-year UTEP head coach Joe Golding picked up his 197th career victory between his time with Abilene Christian and the Miners after leading UTEP past Cal on Nov. 20. Golding is also now one win shy (39-32) of his 40th triumph with UTEP. He is currently ninth on the Miners' all-time coaching victories list.
 
MILESTONE SCORING WATCH FOR TAE & CALVIN
Tae Hardy (934 career points) and Calvin Solomon (934) are both closing in on 1,000 career points at the DI level. Hardy has amassed more than 500 of his points with the Miners while Solomon is approaching 400 points in a UTEP uniform.
 
GET TO KNOW WESTERN NEW MEXICO
Western New Mexico is 2-5 on the season (played game at NM State as an exhibition), and it is under the direction of first-year head coach Mark Bunker. Bunker assumed the position after a successful nine-campaign run with Scottsdale Community College where his squad was nationally ranked every year since 2018. He also directed the program to a school-record 23 wins in his final season on the sidelines.  The Mustangs began the year at 0-3 before posting back-to-back victories, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift them to an 80-79 win at NM Highlands on Nov. 22.  WNMU has lost the past two tilts, most recently falling at home against St. Edwards, 68-65, on Dec. 2. Monday's meeting with the Miners will be the second of the year for the Mustangs to be counted as an exhibition. They fell, 78-43, at NM State on Nov. 14. WNMU puts up 73.0 points per game while connecting on 40.4 percent, but it has been hindered at the other end of the court. It is yielding 79.9 ppg, and the opposition is making 46.4 percent of its shots. The Mustangs do a good job of getting at the line, hitting 75.2 percent and taking care of the ball (13.3 turnovers per contest). Cortaviaus Seales is an explosive scorer with 24.3 ppg, but he hasn't seen action since Nov. 22. Allen Fordham (10.0 ppg), LaMarqus Merchant Jr. (9.6 ppg) and Prosper Obidlebube (9.6 ppg) can also score the basketball. Merchant Jr. tops the squad in rebounding (5.1 rpg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (1.7 spg) in showing off his all-around game.  WNMU, located in Silver City, N.M., was founded in 1893. The Division II program competes as a member of the Lone Star Conference, which it joined in 2016-17. Notable WNMU alumni include the late American poet Kenneth Wayne Brewer, Tammie Jo Shults, who was a US Navy F/A 18 aviator and Richard Angulo, who played in the NFL with Jacksonville and Chicago.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 28-5
UTEP holds a 28-5 advantage all time against WNMU, including a current 13-game winning streak. Most recently the Miners dispatched the Mustangs, 85-57, to christen the Joe Golding era on Nov. 9, 2021. The two sides have quite the history, with the first match-up occurring nearly 100 years ago. The Orange and Blue downed WNMU, 16-14, during the 1928-29 season. WNMU also had a triumph late that year, doing so by a final score of 43-27.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME
UTEP came up just shy, as visiting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi escaped with a 67-63 victory at the Don Haskins Center on Nov. 29. The Miners, who trailed by as many as seven on two occasions in the second half, were down by just one (64-63) with 42 seconds left after a pair of Calvin Solomon free throws. UTEP then seemingly got the stop it needed at the other end, but the Islanders managed to come up with multiple offensive rebounds before scoring on a putback from Dayne Prim to go back up three with 11 ticks left in regulation. UTEP called timeout to set up a play to try to tie it up, but unfortunately it committed the final of its 21 turnovers in the game to wipe away the chance. The Miners fouled immediately on the inbound, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi put away the contest with a free throw by Prim.
 
GET THE LEAD AND WE'RE GOOD
UTEP is 4-0 on the season when leading at the half and a perfect 5-0 this year when holding an advantage with five minutes remaining in regulation. It's not a recent trend, with the Miners a combined 31-5 under head coach Joe Golding when leading at the break.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL LEADS TO WINS
The Miners are 4-0 this year when making the same or fewer amount of turnovers in a game against opponents.
 
BOUNCE BACK OVERALL SHOOTING
UTEP connected on 42.3 percent (22-52) from the field against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to bounce back from a season-low 30.2 percent (16-53) at in a 67-47 setback at LMU on Nov. 25. The Miners, however, slipped to 4-1 on the year when making at least 40 percent of their shots.
 
GOTTA GET GOING FROM DISTANCE VS. DI
In its six games against Division I opponents, UTEP has been held to 24.7 percent (20-81) from beyond-the-arc. The Miners opened the year by going 19-47 (40.4 percent) on 3-pointers in a pair of routs against McMurry (DIII) and USAO (NAIA).
 
KEEP GUARDING THE TREY
UTEP has held its six DI foes to 30.5 percent (32-105) from distance. Overall, the opposition is at 29.3 percent (46-157), putting the Miners second in CUSA and 68th nationally for 3-point field-goal percentage defense.
 
STEALS KEEP COMING
UTEP registered nine steals in the setback against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 29. The Miners have now posted at least eight takeaways in all eight games this season, and their average of 11.6 spg is second in Conference USA and fifth in the country. UTEP tied the school record for steals with 288 last year, but it is on pace to smash that figure with 371 thefts. That average is likely to drop, but it's an incredible beginning to the year.
 
HOLDING THE OPPOSITION DOWN
After allowing 70+ points in the first three contests of the campaign, the Miners have kept three straight and four of the past five foes to 67 points or less (two at 63).
 
TOP-FIVE SCORERS ACCURATE AT THE LINE
UTEP'S top-five scorers on the team enter Monday's game vs. WNMU all making at least 70 percent from the free-throw line. Elijah Jones (77.8) leads the way, followed by Calvin Solomon (72.3), Otis Frazier III (72.2), Tae Hardy (71.9) and Zid Powell (70.3). It's a noticeable difference from a year ago when the Miners had three players total who connected on better than 70 percent at the line.
 
SOLOMON FEASTING AT THE LINE
Calvin Solomon is 34-47 at the charity stripe on the year for a readout of 72.3 percent. The senior is 72nd in the country for attempts and 97th in makes. He rates second in the league for each of those categories.
 
TAE DOING IT ALL
Senior Tae Hardy has done it all for the Miners thus far in 2023-24, including hitting the buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Cal on Nov. 20. He paces the team in scoring (15.1-fourth CUSA) and assists per game (3.7-sixth CUSA) while tying for second in steals per game (1.8-seventh CUSA). He has also been the top 3-point shooter on the squad, leading the team in makes (16), attempts (40) and percentage (40.0). Hardy reached double figures in scoring in the first seven games of the season before coming up just shy with nine points against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 29. The Ellenwood, Ga., native is playing a team-best 30.8 minutes per game (fourth CUSA).
 
OTIS IS ACCURATE
Junior Otis Frazier III connected on 50.3 percent (81-161) from the floor last year while tallying 7.5 points per game in his first season with the Miners after transferring from George Mason. His shooting percentage this year is nearly identical (49.2 percent, 26-52), but he has upped his scoring output to 11.0 ppg (third on team/17th CUSA). Frazier III also getting after it with 1.8 steals per game (seventh CUSA). He is also doing a better job at the charity stripe, making 72.2 percent (26-36) after finishing at 40-63 from the line (63.5 percent) a season ago. Frazier III was especially aggressive at getting to the rim last time out, setting career highs for both free throws made (nine) and attempted (14).
 
SOLOMON'S ALL-AROUND GAME
Senior Calvin Solomon is displaying the full arsenal of his abilities in 2023-24, ranking fourth on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg-23rd CUSA) and third in rebounding (4.5 rpg) and assists (2.8 apg). He also leads the squad in blocks (0.9-10th CUSA) and is fourth in steals (1.6-10th). He is doing all over this despite playing only 23.8 minutes per game.
 
ZID'S AS ADVERTISED
Buffalo grad transfer Zid Powell has brought a toughness to the squad and is contributing across the board despite having battled through some injuries and a game with foul issues. Powell is second on the team in points (11.3 ppg-16th CUSA), rebounding (5.0 rpg) and assists (3.4 apg-ninth CUSA) while pacing it in steals (2.0 spg-third CUSA/80th NCAA). He's demonstrated the ability to get to the line, with his 26 makes on 37 attempts trailing only Calvin Solomon in both departments. Powell is producing these numbers in 24.5 minutes 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 6.5 rebounds per game (fourth CUSA). He is also sixth in CUSA for both offensive and defensive rebounds per game. He has recorded at least four boards in all eight contests, including seven or more three times. Kalu has been an efficient scorer down low, nailing 17-25 attempts (68.0 percent), which is third on the team.

3X CUSA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
UTEP forward Elijah Jones was voted as the Conference USA Freshman of the Week for each of the first three weeks of the year. He became the first Miner in program history to win three straight CUSA Freshman of the Week honors. Furthermore, he did it out of the gates to start his collegiate career. Jones, the top UTEP reserve, is tied for fifth on the team in scoring (8.1 ppg). That scoring output matches Corey Camper Jr. for highest average among back-ups. Jones also adds 2.8 rpg (top among reserves), doing so in only 13.6 minutes per game.  
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
The Miners' relentless drive toward to the paint and attacking the offensive glass (11.4 offensive rebounds per game) has led to them rating seventh in the country for free-throw attempts per game (27.8) and 27th nationally for free-throw makes per game (18.5). UTEP tops CUSA in each of those categories.
 
POUNDING THE PAINT
UTEP has demonstrated the ability to get points in the paint in 2023-24. More than half (332-647, 51.3 percent) of the Miners' points on the season have come in the paint. Through eight games, the Orange and Blue have a 332-236 advantage for points in the paint. That works out to 41.5 ppg in the paint for UTEP compared to 29.5 by foes.
 
LET'S GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners are accounting for 20.3 fastbreak points per game, which is first in CUSA and fifth in the country. The Miners have tallied at least 12 points on the break in all eight contests this year, including a campaign-best 47 against USAO on Nov. 9. UTEP has a remarkable 162-76 cushion against opponents this season in the category, with the 20.3-9.5 ppg on average.
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP is dishing out 17.4 assists per contest to lead CUSA and rate 29th in the country. The Miners have surpassed 20 assists three times, including setting a school record with 33 in the opener vs. Division III opponent McMurry on Nov. 6. Tae Hardy (3.6 apg-seventh CUSA) and Zid Powell (3.4 apg-ninth CUSA) lead the charge. Senior Calvin Solomon (2.8-tied 12th CUSA) and freshman David Terrell Jr. (2.6 apg-tied 15th CUSA) have also been good at setting up teammates.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP has notched at least eight steals in all eight games, with double-digit totals four times. That effort has led to it rating second in CUSA and fifth nationally at 11.6 thefts per game. Foes have committed 17 or more turnovers five times, including Texas A&M-Corpus Christi being forced to make 19 last time out on Nov. 29. The Miners' 18.8 turnovers forced per game is second in CUSA and fourth in the country.
 
LOTS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OPPOSITION
The Miners' top four scorers have also gotten after it defensively, with each contributing at least 1.5 steals per game. Zid Powell (2.0 spg-third CUSA/80th NCAA) is atop the list. Otis Frazier III and Tae Hardy chip in 1.8 spg (seventh CUSA) followed by Calvin Solomon at 1.6 spg (10th CUSA). David Terrell Jr. (1.3 spg-tied 17th CUSA) is also a nuisance for the opposition. 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.
 
HIGH-OCTANE BENCH
UTEP's reserves helped it go 5-3 in the first month of the season, with the bench providing 28.9 ppg (third CUSA/50th NCAA). Overall, the Miners hold a 231-163 differential in reserve scoring. That works out to a 28.9-20.4 advantage per contest.
 
BALANCED ATTACK
Heading into Monday's match-up against Western New Mexico, four Miners are accounting for double figures in scoring on average. Senior Tae Hardy (15.1 ppg-fourth CUSA) and Buffalo transfer Zid Powell (11.3 ppg-tied 13th CUSA) lead the way, followed by junior Otis Frazier III (11.0 ppg-17th CUSA) and senior Calvin Solomon (10.0 ppg-tied 22nd CUSA) RS-freshman and super sub Elijah Jones (8.1 ppg) and JUCO Honorable-Mention All-American (Tyler JC) Corey Camper Jr. (8.1 ppg) have also been a consistent threat. No other Miner is above 5.0 ppg. 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 different Miners have earned double figures in playing time on average, including eight who have played in all eight contests. Tae Hardy (30.8 mpg-fourth CUSA) is the only one on the squad to be earning more than 30.0 minutes per contest. In fact, no one other than Hardy is even above 25.0 mpg. Zid Powell (24.5 mpg) and Otis Frazier III (23.8 mpg) are just shy of 25.0 mpg.
 
UTEP IN THE RANKINGS
UTEP leads Conference USA in five major stat categories while placing second in the league in five others. The Miners top the league in assists per game (17.4-29th NCAA), fastbreak scoring (20.3-fifth NCAA), free throw attempts per game (27.8-14th NCAA), free throws made per game (18.5-27th NCAA) and turnover margin (3.8-43rd NCAA). The Orange and Blue are second in CUSA for field-goal percentage (48.3-47th NCAA), scoring offense (80.9-69th NCAA), steals per game (11.8-fifth NCAA), 3-point percentage defense (29.3-68th NCAA) and turnovers forced per game (18.8-fourth NCAA).
 
DERICK HARDLY MISSES
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 12-14 from the floor in 39 total minutes of action. He had started 12-12 before going 0-2 at LMU on Nov. 25. The high-percentage shooting shouldn't come as a surprise given he was 22-33 last year (66.7 percent) in 20 appearances.
 
FIVE TIMES THIS CENTURY
The Miners got out of the gates at 5-0 this year before dropping their last two games, including most-recently, 67-47, at LMU on Nov. 25. It marked the fifth time since 2000 that the Orange and Blue had posted a start of least 5-0. It happened previously in 2019-20 (5-0), 2015-16 (6-0), 2009-10 (5-0) and 2000-01 (6-0).
 
TAE CALLED GAME AGAINST CAL
UTEP defeated Cal, 75-72, on Nov. 20, in a wild and memorable finish. After a couple of missed free throws by Tae Hardy (was 7-7 to that point), the Bears tied the game at 72 with a 3-pointer from Jalen Cone with six seconds left. Rather than sulk, Otis Frazier III inbounded the ball to Zid Powell, who raced up the court. He then dished it to Hardy, whose 3-point attempt spun around the rim before dropping through for the buzzer-beating victory. It was his lone 3-point try of the night.
 
FIRST BUZZER BEATER SINCE 2021-22
When Tae Hardy beat the clock, it marked the Miner's first buzzer beater since Alfred Hollins's tip-in as the horn sounded in a 70-68 triumph against Florida Atlantic on Jan. 27, 2022.
 
GOT IT DONE VS. POWER PROGRAM
UTEP took down Pac-12 member Cal, 75-72, on Nov. 20, thanks to the heroics of Tae Hardy's buzzer beater. It marked the initial win against a Power Five program under head coach Joe Golding and first since knocking off Arizona State on the road, 76-63, on Dec. 16, 2020.
 
BESTING A POWER PROGRAM ON A NEUTRAL COURT
UTEP's win against Cal marked the first time that it bested a Power Six program (Power Five + Big East) at a neutral site since taking out Xavier (Big East) on Nov. 28, 2014. It was also the initial occasion to defeat a Power Five foe in a neutral match-up since toppling SEC foe Tennessee, 78-70, on Nov. 28, 2013, in the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas.
 
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.
 
FIVE TIMES THIS CENTURY
The Miners got out of the gates at 5-0 this year dropping consecutive contests. It marked the fifth time since 2000 that the Orange and Blue had posted a start of least 5-0. It happened previously in 2019-20 (5-0), 2015-16 (6-0), 2009-10 (5-0) and 2000-01 (6-0).
 
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.
 
AN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION TO BEGIN THE YEAR
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.
 
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 (23,959) while rating second for average attendance (4,792).
 
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 started strong this year, opening at up at 4-0 with a +30.3 (100.8-70.5) scoring differential before falling by a count of 67-63 to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last time out on Nov. 29.
 
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 were 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).
 
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 197-179 in his 13th season as a collegiate head coach, including 39-35 at UTEP. Those 39 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 face its second Pac-12 opponent of the season when it plays at perennial power Oregon at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT on Saturday (Dec. 9). The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 network while airing on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso.