Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (11-13, 4-9 C-USA) will look to complete the sweep of in-state foe UTSA (7-18, 1-13 C-USA) and also get back into the win column with a 2 p.m. MT/3 p.m. CT game on Saturday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. The Miners are vying to sweep the Roadrunners for the second straight year, something that hasn't occurred since the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The Orange and Blue posted their largest comeback in three campaigns when they overcame a 14-point deficit on the way to a 69-57 victory against UTSA on Jan. 11 in the Don Haskins Center. Now they turn their attention to winning their second straight contest in the city of San Antonio. Prior to 2021-22, the Miners had lost seven consecutive tilts at the Convocation Center before breaking through with a five-point triumph (59-54, Jan. 23, 2022). UTEP is also looking to snap a five-game skid, most recently being unable to complete a comeback in a 62-53 setback against Charlotte on Feb. 9. The Roadrunners are mired in a 10-tilt losing streak, most recently falling, 80-64, at Middle Tennessee on Feb. 4. UTEP is 1-9 on the road (1-6 C-USA) while the Roadrunners are 7-8 (1-6 C-USA) at home. The Miners have faced some close calls on the road, with four of their seven setbacks away from home in the league coming by six points or less. UTEP had an early 10-point lead in its last road tilt at WKU on Feb. 4 before suffering a 74-69 setback. UTSA is well rested, having not played for a week while the Miners are competing for the second time in three days. The game will be the fourth of five on the road for UTEP and cap a stretch of six of nine away from home. 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 CUSATV (subscription required).
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 15-10
UTEP holds a 15-10 advantage in the series with UTSA, including four straight wins. It's the longest streak since also having a four-game surge from 2013-15. Last year, the Orange and Blue recorded their first season sweep of the Roadrunners since '14-15, and they are seeking to complete the sweep again this campaign with a win Saturday. That would be the first time it happened in back-to-back years since Miner sweeps in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. The Miners rallied from 14 points down-their biggest come-from-behind victory in three years- to knock off the Roadrunners, 69-57, on Jan. 11 earlier this year at the Don Haskins Center.
 
GET TO KNOW UTSA
UTSA had a strong start to the season at 4-1, but it is 3-17 since to slip to 7-18 overall and 1-13 in C-USA. That includes having dropped 10 consecutive contests, including most recently falling at Middle Tennessee on Feb. 4, 80-64. The Roadrunners had been in search of a season sweep of the Blue Raiders, as they boast a 75-72 triumph at home on Jan. 5 for their lone league triumph. UTSA has been competitive, particularly at home with a 7-8 mark (1-6 in C-USA). Three of the six setbacks at home in league play have been by single digits, including falling to Rice (88-81, Jan. 16) in overtime. It features a balanced attack offensively with a quartet of individuals in double figures for scoring, who are in the form of Japhet Medor (12.5 ppg-12th C-USA), Jacob Germany (12.1 ppg-16th C-USA), DJ Richards (10.8 ppg-25th C-USA) and John Buggs III (10.4 ppg). Buggs went off for a game-high 23 points in UTEP's 69-57 victory against the Roadrunners on Jan. 11. Medor also tops the team in assists (3.5 apg-eighth C-USA) and steals (1.2 spg) while Germany does so for rebounds (8.0 rpg-third C-USA/92nd NCAA). Germany has produced a league-leading seven double-doubles (58th NCAA) and tops the conference in defensive boards per game (5.7-92nd NCAA). Medor is second in C-USA in free throw attempts (129-81st NCAA). The Roadrunners do a good job of getting to the free-throw line and making them once there. They connect on 14.6 per game (second C-USA/68th NCAA), with 19.8 attempts per contest (third C-USA/90th NCAA) for a readout of 74.1 percent (second C-USA/76th NCAA). The bench is also a big part of the offense with 22.5 ppg, putting it just outside the top-100 nationally (101st). Overall, UTSA is putting up 67.2 points per game (ninth C-USA/287th NCAA) while rating last in C-USA for scoring defense (74.8 ppga-302nd NCAA). It is also last in the league for assists per game (10.6-335th NCAA), blocked shots (2.3 bpg-305th NCAA), field-goal percentage (39.7-345th NCAA), scoring margin (-7.6-330th NCAA), steals (3.6 spg-352nd NCAA-last in country), turnover margin (-3.1-339th NCAA) and turnovers forced per game (10.5-331st NCAA). Notable university alumni include Michelle Beadle (TV personality), Bruce Bowen (former NBA player for the Spurs) and Kim Spradlin (CBS' Survivor: One World Winner). 
 
LAST TIME OUT: CHARLOTTE 62, at UTEP 53, (2/9/23)
Calvin Solomon (game-high 16 points) and Tae Hardy (12 points) both hit double figures in scoring and UTEP piled up 36 points in the paint, but it wasn't enough to overcome a barrage of 3-pointers from visiting Charlotte in a 62-53 setback on Feb. 9. It was a game of big swings with the Miners up by six (25-19, 6:21 1H) late in the first half. The 49ers struck by wrapping a 34-10 run around the locker room to surge out by 18 (53-35, 13:16 2H). UTEP continued to battle and twice reduced the deficit to six with less than four minutes to play, but it couldn't complete the comeback. Charlotte shot 47.7 percent from the floor, including nailing 13-27 from distance. UTEP hit 50 percent of its shots over the first 20 minutes but cooled off in the second stanza to conclude at 42.6 percent. Affecting the overall figure was a readout of 6.7 percent (1-15) on 3-pointers.
 
ALL-AROUND EFFORT BY SOLOMON
Calvin Solomon paced UTEP in points (game-high 16), rebounding (six) and assists (three) against Charlotte on Feb. 9, making him the first Miner to lead the squad in the three major stat categories since Souley Boum at LA Tech on Feb. 17, 2022. Helping his scoring effort was going 8-9 at the charity stripe.
 
DOING ALL THE LITTLE THINGS RIGHT
UTEP owned the paint (36-16), forced 15 turnovers that led to 21 points and held advantages in both second-chance points (10-0) and fastbreak scoring (17-5) in the game against Charlotte on Feb. 9.
 
BALL SECURITY
UTEP registered 11 turnovers at WKU on Feb. 4 and followed that up with another 11-giveaway game against Charlotte last time out on Feb. 9. The 22 turnovers in a two-tilt span trail only an effort of 21 from earlier this year (12 at Rice-Jan. 14, nine at Charlotte, Jan. 16). UTEP's season low for miscues was the nine at Charlotte, while it now has had three contests on the year with 11. The Miners also did so against NC A&C (Dec. 21).
 
MORE ON TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Making UTEP's recent success with ball security even more impressive is that the Miners had committed at least 14 turnovers in the four prior contests, averaging 15.3 in the stretch.
 
GOTTA GET GOING ON THE 3-BALL
Although UTEP set a season high against DI opponents by making nine 3-pointers at WKU on Feb. 4, it has been in a slump from distance. In four of the past five games, the Miners have finished below 20 percent on 3-point attempts (20.3 percent in stretch). Most recently UTEP was 1-15 (6.7 percent) against Charlotte on Feb. 9, but incredibly it still found itself in the game due to controlling other areas of the game.
 
MAKING SOME PROGRESS AT THE LINE
For the third time in the past five games, UTEP finished better than 70 percent at the charity stripe by going 12-17 (70.6 percent) against Charlotte on Feb. 9. The Miners are at 69.1 percent in the five-tilt stretch.
 
GOTTA KEEP THEM BELOW 70
UTEP is an impressive 11-4 on the year when holding the opposition to fewer than 70 points in a game. It is still in search of its first win (0-8) this season when it allows at least 70 points.
 
REGROUP AND GUARD THE BALL
After keeping five straight opponents, including the first three league foes, to less than 40 percent shooting, the opposition has found a way to crack UTEP's defensive code since that point. Ten consecutive foes have eclipsed 40 percent, including two above 50 percent (happened twice in first 14 affairs).  Given how hard the Miners play, look for that trend to change soon.
 
Mr. AND-1
Calvin Solomon had an old-fashioned 3-point play against Charlotte on Feb. 9, which was his fifth of the year to hold the team lead for active players. Otis Frazier III (four) and Kevin Kalu (three) are the only other active players on the squad with at least three.
 
A STRANGE TREND
UTEP went 5-2 in nonconference play when tallying at least 70 points, but it has gone 1-3 in the situation during C-USA action. 
 
POUND THE PAINT
UTEP racked up 48 points in the paint at Middle Tennessee (Feb. 2), marking the fifth game this season with at least 45 points down low. The 48 points in the paint tied as the second most against a DI opponent this year, trailing only a 56-point effort at Rice on Jan. 14.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
UTEP has had to overcome big first-half deficits to pull out the win in two of its four league triumphs this year. 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).
 
NARROWING THE GAP
After its first three defeats on the season were all by at least 15 points (20.3 avg.), the Miners' 10 setbacks since have been by a total of 59 points (5.9 avg). UTEP either led/was tied or within two points inside of one minute of regulation in five of those games. In three of the other contests, the Orange and Blue fought back from down by at least nine to make it a one-possession contest later in the second stanza.
 
BEATING UP ON EACH OTHER
For the most part Conference USA team have been beating up on each other in league play. Only FAU (13-1) and North Texas (11-3) have fewer than five losses in league action. Middle Tennessee (8-6) and UAB (8-6) are the only other squads above .500 in C-USA play. The other seven squads are .500 or worse. UTEP is in 10th place at 4-9 but is just two wins shy of sixth-place Rice (6-7).
 
SIMPLY THE BEST
UTEP tops Conference USA in two different categories. The Miners pace the league in turnovers forced per game (17.0-13th NCAA) and steals per game (9.1-21st NCAA). They also lead the conference in overall (65,715) and average (4,693) attendance.
 
NO QUIT IN THIS GROUP
UTEP has three wins on the season when trailing by at least eight points, including coming back from 13+ points in two of them. The Miners posted a 14-point come-from-behind win against UTSA (Jan. 11), their largest rally in three years. They fought back from down 13 in a triumph at Charlotte (Jan. 16) and overcame an eight-point differential in a win against NC A&T (Dec. 21). UTEP also showed tremendous heart by erasing 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. It 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 clawed back from down by nine at North Texas (Jan. 28) to get within one (35-34) with 10 minutes to play before eventually falling, 52-42. It was a similar story at Middle Tennessee. The Miners whittled an 11-point deficit to just two, but MT scored the final 10 points of the game for an 84-72 victory on Feb. 2. In the tilt at WKU, UTEP fought back from 13 down to get within three only to have the home side ice the game with a pair of free throws on Feb. 4. Last time out, UTEP reduced an 18-point deficit with 13 minutes left to six points twice under four minutes before falling, 62-53, on Feb. 9.
 
GETTING AFTER IT ON THE GLASS
UTEP has won the battle of the boards in 10 of the past 14 contests (outrebounded in past three). Included in the stretch was a seven-game streak in which they were even or better on the glass, which was the longest surge since doing so in nine consecutive contests during the 2009-10 campaign. Overall, UTEP has a +2.5 rebounding margin (35.4-32.9), which places it fourth in C-USA. For C-USA only, UTEP is +3.5 (35.2-31.7) to sit third in the league. The effort has helped UTEP win the second-chance points category in eight straight games.
 
CRASHING THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP has pulled down 10+ offensive rebounds in 12 of the past 14 games. There was also a streak of seven streak, which was the longest such run since posting eight in a row (twice) in 2008-09. UTEP's 11.1 offensive rebounds per game is third in C-USA and 97th in the country. That figure moves to 11.8 orpg in C-USA only tilts, which is second in the league. Overall, Calvin Solomon is eighth in C-USA with 51 total offensive boards.
 
EBBS AND FLOWS OF DEFENSE
After giving up 74+ points in back-to-back games for the first time this season, UTEP held Charlotte to 62 points on Feb. 9. There have been eight occasions total (0-8) where foes have topped 70 points this year, with seven happening on the road. All four times this year that an opponent has eclipsed 50 percent from the floor have happened away from home. Overall, UTEP's scoring defense sits at 66.6 points per game (fourth C-USA/88th NCAA).
 
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 11 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 32.2 to rate second in C-USA and 101st nationally.
 
TALKING INJURIES
UTEP has battled through some injuries this season, with 24 man games across the board lost to injuries/illness. The breakdown is as follows: Malik Zachery (10 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.
 
FREE THROWS WIN BALL GAMES?
The old saying goes that free throws win ball games, but UTEP is 6-5 (had been 5-1) on the season when shooting 60 percent or less in a contest and 5-8 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 20 of 24 games on the campaign, including three straight efforts to snap a two-contest streak below that figure. The 20 total such efforts includes surpassing 40 percent in the first 11 tilts of the year, the longest stretch to begin a season since the 2010-11 team did so over the initial 15 contests. The Miners have been particularly accurate with 2-point attempts, drilling 53.0 percent inside the arc.
 
PACK THE DON
UTEP is leading Conference USA in both overall attendance (65,715) and average attendance (4,693) in 2022-23. UAB is second for total attendance (60,789) while WKU is second in average attendance (3,965). 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 10-4 in El Paso, marking their fourth consecutive campaign with 10+ home triumphs. UTEP has a +8.9 (69.7-60.8 ppg) scoring differential in the Sun City. UTEP is shooting 45.6 percent compared to 39.72 by foes, has a +3.6 turnover margin (15.2-18.8), a +3.1 rebound margin (37.3-34.2) and has taken nearly 100 more free throws (330-236) in those 14 contests.

TAKING DOWN 2022 POSTSEASON TEAMS
Three of the Miners' 11 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
Nearly half (five of 11) 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 60.8 ppg at the Don Haskins Center this season, with opponents shooting 39.2 percent overall and 29.2 percent from 3-point range. None of the 14 foes 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 11-1 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also strong on the campaign (11-3) 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 three programs with top-100 NET rankings, in the form of FAU (18), North Texas (56) and UAB (75).
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
UTEP has been aggressive offensively, which has resulted in it going to the line often. The Miners are second in C-USA and 26th nationally with 22.1 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 13.5 free throws made per contest is fifth in the league.
 
HARDY DOING IT ALL
Southern Miss transfer Tae Hardy is doing a little bit of everything this year, pacing the Miners in scoring (13.0 ppg-ninth C-USA), rating third in assists per game (1.8) and steals per game (1.4-11th C-USA). He's also shown endurance, placing second on squad at 31.6 minutes per game (11th C-USA). He has started 23 of 24 games. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in 20 contests. He has five 20+ point efforts, including a game-high 21 at Middle Tennessee on Feb. 2. He has led or shared the top spot on the team in scoring in 13 tilts, easily by far the most on the team. Hardy also has a team-high 15 double-digit scoring efforts. He 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. He's been rolling lately, tallying 15+ points in six of the past nine games.
 
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 (4.2-fourth C-USA) and playing time (32.3-eighth C-USA) while rating second in scoring (10.1 ppg) and steals per game (1.8-eighth C-USA/98th NCAA), third in free-throw percentage (min. 10 FTA, 71.0 percent) and tied for third in rebounding (3.8 rpg). He has surpassed double figures in scoring in 10 of the past 14 outings. He has three double-doubles-all on assists and points-, doing so at UAB (17 points, 10 assists, Dec. 29), at Rice (16 points, 10 assists, Jan. 14) and against FIU (15 points, 10 assists, Jan. 19). That's the most double-doubles of that variety in six years since Dominic Artis had four during the 2016-17 season. 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 (Dec. 29). before the Miners eventually fell in double overtime.
 
CALVIN'S CORNER
Stephen F. Austin transfer Calvin Solomon has been an impact, all-around player for UTEP in his first year with the Miners. He is the lone player on the roster to have started all 24 contests. Solomon leads the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg-ninth C-USA), steals per game (2.0-fourth C-USA/41st NCAA) and offensive rebounds (51 total, 2.1/game-eighth C-USA) while placing second in assists per game (2.0) and checking in fourth in scoring (8.4). He has been on a tear in several categories of late, having produced double figures in scoring in six of the past eight games (two over the first 16 contests). He's the lone Miner to have at least one steal in every tilt of the year and has 35 total thefts over the past 14 contests. Solomon boasts two double-doubles on the year, with 16 points and 10 boards vs. No. 24 Florida Atlantic (Jan. 21) and 16 points and 11 rebounds at UAB (Dec. 29).
 
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 18 of 21 games played, rating third in offensive boards (29), tied for third for rebounding (3.8 rpg) and fifth in scoring (7.7 ppg). He has done that while playing only 21.4 minutes per game. Frazier III is also connecting on 51.3 percent of his shots (fourth on team). His numbers are a stark improvement from his two years at George Mason, where he averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 35 games played.
 
ONYEMA'S PROGRESS
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 six contests this year. That includes five straight to begin the season and more recently at North Texas on Jan. 28. He fell just shy (eight points) of that figure at WKU (Feb. 4). 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 (4.0 rpg), third in field-goal percentage (56.6), fourth for offensive boards (28) and sixth for scoring (5.7 ppg). He put up 2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 2021-22.
 
KALU'S IMPROVEMENT
Kevin Kalu has done good work inside, rating second on the team in field-goal percentage (65.5). Overall, he is putting up 3.9 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year).  He is second on the team in offensive boards (33) and sixth in rebounding (3.4 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 15 appearances off the bench this year. He is chipping in 3.0 points per game despite playing only 4.6 minutes per contest. Hamilton tops the team in both free-throw percentage (min. 10 attempts) by going 8-10 (80.0 percent) and field-goal percentage (20-30, 66.7).
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Five active players are scoring between 5.5 and 13.0 points per game. Tae Hardy (13.0 ppg-ninth C-USA) and Shamar Givance (10.1 ppg) are in double figures to lead the way. Calvin Solomon (8.4 ppg), Otis Frazier III (7.7 ppg) and Ze'Rik Onyema (5.7 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 17.0 turnovers per game to lead Conference USA and place 13th 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. Six opponents have made at least 20 giveaways, including then No. 24 Florida Atlantic (20) on Jan. 21. Sul Ross State (Nov. 15) had 32, which was the most in nine years by a UTEP opponent. All but three teams (Kent State-10, Dec. 22; at North Texas-seven, Jan. 28 and at WKU-13, Feb. 4) have committed at least 14 turnovers.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP's pressure defense has resulted in 9.1 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 (218 entering Saturday) are currently on pace for 291 steals this season, which would break the school record (288, 2009-10). The charge has been led by Calvin Solomon (2.0 spg-fourth C-USA/41st NCAA), Shamar Givance (1.8 spg-eighth C-USA/98th NCAA) and Tae Hardy (1.4 spg-11th C-USA), making the Miners the lone team in the league with three in the top 11 of the category.
 
STEALING THE SHOW
Shamar Givance piled up a career-high seven steals at UAB on Dec. 29, which tied 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 Saturday's tilt with seven contests of 10+ steals on the season, with the last time it accomplished it coming against Charlotte on Feb. 9.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in 20 of 24 games this year (13 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 23.7 points per game to rank fourth in Conference USA and 69th nationally.
 
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 10-4), 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 (3-3 thus far). The Miners have four home tilts remaining (all in C-USA) and have already secured a fourth straight season with 10+ home triumphs.
 
LIFE ON THE ROAD
UTEP started off 0-6 on the road (now 1-9), 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 by rallying from 13 down to defeat Charlotte, 60-58, on Jan. 16. It 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 (1-9 thus far) on the year, with three nonconference (finished 0-3) and 10 in C-USA (1-6 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 18 contests (3-9 thus far in situation) broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (3-5), and one each on ESPNU (0-1), FS1 (0-1), the Longhorn Network (0-1) and Stadium (0-1).
 
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 189-171 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 31-27 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. Overall, UAB was predicted to finish first, followed by WKU and North Texas at second and third, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP returns home to open a two-game homestand against preseason favorite and defending tournament champion UAB at 7 p.m. MT Thursday. 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 Hooper Vint describing the action. To purchase tickets, visit www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or call (915) 747-UTEP. Prices start as low as $9.15.
 
 
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