Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (12-15, 5-11 C-USA) will hit the road for the final time of the 2022-23 regular season when it opens a two-game swing through the "Sunshine State" at FIU (13-14, 7-9 C-USA) at 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET Thursday.  Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. The Miners are in search of a season sweep and the 11th win in the past 12 match-ups between the programs. Earlier this season, UTEP successfully defended its homecourt against the Panthers with an 81-61 romp on Jan. 19. Both the Miners and FIU have dropped back-to-back contests, with each eager for a win. UTEP is coming off a hard-fought 80-72 setback in OT to North Texas on Feb. 18 while the Panthers were upended at Middle Tennessee, 69-58. The game against UNT marked UTEP's fifth OT contest of the season, which ties as the most in program history along with the 1994-95 and 2011-12 squads. It did set a record for most regular-season OT tilts at the school. UTEP is 2-9 on the road (2-6 C-USA) while FIU stands at 11-5 in Miami (5-3 C-USA). The Miners are in the midst of a difficult schedule stretch, as they face the top-four teams (based on standings) in the league over the final six contests of the campaign. That includes locking up at league-leading Florida Atlantic on Saturday to wrap up the final road trip of the regular season.  Jon Teicher (42nd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also stream on ESPN+
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 15-2
UTEP leads the series with FIU, 15-2, aided winning four straight and 10 of the past 11 meetings between the programs. The Miners are 13-2 (including the C-USA tournament) against the Panthers since they joined the league. Thursday's tilt will be the first in Miami since the 2019-20 season (FIU won, 69-67). UTEP is searching for its initial road victory against the Panthers since taking them down, 84-74, in 2015-16.
 
GET TO KNOW FIU
FIU got off to a good start by going 4-2 out of the gates only to lose the next four contests. It rallied back by winning four of five, including a 90-87 vanquishing of defending C-USA tournament champion UAB (Jan. 7). The Panthers proceeded to fall in four straight, including an 81-61 loss at UTEP on Jan. 19. They again bounced back by running off four in a row and five of six, only to drop the past two tilts to enter Thursday's game at 13-14 overall (7-9 C-USA). FIU produces 71.3 points per game (seventh C-USA), which is helped by connecting on 46.6 percent (fourth C-USA/70th NCAA). It likes to get out and run (11.8 fastbreak points/game-third C-USA/69th NCAA), with high-pressure defense making that possible. The Panthers force 16.2 turnovers per game (second C-USA/21st NCAA) while coming up with 8.8 steals per game (second C-USA/25th NCAA). FIU has some shortcomings, ranking last in the conference in rebound margin (-6.1-344th NCAA) and 10th in free throws made per game (10.9-305th NCAA), free throws attempted per game (15.7-307th NCAA), scoring margin (-2.1-264th NCAA), 3-point percentage (31.6-302nd NCAA) and most turnovers per game (14.9-330th NCAA). Denver Jones is explosive offensively with 19.9 points per game (third C-USA/29th NCAA), aided by nailing 2.0 treys per tilt (eighth C-USA). Arturo Dean (11.8 ppg-20th C-USA) joins him in double figures. The duo is also a nuisance at the other end of the court, with Dean pacing C-USA at 2.5 steals per game (eighth NCAA). Jones is also among the leaders at 1.9 steals per contest (sixth C-USA/60th NCAA). Seth Pinkney protects the rim well with 1.4 blocks per game (fourth C-USA/89th NCAA) while Mohamed Sanogo adds 1.2 blocks per tilt (seventh C-USA). The effort by the pair has FIU at fourth in the league and 83rd nationally with 3.9 blocks per game. When Dean isn't scoring, he's dropping dimes with 3.3 assists per game (eighth C-USA). FIU is basically even (933-924) in the first half of games for a margin of +0.4 (34.6-34.2).  That slips to -2.8 after the break (36.0-38.4). Notable school alumni include Andy Garcia (actor) and Dennis Lehane (author of Mystic River).
 
LAST TIME OUT: NORTH TEXAS 80, AT UTEP 72, OT (2/18/23)
Tae Hardy (18 points, six rebounds), Shamar Givance (16 points, two steals), Ze'Rik Onyema (14 points, four boards) and Calvin Solomon (12 points, four assists, three rebounds) all had quality nights and UTEP nailed a season-high 78.3 percent (25-32) at the charity stripe, but second-place North Texas held off the Miners in overtime, 80-72, at the Don Haskins Center on Feb. 18. UTEP was down two with 4.7 seconds to play when Solomon put back an intentional miss by Otis Frazier III to send the game to OT. The Mean Green built a seven-point lead in OT (73-66, 1:29 OT). The Miners whittled it to as few as three (73-70, 55 seconds OT) before UNT staved off the rally.
 
WILD GAME
It was a wild game against North Texas (Feb. 18) with nine ties and nine lead changes. It marked the second time this season that the Miners were involved in a game with at least nine deadlocks and lead changes. It previously happened against Alcorn State (W, 73-61, 2OT, Nov. 22) when there were 10 ties and nine lead changes. The nine ties against North Texas were the second most in a contest this year, trailing only the 10 vs. Alcorn State. The nine lead changes tied as the third-highest total for a UTEP contest this year. There were 17 against Kent State (Dec. 22), 16 vs. CSUB (Nov. 23) and nine against both Alcorn State and at Rice (Jan. 14).
 
LEADING FOR A LOT
The Miners led for nearly double the amount (25:43-13:02) in the game against North Texas, including being up by 11 (48-37) with 10:20 to play before UNT rallied to move back head. UTEP forced overtime on the crazy sequence between Otis Frazier III and Calvin Solomon, but the Mean Green found a way to emerge victorious in the extra session.
 
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY AGAIN
UTEP held a 19-5 advantage on second-chance points against North Texas on Feb. 18. It marked the 12th straight contest that the Miners have won the category. UTEP has a +99 differential (163-64) during the surge, which works out to a +9.1 per game difference (14.8-5.7).
 
GOT IT DONE AT THE LINE
UTEP stayed in the game against North Texas in part because of its outstanding effort the charity stripe. The Miners nailed 25-32 tosses for a season-best readout of 78.1 percent. It marked the most made free throws in a league contest since knocking down 32 against FIU on Feb. 13, 2021. The effort was two shy of UTEP's 2022-23 season high (27 at NM State (Nov. 30).
 
CAPITALIZING ON THOSE TURNOVERS
UTEP has posted 20+ points scored off turnovers in back-to-back games for the second time this season. The Miners piled up 34 points off turnovers against UAB (Feb. 16) before following that up with 20 points off miscues against North Texas (Feb. 18). UTEP previously did so against UTSA (35- Jan. 11) and at Rice (22-Jan. 14).
 
SOLOMON SURGING AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Calvin Solomon continued his resurgence at the free throw line by going 6-6 against North Texas on Feb. 18. He now has made 21 of his past 23 tosses at the charity stripe. Prior to the hot streak, he had been 37-77
 
GET IT TO Z
Ze'Rik Onyema has reached double figures in scoring for three straight games, marking his longest stretch during league action and second-best surge overall (first five nonconference contests this season). He's averaging 13.3 ppg while connecting on 58.3 percent (14-24) of his shots during the heater.
 
SIX IN A ROW FOR TAE
Tae Hardy has caught fire with six consecutive double-digit scoring efforts, the longest stretch of his collegiate career (four-game streak with Southern Miss during the 2020-21 campaign). During the hot streak, Hardy is putting up 14.8 ppg and has nailed 48.6 percent from the field.
 
CRASHING THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP has pulled down 10+ offensive rebounds in 15 of the past 17 games and 22 times total on the season.  That's the most since racking up 30 such tilts (in 37 total contests). There was a streak of seven straight, which was the longest such run since posting eight in a row (twice) in 2008-09. UTEP's 11.6 offensive rebounds per game is second in C-USA and 61st in the country. That figure moves to 12.5 orpg in C-USA only tilts, which is second in the league. Overall, Calvin Solomon is eighth in C-USA with 59 total offensive boards.
 
POUND THE PAINT
UTEP compiled 42 points in the paint against UAB (Feb. 16), marking the seventh game this season with at least 40 down low (five with 45+). The Miners' high against a DI opponent this year was a 56-point effort at Rice on Jan. 14.
 
BANGING HOME 3s
UTEP matched its second-highest total against a DI opponent this year by nailing eight 3-pointers in the win at UTSA on Feb. 11. UTEP was 4-11 in the first half and 4-7 in the second half to finish above 40 percent (42.1 percent) from distance for the third time this year. It also did so at Charlotte (46.2 percent- Jan. 16) and against Northern New Mexico (44.0 percent-Dec. 3) to stay unbeaten on the season (3-0) when doing so.
 
WIRE-TO-WIRE WIN
UTEP jumped out to a 7-0 advantage and never looked back on the way to a wire-to-wire 77-66 victory at UTSA on Feb. 11. It marked the third time this year that the Miners never trailed in a game, but the first occasion that it happened against a DI foe. UTEP also went wire-to-wire against Sul Ross State and Northern New Mexico College.
 
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
UTEP knocked off UTSA, 77-66, on Feb. 11, completing the season sweep of the Roadrunners for the second straight year. That is something that hadn't happened in the series since the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.
 
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.
 
GOTTA KEEP THEM BELOW 70
UTEP is an impressive 12-5 on the year when holding the opposition to fewer than 70 points in a game. It is still in search of its first win (0-10) this season when it allows at least 70 points. The Miners yielded 70+ points in each of their past two contests, including allowing 80 in overtime against North Texas on Feb. 18. It should be noted that UNT was at 63 points through 40 minutes of action.
 
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. Thirteen consecutive foes have eclipsed 40 percent, including three 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 a pair of old-fashioned 3-point plays against UAB on Feb. 16, elevating his total to a team-high seven on the season. Otis Frazier III (four), Tae Hardy (four) and Kevin Kalu (four) share second place among active players.
 
A STRANGE TREND
UTEP went 5-2 in nonconference play when tallying at least 70 points, but it has gone 2-4 in the situation during C-USA action. Most recently the Miners notched 72 points in an eight-point OT loss to North Texas on Feb. 18.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
UTEP has had to overcome big first-half deficits to pull out the win in two of its five 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' 12 setbacks since have been by a total of 80 points (7.3 avg). Two of those defeats have been in OT. UTEP either led/was tied or within two points inside of one minute of regulation in six of those games. In four 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. The most-recent example of fighting back was trimming 11-point first-half deficit down to one with 15 minutes left in the second half before eventually falling, 79-66, against UAB on Feb. 16. UTEP followed that up by being in an OT setback against North Texas (Feb. 18).
 
BEATING UP ON EACH OTHER
For the most part Conference USA team have been beating up on each other in league play. Only FAU (14-2) and North Texas (14-3) have fewer than five losses in league action. UAB (11-6) and Middle Tennessee (10-7) are the only other squads above .500 in C-USA play. The other seven squads are .500 or worse. UTEP is alone in 10th place at 5-11 but is one win back of moving into a tie for eighth.
 
SIMPLY THE BEST
UTEP tops Conference USA in two different categories. The Miners pace the league in turnovers forced per game (17.2-13th NCAA) and steals per game (9.2-18th NCAA). They also lead the conference in average (4,636) attendance.
 
GOING STREAKING
Shamar Givance (89) and Calvin Solomon (82) both have scoring streaks of at least 80 games. The next longest active streak for a Miner is Tae Hardy at 27.
 
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 erased a 15-point deficit before succumbing in OT to Rice (Dec. 31), while twice fighting back from 10 down with under 10 minutes left in a 60-58 setback at LA Tech. 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. The Miners 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. UTEP trailed by 11 late at Middle Tennessee and got within two before the Blue Raiders tallied the final 10 points for an 84-72 win 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. In the loss against Charlotte, UTEP reduced an 18-point deficit with 13 minutes left to six points twice under four minutes before falling, 62-53, on Feb. 9. Recently, the Orange and Blue worked an 11-point first-half deficit to one with 15 minutes left in regulation before UAB pulled away for the 79-66 triumph on Feb. 16
 
GETTING AFTER IT ON THE GLASS
The Miners have won the boards in 11 of the past 17 games. Included in it 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 +2.7 rebounding margin (35.3-32.6), which places it fourth in C-USA. For C-USA only, UTEP is +3.6 (35.0-31.4) to sit fourth in the league.
 
EBBS AND FLOWS OF DEFENSE
UTEP has allowed 74+ points in four of the past six tilts. That was proceeded by yielding 62.6 ppg over a seven-contest stretch. There have been 10 occasions total (0-10) where the opposition has topped 70 points this year, with seven happening on the road. Four of the six times this campaign that an opponent has eclipsed 50 percent from the floor have happened away from home. Overall, UTEP's scoring defense sits at 67.6 points per game (fourth C-USA).
 
RECORD-SETTING FIVE OT GAMES IN REGULAR SEASON
UTEP's five overtime contests are the most in a regular season in program history. Both the 1994-95 and 2011-12 Miners played in four OT games during the regular season.
 
TIED OVERALL OT RECORD
This year's team has matched 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 69-50 all time in overtime contests, including 3-4 under head coach Joe Golding. The seven OT contests under Golding are the most during the first two seasons on the sideline for a Miner head coach.
 
GUARDING THE THREE
UTEP has kept 12 teams on the year to below 30 percent from the floor on 3-point attempts, including most recently at UTSA on Feb. 11. The effort has helped the Miners sport a 3-point field-goal percentage defense of 33.2 to rate third in C-USA.
 
TALKING INJURIES
UTEP has battled through some injuries this season, with 26 man games across the board lost to injuries/illness. The breakdown is as follows: Malik Zachery (10 games), Jon Dos Anjos (eight 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 7-6 (had been 5-1) on the season when shooting 60 percent or less in a contest and 5-9 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 23 of 27 games on the campaign, including six straight efforts to put a two-contest streak below that figure in the rearview mirror. The 23 total efforts include 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 52.4 percent inside the arc.
 
PACK THE DON
UTEP is leading Conference USA in average attendance (4,635) in 2022-23 after rating second in the category last year. WKU sits in second place at 3,965.
 
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 10-6 in El Paso, marking their fourth consecutive campaign with 10+ home triumphs. UTEP has a +6.5 (69.6-63.1 ppg) scoring differential in the Sun City. UTEP is shooting 45.2 percent compared to 40.9 by foes, has a +3.7 turnover margin (15.1-18.8), a +2.1 rebound margin (36.3-34.1) and has taken nearly 100 more free throws (377-278) in those 16 contests.
 
TAKING DOWN 2022 POSTSEASON TEAMS
Three of the Miners' 12 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 12) 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 63.1 ppg at the Don Haskins Center this season, with opponents shooting 40.9 percent overall and 31.5 percent from 3-point range. Only one team (UAB, 79 points on Feb. 16) out of 16 has 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 12-2 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also strong on the campaign (12-3) 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 (22), North Texas (46) and UAB (66).
 
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 23rdnationally with 22.3 free throw tosses per game, aiding by piling up 43 attempts against Alcorn State on Nov. 22. It marked the most free throw attempts by UTEP since taking 47 in a season-opening victory against Loyola on Nov. 14, 2016. UTEP's 13.9 free throws made per contest is fourth in the league.
 
HARDY DOING IT ALL
Southern Miss transfer Tae Hardy is doing a little bit of everything this year, pacing the Miners in scoring (13.1 ppg-10th C-USA), rating third in assists per game (1.8) and steals per game (1.3-15th C-USA). He's also shown endurance, placing second on squad at 32.0 minutes per game (10th C-USA). He has started 26 of 27 games. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in 23 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 15 tilts, easily by far the most on the team. Hardy also has a team-high 18 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 double figures in scoring in six straight (longest stretch of career) and 10 of the past 12 tilts.
 
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 (4.0-third C-USA), free-throw percentage-71.7 (min. 100 FTA) and playing time (32.7-eighth C-USA) while rating second in scoring (10.3 ppg) and steals per game (1.9-fifth C-USA/47th NCAA). He has surpassed double figures in scoring in 12 of the past 17 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. He has also taken care of business of the court, being named to the Academic All-District Team on Feb. 21.
 
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 27 contests. Solomon leads the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg-ninth C-USA), steals per game (2.1-third C-USA/31st NCAA) and offensive rebounds (59 total, 2.2/game-eighth C-USA) while placing second in assists per game (2.0) and checking in fourth in scoring (8.7). He has been on a tear of late, having produced double figures in scoring in eight of the past 11 games (two over the first 16 contests). He has at least one steal in all but one contest this year, including three last time out against North Texas on Feb. 16. 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 21 of 24 games played, rating third in offensive boards (37) and for rebounding (3.9 rpg) and fifth in scoring (7.4 ppg). He has done that while playing only 22.2 minutes per game. Frazier III is also connecting on 50.0 percent of his shots (fourth on team). His numbers are a stark improvement from his two years at George Mason, where he averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 35 games played.
 
ONYEMA'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 eight contests this year. That includes five straight to begin the season. He has regained that early-campaign form, having produced three consecutive double-digit scoring efforts in league play for the first time of his career. He also recorded his first career double-double (10 points, career-high 10 rebounds) in the win vs. Alcorn State on Nov. 22. Onyema is second on the team in rebounding (4.1 rpg), third in field-goal percentage (56.9), fourth for offensive boards (33) and sixth for scoring (6.5 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 (60.0). Overall, he is putting up 3.7 ppg (1.5 ppg as a freshman last year).  He is second on the team in offensive boards (38) and sixth in rebounding (3.3 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 19 appearances off the bench this year. He is chipping in 2.7 points per game despite playing only 4.1 minutes per contest. Hamilton has been an accurate shooter, making 81.8 percent (9-11) at the free-throw line and 67.7 percent (21-31) from the floor.
 
POINTS ACROSS THE BOARD
Five active players are scoring between 6.5 and 13.5 points per game. Tae Hardy (13,.1 ppg-10th C-USA) and Shamar Givance (10.3 ppg) are in double figures to lead the way. Calvin Solomon (8.7 ppg), Otis Frazier III (7.4 ppg) and Ze'Rik Onyema (6.5 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 17.2 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. Seven opponents have made at least 20 giveaways, including UAB (21) on Feb. 16. 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. The Miners (currently 464 forced) are on pace to force 550 turnovers, which would place fourth all time at the school.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP's pressure defense has resulted in 9.2 steals per game to lead the league and rank 18th 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). It also had 16 against UAB on Feb. 16, tying for 10th all time. The Orange and Blue (248 entering Thursday) are currently on pace for 294 steals this season, which would break the school record (288, 2009-10). The charge has been led by Calvin Solomon (2.1 spg-third C-USA/29th NCAA), Shamar Givance (1.9 spg-fifth C-USA/47th NCAA) and Tae Hardy (1.3 spg-15th C-USA), making the Miners the lone team in the league with three in the top 15 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 Thursday's tilt with eight contests of 10+ steals on the season, with the last time it accomplished it coming against UAB on Feb. 16.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in 22 of 26 games this year (14 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 22.8 points per game to rank sixth in Conference USA and 87th 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 10-6), 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. It marks the fourth straight season that the Orange and Blue have recorded at least 10 wins in the Sun City.
 
LIFE ON THE ROAD
UTEP started off 0-6 on the road (now 2-9), 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. 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 (3-11 thus far in situation) broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (3-7), 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 190-173 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 32-29 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 plays its regular-season road finale at league-leading Florida Atlantic at 12 p.m. MT/2 p.m. ET on Feb. 25. Jon Teicher (42nd year) will be on the call for each game on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also stream nationally on ESPN+.
 
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