Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (13-16, 6-12 C-USA) will open the final week of the regular season and its last homestand by playing host to WKU (15-14, 7-11 C-USA) at 7 p.m. MT Thursday. Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball. The Miners will be vying for a season split in the series after being held off on the road, 74-69, on Feb. 4. UTEP went 1-1 on its roadswing through the "Sunshine State," posting a wire-to-wire 87-82 win at FIU on Feb. 23 before falling at 2023 C-USA regular-season champion Florida Atlantic, 75-49, on Feb. 25, last time out. The Hilltoppers were 1-1 last week as well, most recently sustaining a 72-60 defeat at the hands of UAB at home on Feb. 25 on "Senior Day." UTEP is 10-6 on the season at home (3-5 C-USA), but it is vying to snap a four-game skid in the Sun City. The Miners will be closing out the regular season at home in back-to-back seasons for the first time since a three-year run (2014-15 through 2016-17). The contest against WKU is the first of two at home to wrap up the 2022-23 regular season, with the Orange and Blue playing host to Middle Tennessee for "Senior Day" at 12 p.m. MT Saturday. The Miners will be vying for a season split with the Blue Raiders, in addition to taking aim at their fourth consecutive victory on "Senior Day." Jon Teicher (42nd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso for each contest. Both will also stream on ESPN+ with Erik Elken (PXP) and Hooper Vint (analyst) describing the action. To purchase tickets, visit www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or call (915) 747-UTEP. Prices start as low as $9.15.
 
SERIES HISTORY: WKU LEADS, 7-1
WKU leads the series, 7-1, including a 74-69 win against the Miners in Bowling Green, Ky., on Feb. 4, earlier this season. Thursday's match-up will mark the first time that the two sides will be squaring off twice in a year. It is also the initial visit to El Paso for the Hilltoppers since the 2019-20 campaign and just the fourth all time. UTEP is 1-2 vs. WKU at the Don Haskins Center, with the win coming in OT in front of a capacity crowd as part of the 50-year celebration of the Miners winning the 1966 NCAA Championship vs. Kentucky, 72-65.
 
GET TO KNOW WKU
WKU is 15-14 on the season, including 7-11 in Conference USA play. The Hilltoppers have lost three of the past four, including a 72-60 decision at home against UAB last time out on Feb. 25. WKU was predicted to finish second in the league's preseason poll, including receiving one first-place vote, but it enters the final week of the regular season tied for seventh place. Dayvion McKnight, Emmanuel Akot and Jamarion Sharp were all Preseason All C-USA team selections. WKU started the season strong at 8-3 in nonconference play. It was 3-3 in C-USA play before dropping five straight. The Hilltoppers responded with three consecutive victories before going 1-3 since. WKU puts up 73.3 points per game (fourth C-USA), with McKnight (16.7 ppg-sixth C-USA), Akot (10.5 ppg) and Jairus Hamilton (10.2 ppg) all in double figures to lead the way offensively. It does a good job at the charity stripe (73.5 percent-fourth C-USA) and is fourth in the league as well for both assists per game (13.3) and 3-point percentage (36.8). The Toppers yield 70.8 points per game (eighth C-USA) but defend the rim extremely well thanks to the intimidating presence of the nation's leading shot blocker in 7-5 Jamarion Sharp. He is first in the country for both blocks per game (4.32) and total blocked shots (121), helping WKU pace the conference and rate fifth nationally with 5.5 bpg. Another strength for the Toppers is ball security, as they make only 11.3 turnovers per game (second C-USA/61st NCAA). They have been challenged with rebounding (-2.1 margin-10th C-USA/285th NCAA), along with guarding the triple (36.0-ninth C-USA/299th NCAA). Notable university alumni include Romeo Crennel (former head coach of the Cleveland Browns & KC Chiefs), the late Duncan Hines (pioneer of restaurant ratings for travelers) and the late Cordell Hull (Secretary of State under FDR
 
LAST TIME OUT: at (RV) FAU 75, UTEP 49 (2/25/23)
Ze'Rik Onyema posted his second career double-double (11 points, career-high 11 rebounds), but UTEP dug itself a big hole early and could never fully recover in a 75-49 loss at 2023 Conference USA regular-season champion (RV) Florida Atlantic in front of a school-record capacity crowd (3,130) on Feb. 25. The Miners led 2-0 before the Owls struck back with a 30-8 run to put the Orange and Blue down by 20. UTEP clawed its way back to within nine on two occasions but could get no closer than that as FAU wrapped the regular season undefeated at home at 17-0.
 
ONE OF THE BEST SEASON FOR STEALS
UTEP enters Thursday's game with 264 steals, which is currently third on the program's single-season list. The school standard is 288 (2009-10) while the 1986-87 team holds second place at 284. The Miners are averaging 9.1 steals per game, and they have three games at minimum left on the docket (two regular season, one at C-USA tournament). Shamar Givance's 59 steals is currently tied for eighth at UTEP in a year while Calvin Solomon is 10th with 58 thefts. Both are averaging about 2.0 steals per game, putting them on pace to finish as high as sixth on the list.
 
DYNAMIC DUO FOR STEALS
Shamar Givance (2.03 steals per game) and Calvin Solomon (2.00 steals per game) are both averaging at least 2.0 spg heading into Thursday's game. If they can stay at or above that figure, the 2022-23 team would become the first in program history to boast multiple players to do so. Naismith Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway accomplished the feat three times in his career (2.82, 1988-89, 2.41-1987-88 & 2.19-1986-87). Randy Culpepper (2.03-2010-11) is the only other player in program history to average at least 2.0 steals in a season.
 
PRACTICALLY EVEN
UTEP has scored 1980 points this year while allowing 1981. The closest the Miners have come to being even on a season since 1947-48 was a two-point differential in 2011-12 (2021-2019).
 
ONYEMA ON THE BOARDS
Ze'Rik Onyema had a career-best 11 rebounds at (RV) FAU on Feb. 25. It marked his second time with double-digit caroms this season, surpassing a 10-board effort in double-overtime against Alcorn State (Nov. 22). The 11 rebounds also tie as the most by a Miner this season, matching Calvin Solomon's effort in his double-double (16 points, 11 boards) in double-overtime at UAB (Dec. 29). Distinguishing Onyema's effort at FAU is that it came in regulation.
 
ONYEMA & SOLOMON STREAKING
Ze'Rik Onyema had 11 points at (RV) FAU on. Feb. 25, marking his fifth straight game in double figures for scoring to equal the longest stretch of his career. Calvin Solomon registered a team-best 13 points, extending his double-digit scoring effort to four contests. That is a season long for Solomon and matches the second-longest streak of his career. He previously had an eight-tilt stretch and a four-game surge while at SFA.
 
MAKING PROGRESS AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
The Miners shot a season-high 80.0 percent (12-15) from the charity stripe at (RV) FAU on Feb. 23, and they now stand at 75.6 percent (62-82) over the past three games. That includes back-to-back games with 25+ free throws made for the first time since the 2013-14 season. That year UTEP was 29-39 against Western Illinois (Dec. 28, 2013) and 26-36 vs. Denver (Dec. 29, 2013).
 
HASN'T HAPPENED OFTEN THIS YEAR
UTEP tallied 49 points at (RV) Florida Atlantic on Feb. 25, marking just the third time this season that it has been held to below 50 points in a contest.
 
TIME TO ADJUST
After allowing 10+ 3-pointers in a contest just four times over the first 26 games of the season, two of the past three opponents have managed to do so. The Miners are now 0-6 in the season this year after (RV) FAU drained 11 3-pointers on Feb. 25.
 
BOUNCE-BACK EFFORT WITH TURNOVERS
After committing their second-highest total (24) for turnovers this year at FIU on Feb. 23, the Miners cut that number to 15 at (RV) FAU on Feb. 25. It's the third time in the past four games that UTEP has made 15 turnovers or less.
 
ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END
After nailing better than 40 percent in seven straight games, including a season-high (vs. DI foes) 58.7 percent at FIU on Feb. 23, UTEP was held to 33.3 percent at (RV) on Feb. 25. It marked just the fifth time in 29 contests that the Orange and Blue failed to connect on at least 40 percent from the floor.
 
WIRE-TO-WIRE WIN
The Miners went wire-to-wire at FIU (Feb. 23), marking the second time they had done so in a four-game stretch. UTEP also never trailed in its 77-66 win at UTSA on Feb. 11. It now has four wire-to-wire victories on the season, previously accomplishing the feat vs. non-Division I opponents Northern New Mexico College (Dec. 3) and Sul Ross State (Nov. 15).
 
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY AGAIN
UTEP was edged on second-chance points, 17-12, at (RV) FAU on Feb. 25. It halted a 13-game streak where the Miners had won the category. They are still +96 (187-91) over the past 14 contests.

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
UTEP'S win at FIU on Feb. 23 completed a true season sweep (home and road) of the Panthers for the first time since the 2016-17 season, which was also their last victory in Miami. It marked the second sweep in league play for the Miners, who also won both match-ups against UTSA. It was the second straight season that UTEP had swept the Roadrunners, which is something that hadn't happened in the series since the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.
 
GET IT TO Z
Ze'Rik Onyema has reached double figures in scoring for five straight games, marking his longest stretch during league action while also equaling his best surge overall (first five nonconference contests this season). He's averaging a team-high 14.0 ppg during the stretch while nailing 56.3 percent (27-48) of his shots during the hot streak.
 
CRASHING THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP has pulled down 10+ offensive rebounds in 17 of the past 19 games and 24 times total on the season.  That's the most since racking up 30 such tilts (in 37 total contests) in 2008-09. 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 59th in the country. That figure moves to 12.4 orpg in C-USA only tilts, which is second in the league. Overall, Calvin Solomon is eighth in C-USA with 62 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. UTEP was just shy of that figure (38) at FIU recently on Feb. 23.
 
ALL-AROUND EFFORTS
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. That feat was duplicated recently by Shamar Givance, who racked up a season-high 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high tying 10 assists at FIU on Feb. 23.
 
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 1-11 when failing to do so, with the lone win on the campaign in the situation coming at FIU (87-82) on Feb. 23.
 
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. Fifteen consecutive foes have eclipsed 40 percent, including three above 50 percent (happened twice in first 14 affairs). 
 
Mr. AND-1
Calvin Solomon had an old-fashioned 3-point play at (RV) FAU on Feb. 25, elevating his total to a team-high eight 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 3-4 in the situation during C-USA action. The Miners are, though, 2-1 in the scenario the past three times they've accomplished the feat. That includes piling up 87 points in the triumph at FIU (Feb. 23).
 
COMEBACK KIDS
UTEP has had to overcome big first-half deficits to pull out the win in two of its six 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).
 
BEATING UP ON EACH OTHER
Conference USA team have beaten up on each other throughout the entire slate of league play. Only (RV) FAU (16-2) and North Texas (14-4) have fewer than five losses in league action. UAB (13-6) and Middle Tennessee (11-7) are the lone others with winning marks in league play. The other seven teams are .500 or worse. UTEP is tied for ninth place at 6-12 with LA Tech but is one win back of earning a share of seventh place.
 
SIMPLY THE BEST
UTEP tops Conference USA in two different categories. The Miners pace the league in turnovers forced per game (16.9-12th NCAA) and steals per game (9.1-14th NCAA). They also lead the conference in average home attendance (4,636) and overall home attendance (74,172).
 
GOING STREAKING
Shamar Givance (91) and Calvin Solomon (84) both have scoring streaks of at least 80 games. The next longest active streak for a Miner is Tae Hardy at 29.
 
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 12 of the past 19 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 +2.4 rebounding margin (35.1-32.8), which places it fourth in C-USA.
 
EBBS AND FLOWS OF DEFENSE
UTEP has allowed 74+ points in six of the past eight tilts. That was proceeded by yielding 62.6 ppg over a seven-contest stretch. There have been 12 occasions total (1-11) where the opposition has topped 70 points this year, with nine 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 68.3 points per game (fifth 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 13 teams on the year to below 30 percent from the floor on 3-point attempts, including recently at FIU on Feb. 23 (2-12, 16.7 percent). The effort has helped the Miners sport a 3-point field-goal percentage defense of 33.2 to rate fourth in C-USA.
 
TALKING INJURIES
UTEP has battled through some injuries this season, with 30 man games across the board lost to injuries/illness. The breakdown is as follows: Malik Zachery (12 games), Jon Dos Anjos (10 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 6-10 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 24 of 29 games on the campaign, including seven of the past eight to put a two-contest streak below that figure in the rearview mirror. The 24 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 52.0 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 4,026. The Miners also pace the conference in overall home attendance (74,172), with the UAB (70,637) rating second in that category.
 
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' 13 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 (six of 13) 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), at Charlotte by two (60-58, Jan. 16) and at FIU by five (87-82, Feb. 23).
 
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 13-2 on the season when they have a lead with 5:00 to play in the contest. UTEP is also strong on the campaign (13-3) 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 (RV) FAU (19), North Texas (50) and UAB (57).
 
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 20th nationally with 22.5 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 14.2 free throws made per contest is third in the league and 83rd nationally.
 
HARDY DOING IT ALL
Southern Miss transfer Tae Hardy is doing a little bit of everything this year, pacing the Miners in scoring (12.8 ppg-11th C-USA) and rating third in assists per game (1.8) and steals per game (1.3-13th C-USA). He's also shown endurance, placing second on squad at 32.3 minutes per game (10th C-USA). He has started 28 of 29 games. Hardy has been a consistent scorer, tallying at least eight points in 25 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 of eight and 10 of the past 14. He fell just shy of that figure with eight at (RV) FAU on Feb. 25.
 
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 (4.1-third C-USA), free-throw percentage-73.3 (min. 100 FTA), playing time (32.9-eighth C-USA) and steals per game (2.03-third C-USA/35th NCAA) while rating second in scoring (10.6 ppg). He has surpassed double figures in scoring in 13 of the past 19 outings, including a season-high 22 points recently at FIU on Feb. 23. He has four 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), against FIU (15 points, 10 assists, Jan. 19) and at FIU (22 points, 10 assists, Feb. 23). That matches the most double-doubles of that variety in six years since Dominic Artis also 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. Recently, he was 9-10 at the charity strip in the final minute to ice the win at FIU on Feb. 23. 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 29 contests. Solomon leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg-11th C-USA) and offensive rebounds (62 total, 2.1/game-eighth C-USA) while placing second in assists per game (2.0) and steals per game (2.0-fourth C-USA/40th NCAA) and checking in third in scoring (9.0). He has been on a tear of late, having produced double figures in scoring in four straight and 10 of the past 13 games (two over the first 16 contests). He has at least one steal in all but two contests this year. 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 23 of 26 games played, rating third in rebounding (4.0), fourth in offensive boards (40) and fifth in scoring (7.6 ppg). Frazier III is also connecting on 49.7 percent of his shots (second on team for players with 100+ FGA). 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 11 contests this year. That includes five straight to begin the season. He has regained that early-campaign form, having produced five 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 and then again last time out at (RV) FAU with 11 points and a career-best 11 rebounds on Feb. 25. He paces the team (min 100 FGA) in field-goal percentage (56.5), second in rebounding (4.4), third in offensive boards (42) and sixth for scoring (7.1 ppg). He put up 2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 2021-22.
 
KALU'S IMPROVEMENT
Kevin Kalu has done good work inside, nailing 58.0 percent of his shots (40-69). 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 (40) and is 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 7.0 and 13.0 points per game. Tae Hardy (12.8 ppg-11th C-USA) and Shamar Givance (10.6 ppg) are in double figures to lead the way. Calvin Solomon (9.0 ppg), Otis Frazier III (7.6 ppg) and Ze'Rik Onyema (7.0 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 16.9 turnovers per game to lead Conference USA and place 12th 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 four teams (Kent State-10, Dec. 22; at North Texas-seven, Jan. 28 at WKU-13, Feb. 4; and at (RV) FAU-12, Feb. 25) 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 14th 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 (264 entering Thursday) are third all time at UTEP for a single season. UTEP also remains on pace for 291 steals, which would break the program standard (288, 2009-10). The charge has been led by Shamar Givance (2.03 spg-third C-USA/35th NCAA), Calvin Solomon (2.0 spg-fourth C-USA/40th NCAA) and Tae Hardy (1.3 spg-13th C-USA), making the Miners the lone team in the league with three in the top 13 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 nine contests of 10+ steals on the season, with the last time it accomplished it coming at FIU on Feb. 23.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
The Miners' bench has provided at least 15 points in 22 of 27 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).
 
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, but it went 3-4 over the final seven games to finish at 3-10 away from home this year. It had some tough calls, dropping the first three C-USA road tilts 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).
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Miners will have 18 contests (4-12 thus far in situation) broadcast/streamed on nationwide platforms, with 13 on ESPN+ (4-8), 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 191-174 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, including 33-30 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 wraps up the regular season by challenging Middle Tennessee at 12 p.m. MT Saturday at the Don Haskins Center. 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.Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club.
 
Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!
 
Mattress Firm is the Presenting Sponsor of UTEP Men's Basketball.
 
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