Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (10-8, 1-2 CUSA) will look to make it a perfect week at home when it plays host to WKU (13-5, 2-2 CUSA) at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. Mike Maddux, UTEP alum and pitching coach for the 2023 World Champion Texas Rangers, will be recognized at the contest. It will also be "Noche Latina" night, with a special halftime performance. The Miners are coming off a wire-to-wire 73-59 win in their CUSA home opener against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 18. UTEP now has an opportunity to claw back to .500 in league action after having dropped its first two conference contests on the road. The Hilltoppers lost a heart breaker, 72-70, at NM State on Jan. 18 to fall for the second time in the past three tilts. WKU led by 23 with 16 minutes left, but the Aggies put together a furious rally for the win. UTEP will be vying to improve to 10-2 on the year at home, including 2-0 in league play. The Toppers are 4-3 on the road for the season, but 0-2 in CUSA road opportunities. The game against WKU continues a sequence of five of seven (currently 1-0 on stretch) in the Sun City, which will allow UTEP the opportunity to make its presence felt in CUSA action. This is the is first of two meetings on the season, with UTEP playing at WKU on Feb. 15. Currently, the Toppers are undefeated (8-0) at home on the campaign. Jon Teicher (43rd year) and Steve Yellen (21st year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners App. It will also stream on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Mando Medina (play-by-play) and former Miner Hooper Vint (analyst) describing the action. Tickets start as low as $9.15. For more information, please visit www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets or call (915) 747-UTEP.
 
SOLOMON NEARING 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Calvin Solomon is 15 points away from 1,000 in his collegiate career. He heads into Saturday's contest with 985 total points between his time with SFA and UTEP, including 439 with the Miners. Fellow senior Tae Hardy surpassed 1,000 career points in the Orange and Blue's victory against Wyoming on Dec. 21.
 
GET TO KNOW WKU
WKU boasts an impressive mark of 13-5 on the season, including 2-2 in CUSA, helping it hold a Mid-Major ranking of 18th coming into the week. The Hilltoppers, however, have fallen in two of their past three games (both setbacks on the road). The min skid curtailed what was an eight-contest winning streak. WKU opened up league play at home by knocking off preseason favorite Liberty, 70-68, on Jan. 6. It also took care of business in Bowling Green, Ky. with a 80-69 victory against Jax State on Jan. 13, which improved the Toppers to 8-0 at home on the season. Most recently, they fell in heartbreaking fashion, 72-70, at NM State on Jan. 18. WKU was up by 23 with 16 minutes remaining in regulation only to have the Aggies put together a furious rally. That setback dropped the Toppers to 4-3 on the road this year, including 0-2 within league play in hostile territory. WKU does plenty of things well, most notably putting up the points. It paces CUSA in scoring at 78.8 ppg (74th NCAA), aided by a deep bench that contributes 26.3 ppg (third CUSA/56th NCAA). The Toppers also guard the ball well, holding the opposition to 40.9 percent shooting (third CUSA/63rd NCAA), including just 29.3 percent (first CUSA/28th NCAA) from 3-point range. WKU goes hard to the boards, evidenced by leading CUSA and placing 17th in the country with 41.1 rebounds per contest. That helps it sport the fourth-best rebound margin (+3.3) in the league. The Toppers are particularly strong at blocking out, securing 29.5 defensive boards per game (first CUSA/12th NCAA). WKU likes to get out and run once it secures the board, helping it produce 14.4 fastbreak points per game (second CUSA/39th NCAA). Another factor in that transition scoring is forcing the opposition into 14.8 turnovers per contest (third CUSA/48th NCAA), which has resulted in 7.8 steals per game (third CUSA/81st NCAA). Individually, Don McHenry paces the Hilltoppers with 14.5 ppg (sixth CUSA), which has been helped by 15 double-digit outings. Brandon Newman (10.8 ppg-18th CUSA) and Khristian Lander (10.1 ppg-21st CUSA) join him in double figures for scoring, while four others pitch in at least 7.0 ppg. McHenry has been extremely effective at getting to and knocking down shots at the charity stripe. He has only missed nine tosses all year (52-61), for a readout of 85.2 percent (fourth CUSA/86th NCAA among qualifiers). Lander and McHenry share the squad lead at 2.6 assists per contest (tied 12th CUSA) while Newman sets the tone on the boards with 6.3 rpg (fourth CUSA). Babacar Faye (2.4-orpg third CUSA) and Rodney Howard (2.2-orpg fifth CUSA) have been a problem on the offensive glass. Tyron Marshall does it all defensively, pacing the team in both blocks (1.3-third CUSA) and steals (1.7-fifth CUSA). 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.
 
SERIES HISTORY: WKU LEADS, 9-1
WKU leads the series, 9-1, and has claimed seven straight contests vs. the Miners. The Toppers won both regular-season match-ups last year and then knocked off UTEP in the opening round of the CUSA Championships. All three of those games were decided by six points or less. Prior to the 2022-23 season, the two programs had not faced each other more than once in a campaign. UTEP's lone win in the series came in OT (93-89, Feb. 6, 2016) 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.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME
Otis Frazier III posted a season and game-high 21 points (two shy of career best) to go along with a school-record tying eight steals while Tae Hardy recorded 20 points to help lead UTEP to a convincing 73-59 wire-to-wire victory against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 18. The Miners converted 27 turnovers by the Blue Raiders into 28 points, drained 47.9 percent (23-48) from the floor, including 42.9 percent (6-14) from distance, and made 29 trips (21-29, 72.4 percent) to the charity stripe in the victorious effort. The Orange and Blue had 13 turnovers, including just four in the opening period.
 
HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN 25 YEARS AT DI OR NBA
According to OptaStats, Otis Frazier III became the first DI or NBA player in the last 25 years to have 20+ points (21), 8+ steals (school-record tying eight) and shoot 100% from the floor (6-6) in UTEP's victory against Middle Tennessee.
 
TOOK CONTROL FROM THE GET-GO
UTEP set the tone early by racing out to an 8-0 lead and eventually stretched that differential to 13 before settling for a nine-point cushion (34-25) at the half. The visitors never got closer than six during the second stanza, with the Orange and Blue up by as many as 17 (66-49) with 5:55 to play in regulation. It marked the Miners' third wire-to-wire victory this season (USAO, Nov. 9 and Austin Peay, Nov. 17).
 
STEALS GALORE FOR OTIS
UTEP piled up 16 steals against MT, with Otis Frazier III's eight equaling the school standard by Eddie Moreno against Division II program UT-Permian Basin on Nov. 21, 2005. Making Frazier III's feat more impressive is that it didn't just come against a DI opponent, but a league foe as well.
 
ALL ABOUT THE DEFENSE
UTEP held Middle Tennessee to an opponent season low 59 points, including the smallest first-half scoring output (25 points) by a Miner foe this season. A big role in that was forcing 27 turnovers.
 
CAN'T HANDLE THE HEAT
Three straight opponents have now committed 20+ turnovers for the first time since a four-game stretch in 2007-08. That includes both Chicago State (Jan. 7) and Middle Tennessee (Jan. 18) being harassed into 27 giveaways, which are the most by a DI opponent since Norfolk State committed 32 on Dec. 28, 2009. UTEP now leads the nation in turnovers forced per game at 19.3.
 
UNPRECEDENTED STRETCH FOR STEALS
The Miners have now piled up at least 15 steals in three consecutive contests for the first time in school history. That effort has helped elevate the average to 11.7 spg (second in nation).
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT STEAL TOTALS
UTEP has now had 12 games this year with double figures in steals, which surpasses the number of such contests for both the 2022-23 (10) and 2009-10 (nine) teams. That is significant given that the '22-23 and '09-10 Miners share the school record for steals in a season at 288.
 
DEFENDING THE DON
With the win against Middle Tennessee, UTEP moved to 9-2 at home on the season. The Miners are now on the cusp of a fifth consecutive campaign with 10+ home triumphs.
 
DIALING IT IN FROM DISTANCE
UTEP is a combined 52.5 percent (21-40) on 3-pointers the past three games (2-1 record), a stark contrast from how it had been shooting the long ball. The Miners were 24.6 percent (48-195) in their first 12 contests of the campaign against Division I opposition.
 
TREYS FOR TREY HORTON III
One of the reasons for the uptake of 3-point shooting has been the emergence of freshman Trey Horton III. He is 7-10 on treys the past three contests, including a perfect 4-4 at FIU on Jan. 13
 
KEEP THEM COMING
Trey Horton III became the third different Miner this season to secure the CUSA Freshman of the Week Award when he picked up the honor on Jan. 15. Elijah Jones took home the award the initial three weeks of the campaign. David Terrell Jr. was recognized on Jan. 8 before Horton III snagged the accolades this week, letting UTEP reign supreme in consecutive weeks. The five total honors match the most in the category since UTEP also had five in 2018-19.
 
PILING UP THE GAMES AT 50 PERCENT
UTEP has registered six games on the year of shooting at least 50 percent, equaling the amount by both last year's team and the 2021-22 squad. The last time the Miners had more than six contests above 50 percent in a year was during the 2017-18 campaign when they recorded eight such tilts. 
 
FINDING WAYS TO WIN LATE
After having lost 22 straight games when trailing with five minutes to play, the Miners have now won twice when facing that situation in the past four contests. UTEP was down four points with 4:10 left against Chicago State before closing the game on a 13-4 run for the win. The Miners trailed by two against Norfolk State with five minutes left before fighting back for a 67-65 victory on Dec. 20.
 
HARDY CONTINUES TO LEAD OFFENSE
Tae Hardy has been the most consistent player at the offensive end for UTEP in 2023-24. He has reached double figures in scoring in nine of the past 10 games and a team-best 16 times total this season. He has also produced a squad-most four 20+ point showings, doing so twice in the past four contests.
 
ZID SCORES IN DOUBLE DIGITS, WE WIN
UTEP is 8-1 on the season when senior Zid Powell hits double figures in scoring, with the lone setback coming by six points (L, 88-82, at ACU, Dec. 17). Conversely, the Miners are 2-7 (0-7 vs. DI opposition) when Powell falls short of 10 points.
 
GET THE LEAD AND WE'RE PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD
UTEP is 7-2 on the season when leading at the half and a stout 8-1 this year when holding an advantage with five minutes remaining in regulation. It's not a recent trend, with the Miners a combined 34-7 under head coach Joe Golding when leading at the break.
 
STEALS KEEP COMING
UTEP has registered at least seven steals in every contest on the campaign, including 10 or more 12 times. UTEP's average of 11.7 steals per game leads the league and is second nationally only to Bethune-Cookman (11.8 spg). The Miners tied the school record for steals with 288 last year, but they are on pace to smash that figure with 374 thefts. UTEP already has 211 thefts heading into Saturday's contest. The Miners need to average just 5.5 steals per contest the rest of the way to break the record.
 
TURNOVERS DO TOO FOR OPPONENTS
UTEP is leading the country by forcing 19.3 turnovers per game, which projects to 618 by season's end. The school record for most turnovers in a season by a Miner opponent is 573, which was set in 2007-08.

TAE DOING IT ALL
Senior Tae Hardy has done it all for the Miners thus far in 2023-24, including hitting the buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Cal on Nov. 20. He paces the team in scoring (15.0-tied third CUSA), minutes per game (32.1-first CUSA), 3-pointers made (36), attempted (92) and 3-pointers per game (2.0-tied seventh CUSA). Hardy rates second in assists per game (2.6-tied 13th CUSA) and steals (1.9-fourth CUSA/83rd NCAA. He has reached double figures in scoring 16 times, aided by four straight and nine of the past 10. He has produced a team-best four 20+ point outings, including two of the past four times out. The Ellenwood, Ga., native also moved past 1,000 career points (1,083) this year, with more than 650 of those coming with UTEP (681).
 
OTIS STEPPING UP
Junior Otis Frazier III connected on 50.3 percent (81-161) from the floor last year while tallying 7.5 points per game in his first season with the Miners after transferring from George Mason. His shooting percentage this year is even better 53.5 percent (68-127), an impressive feat given his scoring output has upped to 10.9 ppg (16th CUSA). He's getting after it on defense, leading the squad at 2.0 steals per contest (tied second CUSA/58th NCAA). That figure was boosted by a school-record tying eight steals vs. Middle Tennessee on Jan. 18. Frazier III is also working the boards (3.9 rpg-third team). He is doing a better job of getting to the charity stripe, having already made more than last year. Furthermore, he's knocking them down at a better rate. Frazier III is at 68.5 percent (50-73) from the charity stripe after finishing at 40-63 from the line (63.5 percent) a season ago. He is fourth on the team in both free throws made and attempted. He has hit double figures in scoring for seven of the past 11 games and 11 times total this season (second on team)
 
ZID'S DOING HIS PART
Buffalo grad transfer Zid Powell is contributing across the board despite having battled through some injuries and foul issues at times. Powell leads the team in assists (3.1-tied eighth CUSA), free throws made (66-first CUSA) and attempted (90-second CUSA). He is second on the squad for scoring (11.1-16th CUSA) and rebounding (5.0-15th CUSA) and tied for third in steals (1.6-tied sixth CUSA. His 3.8 defensive boards per game pace the team and tie for eighth in CUSA. Powell has produced nine double-digit scoring efforts (UTEP is 8-1 in those tilts), including two of the top two three games on the year by a Miner (career-high 32 vs. Wyoming, 12/20 and 23 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 11/13).
 
CAMPER JR. MAKING HIS MARK
JUCO Honorable-Mention All-American (Tyler JC) Corey Camper Jr., who came off the bench for nine of the first 10 games of the season, has started seven of eight since. He is second on the team for 3-pointers made (14) and attempted (49), tied for fourth in steals (1.4-tied eighth CUSA) and fourth for scoring (7.7 ppg). The Arkansas native has also done a good job at the charity stripe, nailing 70.0 percent. That included going 2-2 in the waning seconds of the game against Chicago State to seal the victory. Camper Jr. has six games with double-digit scoring totals, and the Miners have won each of those contests.
 
SOLOMON'S ALL-AROUND GAME
Senior Calvin Solomon is displaying the full arsenal of his abilities in 2023-24, sharing the team lead in blocked shots (0.6 bpg-tied 14th CUSA), rating fourth in rebounding (3.6) and assists (1.7-tied 19th CUSA) and tied for fourth in steals (1.4-tied eighth CUSA). He also contributes 7.3 ppg (fifth on team). He has proven to be a team player by coming off the bench seven of the past eight contests. Solomon has also done an outstanding job of drawing contact and finishing at the free throw line once there. He is second on the team in both free throws made (57-fifth CUSA) and attempted (77-fourth CUSA). Solomon has drained 74.0 percent, the best among Miners with at least 20 attempts. It is also a vast improvement from his readout of 59.8 percent (76-127) last year.
 
KALU ON THE GLASS
Kevin Kalu has been the top rebounder for the Miners in 2023-24, pulling down a team-leading 5.2 rpg (tied 13th CUSA). The junior is tied for 10th in the league for offensive boards per game (1.8) and tied for 19th in CUSA for defensive rebounds per contest (3.4). He has pulled down at least four rebounds in 15 games. Kalu also shares the team lead in blocked shots (0.6-tied 14th CUSA). He is chipping in 4.6 ppg but is doing so at an efficient 61.1 percent (33-54) from the floor. One area of concern has been his team-leading three foul outs. Four other Miners have been sent packing early once.
 
KEEPING A FAMILY TRADITION ALIVE
Freshman David Terrell Jr. is following in the footsteps of both his mom and dad by competing with the Miners. His mom (Kiana Taylor) was a standout on the women's basketball team at UTEP (1993-96, 97-98), finishing her career as the then school record holder for double-doubles (20) and the then second-leading scorer (1,134) and rebounder (676) in program history. His father, David, was an all-WAC performer for UTEP and played with the football team from 1994-96. Terrell Jr. has adapted well to the college game, rating third on the squad in assists per game (1.9-19th CUSA) and placing sixth in steals (1.3 spg-tied 13th CUSA). His scoring is coming around as well. The CUSA Freshman of the Week on Jan. 8 has scored at least seven points in four of the past five contests.
 
3X CUSA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
UTEP forward Elijah Jones was voted as the Conference USA Freshman of the Week for each of the first three weeks of the year. He became the first Miner in program history to win three straight CUSA Freshman of the Week honors. Furthermore, he did it out of the gates to start his collegiate career. Overall, Jones is second among reserves and sixth overall for scoring (5.2 ppg). He adds 2.1 rpg (third for Miner back-ups and seventh overall). He is an accurate free throw shooter, connecting on 12-15 (80.0 percent). He is also 7-17 (41.2 percent) from distance.
 
WELCOME TO THE COURT, BAYLOR HEBB
After sitting out the first 10 games of the season due to NCAA transfer rules, Baylor Hebb is now part of the rotation. That included making his first start as a Miner at NM State on Jan. 4. He's chipping in 2.8 ppg and 1.0 rpg in 12.5 mpg, aided by a campaign-best seven points vs. Seattle U on Dec. 30. 
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
The Miners' relentless drive toward to the paint (34.3 points in paint per game) and getting out in transition (18.3 fastbreak points per game-second NCAA) has led to them taking the sixth-most free throws per game (26.3) in the country. UTEP is also 13th nationally for free throws made per contest (18.1). The Miners have four players within the top 10 of CUSA for free throws made, including league-leading Zid Powell (66). He is joined in the top 10 by Calvin Solomon (57-fifth), Otis Frazier III (50-tied eighth) and Tae Hardy (50-tied eighth).
 
POUNDING THE PAINT
UTEP has demonstrated the ability to get points in the paint in 2023-24. A good chunk (618-1,342, 46.0 percent) of the Miners' points on the season have come in the paint. On the year, the Orange and Blue have a 618-526 advantage for points in the paint. That works out to 34.3 ppg in the paint for UTEP compared to 29.2 by foes.
 
LET'S GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners are accounting for 18.3 fastbreak points per game, the second-highest average in the country. They have tallied at least 12 points on the break in 16 of 18 contests this year, including a campaign-best 47 against USAO on Nov. 9. UTEP has a remarkable 329-164 cushion against opponents this season in the category, with the 18.3-9.1 ppg differential on average.
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP is dishing out 13.5 assists per contest to rate third in CUSA. The Miners have surpassed 20 assists three times, including setting a school record with 33 in the opener vs. Division III opponent McMurry on Nov. 6. Zid Powell (3.1 apg-tied eighth CUSA) and Tae Hardy (2.6 apg-tied 12th CUSA) lead the charge. Freshman David Terrell Jr. (1.9 apg-18th CUSA) and senior Calvin Solomon (1.7- tied 19th CUSA) have also been good at setting up teammates.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP has notched at least seven steals in all 18 games, with double-digit totals 12 times. That effort has led to it leading the league and placing second nationally at 11.7 thefts per game. Foes have committed 17 or more turnovers nine times, including both Chicago State (Jan.7) and Middle Tennessee (Jan. 18) making 27 turnovers. That is the most by a DI Miner opponent since Norfolk State had 32 on Dec. 28, 2009. The Miners' 19.3 turnovers forced per game leads the country.
 
LOTS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OPPOSITION
UTEP has six players in the top 15 of Conference USA for steals per game, with five of those individuals also happening to be the top five scorers on the squad. Otis Frazier III (2.0-tied second CUSA) leads the way, with Tae Hardy (1.9-fourth CUSA) just back of him. Zid Powell is at 1.6 spg (tied sixth CUSA), Corey Camper Jr. and Calvin Solomon produce 1.4 spg (tied eighth). David Terrell Jr. rounds out the list at 1.3 spg (tied 13th CUSA). Last season, Solomon joined Randy Culpepper and Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway as the lone Miners in program history to average at least 2.0 steals per game.
 
HIGH-OCTANE BENCH
UTEP's reserves have helped the Miners put up 74.6 points per game (fifth CUSA), with the bench accounting for 25.3 ppg (fifth CUSA/77th NCAA). Overall, the Miners hold a 455-374 differential in reserve scoring. That works out to a 25.3-20.8 advantage per contest.
 
WHO IS PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Heading into Saturday's contest vs. WKU, three Miners are accounting for double figures in scoring while three others are between 5.0 ppg and 8.0 ppg. Senior Tae Hardy (15.0 ppg-tied third CUSA) tops the team. Buffalo transfer Zid Powell (11.1 ppg-16th CUSA) and junior Otis Frazier III (10.9 ppg-17th CUSA) join him in double digits on average. JUCO Honorable-Mention All-American (Tyler JC) Corey Camper Jr. (7.7 ppg), senior Calvin Solomon (7.3 ppg) and three-time CUSA Freshman of the Week Elijah Jones (5.2 ppg) round out the list. Aiding the balanced approach were eight different Miners (most on record) hitting double figures in scoring in the 120-71 season-opening win against McMurry on Nov. 6.
 
WHAT ABOUT PLAYING TIME
Ten different Miners have earned double figures in playing time on average, including seven who have appeared in every contest. Tae Hardy (32.1-first CUSA) is the only one on the squad to be earning more than 30.0 minutes per contest. Otis Frazier III (26.3 mpg) and Zid Powell (25.7 mpg) and are the only others above 25.0 mpg.
 
UTEP IN THE RANKINGS
UTEP leads Conference USA in seven major stat categories. The Miners top the conference in fastbreak scoring (18.3-second NCAA), field-goal percentage (46.3-95th NCAA), free throw attempts per game (26.3-1-sixth NCAA), free throws made per game (18.1-13th NCAA), steals per game (11.7-second NCAA), turnover margin (4.2-17th NCAA) and turnovers forced per contest (19.3-first NCAA).
 
DERICK HARDLY MISSES
Derick Hamilton hasn't attempted enough field goals per game to qualify nationally for field-goal percentage, but he has done enough to show off his talents thus far in 2023-24. Hamilton is 14-22 from the floor (63.6 percent) in 56 total minutes of action. That was aided by starting the season 12-12. The high-percentage shooting shouldn't come as a surprise given he was 22-33 last year (66.7 percent) in 20 appearances.
 
FIVE TIMES THIS CENTURY
The Miners got out of the gates at 5-0 this year before dropping their last two games, including most-recently, 67-47, at LMU on Nov. 25. It marked the fifth time since 2000 that the Orange and Blue had posted a start of least 5-0. It happened previously in 2019-20 (5-0), 2015-16 (6-0), 2009-10 (5-0) and 2000-01 (6-0).
 
TAE CALLED GAME AGAINST CAL
UTEP defeated Cal, 75-72, on Nov. 20, in a wild and memorable finish. After a couple of missed free throws by Tae Hardy (was 7-7 to that point), the Bears tied the game at 72 with a 3-pointer from Jalen Cone with six seconds left. Rather than sulk, Otis Frazier III inbounded the ball to Zid Powell, who raced up the court. He then dished it to Hardy, whose 3-point attempt spun around the rim before dropping through for the buzzer-beating victory. It was the first buzzer beater for UTEP since Alfred Hollins's tip-in as the horn sounded in a 70-68 triumph against Florida Atlantic on Jan. 27, 2022.
GOT IT DONE VS. POWER PROGRAM
UTEP took down Pac-12 member Cal, 75-72, on Nov. 20, thanks to the heroics of Tae Hardy's buzzer beater. It marked the initial win against a Power Five program under head coach Joe Golding and first since knocking off Arizona State on the road, 76-63, on Dec. 16, 2020.
 
BESTING A POWER PROGRAM ON A NEUTRAL COURT
UTEP's win against Cal marked the first time that it bested a Power Six program (Power Five + Big East) at a neutral site since taking out Xavier (Big East) on Nov. 28, 2014. It was also the initial occasion to defeat a Power Five foe in a neutral match-up since toppling SEC foe Tennessee, 78-70, on Nov. 28, 2013, in the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas.
 
TAKING OUT A PRESEASON FAVORITE
UC Santa Barbara has been to two of the past three NCAA Tournaments and set a school record for wins (27) last year, but the Miners weren't intimidated. UTEP led for 25 minutes, including never trailing in the second half, on the way to taking out the in the 2023-24 preseason favorites in the Big West, 89-76, on Nov. 13.
 
TALKING 100-POINT GAMES
UTEP finished with the second-most points (120, now third) in program history in the win vs. McMurry on Nov. 6. The Miners followed that up with a school-record 123 points in routing USAO. It was the first time UTEP started a season with consecutive 100+ point showings. In fact, the only other time the Orange and Blue ever posted back-to-back 100-point games came during the 1968-69 season when they blasted Montana (103-90, 12/28/68) and then drilled Tahoe Paradise (109-63, 1/2/69). Prior to the outbursts this year, the Miners hadn't topped 100 since besting Rice, 101-89, on Jan. 8, 2021. UTEP now stands at 33-2 all time when surpassing 100 points in a contest, including 31-0 in El Paso (22-0 at the Haskins Center). UTEP has won 18 straight games when hitting the century mark.
 
AN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION TO BEGIN THE YEAR
The Miners enjoyed a three-game scoring stretch with at least 89 points to begin the year. The last time UTEP did so at any point in the season was 14 years ago. That year, the Orange and Blue also had a three-contest span (12/19/09-12/28/09). Making this season's effort stand out a bit is that the Miners had back-to-back 100-point outings for just the second time in school history. It also happened in 1968-69.
 
DUST OFF THE RECORD BOOKS
UTEP dented the record book in the first two games of the season.
-School-record 123 points vs. USAO (11/9) and third-most points (120) vs. McMurry (11/6). The 243 points are the most in a two-contest span in program history.
- Dished out a program-best 33 assists vs. McMurry, smashing the prior standard of 29.
- School-record 50 field goals vs. McMurry, crushing the previous mark (46) that had happened in both 1979 (vs. Illinois Tech, 12/22/79) and in 1966 (vs. NM State, 2/1/66).
- Second-most second-half points (71) at the school vs. USAO and tied for seventh-highest total (61) after the break against McMurry.
- Tied for fourth-most first-half points (59) against McMurry.
- Won back-to-back games by at least 49 points for first time ever, including tying for the seventh-biggest margin of victory (51) vs. USAO (W, 123-71).
- Posted 19 steals vs. McMurry, tying as the third most at the school, while the 18 thefts against USAO earned a share of fifth place.
 
THE BEST FANS IN CONFERENCE USA
UTEP led Conference USA in attendance last year in both total number of fans (81,941) and average attendance (4,552). It marked the second straight season that the Miners paced CUSA in at least one of those categories. Last year, UTEP's advantage for per-game average was noticeable, with WKU more than 500 fans behind on average at 4,026. The Miners are solid in the area in 2023-24, leading the league for total fans (44,141) and placing second in average attendance (4,414).
 
MORE THAN A MILLION FANS
UTEP has attracted more than one million fans to the Don Haskins Center over the past decade. A total of 1,116,176 individuals have passed through the turnstiles from the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign to the end of the 2022-23 season. That figure makes the Miners the only school out of the nine members in Conference USA to have topped one million fans in that timeframe.
 
ROSTER RUNDOWN
UTEP returned its leading scorer (Tae Hardy-12.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 spg) and rebounder (Calvin Solomon-6.0 rpg, 9.6 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg) from last year's team. Overall, the Miners brought back 54.3 percent of their scoring and 50.5 percent of their rebounding. It is a stark difference from the situation the Orange and Blue faced going into the 2022-23 campaign, when they had just 20.8 percent of the rebounding and 11.1 percent of the scoring back. UTEP has seven lettermen in the fold, including three starters (Hardy, Solomon and Otis Frazier III; 7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Jon Dos Anjos (4.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg) , Derick Hamilton (2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg), Antwonne Holmes and Kevin Kalu are the other returning lettermen. The Miners landed six newcomers, including junior-college All-American Corey Camper Jr. (19.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg at Tyler JC) and DI transfers Zid Powell (13.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg at Buffalo) and Baylor Hebb (Colorado State). UTEP also has a pair of true freshmen (Trey Horton III, David Terrell Jr.) and another JUCO transfer (Sebastian Cole). Garrett Levesque (Tarleton State) and Elijah Jones (ECU) have also made their respective Miner debuts after redshirting the 2022-23 campaign.
 
DI EXPERIENCE
UTEP has ample DI experience across its roster, with a combined 454 games played (210 starts) among the Miners as of the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Calvin Solomon leads with way with 114 appearances (88 starts).
 
PRESEASON HONORS
UTEP seniors Tae Hardy and Calvin Solomon were tabbed to the 2023-24 CUSA All-Preseason Team in a vote by the league's nine head coaches. The Miners joined Middle Tennessee and WKU as the only programs in the conference to have a pair of members on the squad.
 
NEW-LOOK LEAGUE
UTEP joined Conference USA as the newest school in the league for the 2005-06 campaign. It entered the 2023-24 season as the most-tenured member. The 11 programs who were part of CUSA when the Miners moved to it have since departed to other conferences. Joining UTEP as returning league members are FIU, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee and WKU while Jax State, Liberty, NM State and Sam Houston are all in their first year.
 
A YEAR IN REVIEW
-    UTEP had a new-look squad in 2022-23 with head coach Joe Golding having to overhaul the roster after the Miners returned just one starter and three letterwinners total from a 20-win team a year prior.
-    The Orange and Blue managed a 14-18 record, including a 67-64 victory against NM State on Nov. 12, 2022, for their first win against the Aggies in three years. That was the start of a five-game winning streak, which was aided by back-to-back OT triumphs.
-    The five straight victories in November were the longest in the month in four years, which was aided by a mark of 3-0 in the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic Presented by Speaking Rock.
-    The Miners came within a point of winning the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, falling 47-46 to eventual NCAA Tournament participant Kent State on Dec. 22, 2022. UTEP experienced a tough 1-4 stretch early in league play, with those four setbacks by a combined 14 points.
-    UTEP remained resilient on the way to forging seven league triumphs, capped by a 77-65 "Senior Day" triumph against Middle Tennessee on March 4, 2023.
-    The Orange and Blue tied the single-season school record for overtime games at five, matching the 1994-95 and 2011-12 teams. All five of the OT games were in the regular season, which are the most ever at the school. Both the 1994-95 and 2011-12 Miners had in four OT games during the regular season and one postseason OT tilt.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP
-    This is the 103rd season of UTEP men's basketball. The Miners made history by starting five African-Americans to defeat Kentucky, 72-65, and win the 1966 NCAA Championship on the way to inspiring the Disney hit movie Glory Road.
-    UTEP has 17 NCAA Tournament appearances (last in 2010), 11 NIT bids (last in 2015), 12 conference championships (last in 2010) and 26 seasons with at least 20+ victories (last in 2015). The Miners have won five league tournaments (last in 2005).
-    The Miners have a strong presence in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with Don Haskins, Nate Archibald, Nolan Richardson, the 1966 team and Tim Hardaway all representing UTEP.
 
GOLDING REACHES 200 CAREER WINS
Third-year UTEP head coach Joe Golding guided the Miners past Wyoming, 78-67, on Dec. 21 to not only win the 2023 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational but also hit the 200-career victory plateau. He is now 201-184 all time between Abilene Christian and UTEP, including 43-40 in his third season in the Sun City. That places him ninth on the Miners' all-time coaching win list. He needs four triumphs to surpass Jason Rabedeaux (46-46, 1999-02).
 
GET TO KNOW COACH GOLDING
Joe Golding is in his third year at UTEP and is the 20th head coach in program history. He is the eighth head coach for the Miners since legendary Hall of Fame Coach Don Haskins retired following the 1998-99 season. Golding is 201-184 in his 13th season as a collegiate head coach, including 43-40 at UTEP. Those 43 wins already place him ninth at the school, having passed current Texas head coach Rodney Terry (37) with the triumph vs. Austin Peay on Nov. 17. Jason Rabedeaux (46 wins, 1999-02) is Golding's next target. In 2021-22, Golding became the fourth head coach (20 total) in program history to have a winning season in their first year on the sideline. Don Haskins was the first when he directed the Miners to a mark of 18-6 in 1961-62. Doc Sadler (27-8, 2004-05) and Tim Floyd (25-10, 2010-11) also achieved the feat. Overall, the prior 19 head coaches combined to forge an average record of 9-13 in their first year with UTEP. Previously Golding spent 10 years at Abilene Christian (158-144), helping it transition from a Division II to a Division I program. Golding led the Wildcats to the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Tournaments, including a stunning upset as a 14-seed of third-seeded Texas in the first round of the 2021 Big Dance.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP hits the road for two games. Up first is a tilt at LA Tech at 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT on Thursday. Jon Teicher (43rd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners App. It will also stream on ESPN+ (subscription required).