Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (8-6) will play at I-10 rival NM State (6-9) in the Conference USA opener for both squads at 7 p.m. MT Thursday. It marks the first time that the longtime foes will square off in a league game since the 1961-62 season when both programs competed in the Border Conference. UTEP is in search of its first road victory (0-3) this year, in addition to emerging victorious in Las Cruces for the initial occasion since a 74-72 triumph on Nov. 30, 2010. The Aggies are once again stout at home, boasting a mark of 6-1 at the Pan-American Center. The lone setback for them in Las Cruces came against New Mexico, 73-72, on Dec. 15, 2023. UTEP had its two-contest winning streak snapped in a 73-61 defeat against Seattle U on Dec. 30 while the Aggies halted a three-tilt skid by knocking off Cal Baptist, 66-61, on the same day. Thursday's match-up is the first of two meetings this season between the programs, with NM State making the return visit to the Sun City on Feb. 10. Jon Teicher (43rd year) and Steve Yellen (21st year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, with Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and King McClure (analyst) describing the action.
 
SOLOMON APPROACHING 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Calvin Solomon is 33 points away from 1,000 in his collegiate career. He enters Thursday's contest with 967 total points between his time with SFA and UTEP, including 421 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 NM STATE
NM State has an entirely new squad from last year, having lost all five starters and 12 letterwinners from the 2022-23 team that finished 9-15, including 2-10 within the WAC. It is the lone program in the country to have not returned any player from last season. Eight of the 13 individuals on this year's roster with collegiate experience have previously played at the DI level. The Aggies also have a new head coach in Jason Hooten, who is 267-178 in his 14th year as a collegiate head coach. Hooten, who ventured to Las Cruces from Sam Houston, guided the Bearkats to their first appearance in the NIT last year to cap a successful run. Thus far, NM State is 6-9 on the season, but they are practically perfect (6-1) at home. The lone blemish came against I-25 rival New Mexico, 73-72, on Dec. 15, a contest in which the Lobos went coast-to-coast for the eventual game-winning lay-up with 20 seconds left. Most recently, the Aggies snapped a three-tilt losing skid by toppling former WAC foe Cal Baptist, 66-61, in a CUSA/WAC Scheduling Initiative contest on Dec. 30. The Aggies, who joined CUSA for the 2023-24 season, will be playing their first league game in facing the Miners on Thursday. NM State has two top-100 rankings nationally. It is third in CUSA and 76th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (40.6) while rating fourth in the league and 90th in the NCAA for free throw attempts per game (21.7). It is also third in the league for free-throw percentage (69.9) and 3-point percentage (34.0). Three players are putting up at least 10.0 points per game to set the tone offensively for the Aggies. They are Femi Odukale (11.2 ppg-16th CUSA), Robert Carpenter (10.9 ppg-17th CUSA) and Christian Cook (10.2 ppg-21st CUSA). That helps the Aggies account for 70.9 ppg, but they are allowing 72.8 ppg. Jordan Rawls runs the offense with 4.4 assists per game (third CUSA/98th NCAA) while also getting after it on the other end of the court with 1.4 steals per game (eighth CUSA). Jaylin Jackson-Posey pitches in 9.0 ppg to go along with 3.8 apg (fifth CUSA). That makes the Aggies the only team in CUSA to have multiple players in the top five for assists. Former Miner Kaosi Ezeagu contributes 8.7 points per game and a team-leading 5.5 rebounds per contest (10th CUSA). Notable alumni include actor Scott Bailey, who is best known for his playing the role of Sandy Foster on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, and former Olympic basketball player Chito Reyes. Additionally, Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the planet Pluto (since reclassified to a dwarf planet), taught astronomy at the school from 1955 until his retirement in 1973.
 
HARD PLACE TO PLAY
The Aggies are off to a stout 6-1 mark at home on the season, and they now stand 158-20 (88.8 winning percentage) in home contests since the start of the 2011-12 campaign. The Aggies have dropped only more than two games at home in a campaign twice in that stretch (14-3, 2011-12 and 6-4, 2022-23). The last time NM State experienced a losing record in Las Cruces was in 2004-05, and it is 247-41 (85.8 winning percentage) from 2005-06 through the seven home contests this season. UTEP is searching for its first victory in Las Cruces since the 2010-11 campaign, when it came away with a 74-72 win on Nov. 30, 2010.
 
SERIES HISTORY: NM STATE LEADS, 121-104
NM State leads the all time series with UTEP, 121-104. It is the Miners' oldest series, while rating as the second oldest for the Aggies. It started in 1914 and the two squads squared off at least twice annually every year since 1944-45 before Covid interrupted that. This season marks the first time that the two foes will lock up in a conference contest since the 1961-62 season when both teams were members of the Border Conference. The Miners are vying for their first victory in Las Cruces since a 74-72 triumph on Nov. 30, 2010. Last year the two sides split the two meetings, with each successfully defending its home court. The 67-64 UTEP win on Nov. 12, 2022, was its first against the Aggies in three years. Five of the past seven games have been decided by five points or less, but NM State has claimed 13 of the past 15.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME
UTEP was dispatched by Seattle U, 73-61, at the Don Haskins Center on Dec. 30. The setback halted the Miners' two-game skid. The Orange and Blue closed the game on a 19-5 run, but it wasn't enough to rally past the Redhawks. Freshman David Terrell Jr. led the squad with nine points, his most vs. a DI opponent. Corey Camper Jr. tallied eight points while Calvin Solomon, Elijah Jones and Baylor Hebb all added seven. Zid Powell paced the Orange and Blue in both rebounds (seven) and assists (two). It marked the first time this year that UTEP didn't hold a lead at any point.
 
LOCKED IN AT THE LINE
Slowly but surely, UTEP is starting to take care of business at the charity stripe. The Miners are a combined 99-134 (73.9 percent) on free throws the past four games. That includes draining 80.8 percent (21-26) against Seattle U last time out, which was its second-best effort of the season.
 
MORE ALONG THOSE LINES
UTEP has posted three consecutive contests of better than 70.0 percent at the charity stripe, with at least 25 attempts in each of those games. That hadn't happened at the since a five-tilt streak in 2008-09 (1/31/09-2/18/09).
 
TAKING BETTER CARE OF THE BALL
The Miners are 309th in the nation in turnovers per game with 14.3, but they've shown signs of improvements the past two tilts. UTEP has a total of 21 giveaways in the stretch, making 12 in the win against Wyoming on Dec. 21 and committing only nine in the setback against Seattle U on Dec. 30. It's the first time this season that the Orange and Blue have had consecutive games with 12 or fewer turnovers vs. DI opponents.
 
IMPROVED IN NOT FOULING
After being tagged with at least 22 fouls in four straight games, the longest stretch since the 2008-09 campaign, the Miners committed a season-low 13 fouls against Seattle U. The Redhawks finished 8-11 at the charity stripe, both of which were the fewest by an opponent this year. The 13 UTEP fouls tied as the least in a contest against a DI opponent since the start of the 2022-23 season. It happened twice last year, in a win vs. NM State (11/12/22) and a loss against Charlotte (2/9/23).
 
GET BACK TO CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Miners have pulled down at least 10 offensive rebounds in nine of 14 games this season, but the opposition has done a good job of boxing out lately. For the first time this year, UTEP has been held to single digits in offensive boards in back-to-back contests. It had eight vs. Wyoming on Dec. 21, but it shot 48.0 percent from the floor in the tilt. Last time out, however, the Orange and Blue finished with a season-low five offensive caroms while being held to 34.0 percent shooting.
 
GET THE LEAD AND WE'RE PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD
UTEP is 5-1 on the season when leading at the half and a perfect 7-0 this year when holding an advantage with five minutes remaining in regulation. It's not a recent trend, with the Miners a combined 32-6 under head coach Joe Golding when leading at the break.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL LEADS TO WINS
The Miners are 6-3 this year when making the same or fewer amount of turnovers in a game against opponents. The common denominator in each of the losses was sharp shooting by the opposition. In the games at Oregon (18 turnovers, Dec. 9), at ACU (23 turnovers, Dec. 17) and against Seattle U (16 turnovers, Dec. 30), each of those teams shot at least 50 percent from the floor to overcome the inability to take care of the ball.
 
STEALS KEEP COMING
UTEP has registered at least seven steals in every contest on the campaign, including 10 or more eight times. UTEP's average of 11.0 steals per game rates second in the league and sixth in the country. The Miners tied the school record for steals with 288 last year, but they are on pace to smash that figure with 352 thefts.
 
DUE FOR A BREAKOUT GAME FROM DISTANCE
The Miners have not connected on more than five 3-pointers in a game against a Division I opponent this season, with a campaign- best five coming against Austin Peay (Nov. 17), vs. Cal (Nov. 20) and at ACU (Dec. 20). UTEP had 11 such contests in 2022-23.
 
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 (14.4-fourth CUSA), minutes per game (31.5-second CUSA), 3-pointers made (26), attempted (68), percentage (38.2) and 3-pointers per game (1.9-tied seventh CUSA). Hardy is tied for the team lead with Zid Powell in steals (1.8-third CUSA) while rating second in assists per game (2.7-tied 12th CUSA). Hardy has reached double figures in scoring 12 times, including notching his second 20-point outing (season-high 22 points) at Abilene Christian on Dec. 17. The Ellenwood, Ga., native also moved past 1,000 career points (1,014) this year, with more than 600 of those coming with UTEP.
 
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 essentially the same (52-103, 50.5 percent), an impressive feat given his scoring output has jumped to 10.6 ppg (17th CUSA). He's also getting after it with 1.4 steals per game (tied eighth CUSA). He is doing a better job of getting to the charity stripe and knocking down shots once there. He's making 69.2 percent (36-52) 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. Frazier III has hit double figures in scoring for five of the past seven games and nine times total this season.
 
ZID'S AS ADVERTISED
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 (3.3-eighth CUSA), free throws attempted (73-second CUSA/75th NCAA) and is tied for the top spot in steals (1.8-third CUSA). He rates second in on the squad for scoring (12.1 ppg-11th CUSA), rebounding (5.4 rpg-tied 12th CUSA) and free throws made (51-fourth CUSA). Powell has produced seven double-digit scoring efforts, including the top two games on the year by a Miner (career-high 32 vs. Wyoming, 12/20 and 23 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 11/13).
 
CAMPER JR. SETTLING INTO STARTING ROLE
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 the past four games. He's still working to find his shooting touch, but he has been aggressive at getting to the line by going 10-13 at the charity stripe in the stretch. He has also recorded at least two steals in three of those four contests, including a career-most four at Abilene Christian (Dec. 17). Overall, Camper Jr. is fifth on the team in scoring at 7.6 ppg and steals per game (1.3 spg-13th CUSA) and second on the squad for 3-pointers made (12) and attempted (41).
 
SOLOMON'S ALL-AROUND GAME
Senior Calvin Solomon is displaying the full arsenal of his abilities in 2023-24, ranking fourth on the team in scoring (8.6 ppg), and rebounding (3.7 rpg) while sharing third on the unit for assists (1.9-tied 18th CUSA) and steals (1.4-tied eighth CUSA). He is also tied for the team lead in blocks (0.6-tied 13th CUSA). He has proven to be a team player by coming off the bench the past four games. He has recorded at least two steals six times. Solomon has also done an outstanding job of drawing contact and finishing at the free throw line once there. He leads the team in free throws made (54-second CUSA/87th NCAA) and is second on the squad for free throws attempted (71-third CUSA/88th NCAA) and free throw percentage (76.1, minimum 20 attempts). It is also a vast improvement from his readout of 59.8 percent (76-127) last year.
 
KALU CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
Kevin Kalu has been all over the boards for the Miners in 2023-24. The junior is pulling down a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game (tied seventh CUSA). He is also tied for eighth in CUSA for offensive boards per game (1.9) and tied for seventh in defensive rebounds per game (4.0). He has recorded at least four boards in every game, including seven or more three times. Kalu has been an efficient scorer down low, nailing 28-46 attempts (60.9 percent), which is second on the team. Fouls have been an issue, as he has fouled out a squad-most three times total on the year. 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, tying third on the squad in assists per game (1.9-18th CUSA) and placing fifth in steals (1.0 spg-tied 21st CUSA). He is the top free throw shooter (minimum 20 attempts) for the Orange and Blue, nailing 77.3 percent (17-22). His scoring is coming around as well, with Terrell Jr. tallying nine points, his most vs. a DI opponent, last time out against Seattle U.
 
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 both scoring (6.1 ppg) and rebounding (2.3 rpg). He is an accurate free throw shooter, connecting on 11-13 (84.6 percent) and is also 6-16 (37.5 percent) from distance. After three straight appearances without a point (17 total minutes), he had seven points in 14 minutes against Seattle U.
 
WELCOME TO THE COURT, BAYLOR HEBB
After sitting out the first 10 games of the season due to NCAA transfer rules, Baylor Hebb has played in the past four games. He's pitching in 4.8 ppg in 15.5 mpg, aided by a campaign-best seven points last time out vs. Seattle U on Dec. 30.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE
The Miners' relentless drive toward to the paint (36.6 points in paint per game) and attacking the offensive glass (11.6 offensive rebounds per game) has led to them taking the second-most free throws per game (28.0) in the country. UTEP is also seventh nationally for free throws made per contest (19.3). The Miners have attempted at least 30 free throws in five contests, something that happened a total of six times last season. 
 
POUNDING THE PAINT
UTEP has demonstrated the ability to get points in the paint in 2023-24. Nearly half (512-1,074, 47.7 percent) of the Miners' points on the season have come in the paint. On the year, the Orange and Blue have a 512-400 advantage for points in the paint. That works out to 36.6 ppg in the paint for UTEP compared to 28.6 by foes.
 
LET'S GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners are accounting for 19.5 fastbreak points per game, the second-highest total in the country. They have tallied at least 12 points on the break in 13 of 14 contests this year, including a campaign-best 47 against USAO on Nov. 9. UTEP has a remarkable 273-147 cushion against opponents this season in the category, with the 19.5-10.5 ppg differential on average.
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP is dishing out 14.1 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 (3.3 apg-eighth CUSA) and Tae Hardy (2.7 apg-tied 12th CUSA) lead the charge. Freshman David Terrell Jr. (1.9 apg-tied 18th CUSA) and senior Calvin Solomon (1.9- tied 18th CUSA) have also been good at setting up teammates.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP has notched at least seven steals in all 14 games, with double-digit totals eight times. That effort has led to it rating second in CUSA and sixth nationally at 11.0 thefts per game. Foes have committed 17 or more turnovers seven times, including ACU being forced into 23 giveaways (most by DI Miner opponent this year) on Dec. 17. The Miners' 18.2 turnovers forced per game is second in CUSA and seventh in the country.
 
LOTS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OPPOSITION
UTEP has five players in the top 12 of Conference USA for steals per game, with those individuals also happening to be the top five scorers on the squad. Zid Powell (1.8-tied third CUSA/76th NCAA) and Tae Hardy (1.9-tied third CUSA/76th NCAA) lead the way. Calvin Solomon (1.4-tied eighth CUSA) and Otis Frazier III (1.4-tied eighth CUSA) follow. Corey Camper Jr. (1.3-tied 12th CUSA) rounds out the list. 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 76.7 points per game (fourth CUSA), with the bench accounting for 26.6 ppg (fifth CUSA/71st NCAA). Overall, the Miners hold a 373-311 differential in reserve scoring. That works out to a 26.6-22.4 advantage per contest.
 
WHO IS PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Heading into Thursday's contest at NM State, three Miners are accounting for double figures in scoring on average while three others are between 6.0 ppg and 9.0 ppg. Senior Tae Hardy (14.4 ppg-fourth CUSA) leads the way. Buffalo transfer Zid Powell (12.1 ppg-11th CUSA) and junior Otis Frazier III (10.6 ppg-17th CUSA) join him in double digits on average. Senior Calvin Solomon (8.6 ppg), JUCO Honorable-Mention All-American (Tyler JC) Corey Camper Jr. (7.6 ppg) and three time CUSA Freshman of the Week Elijah Jones (6.1 ppg) have also been consistent threats. Aiding the balanced approach were eight different Miners (most on record) hitting double figures in scoring in the 120-71 season-opening win against McMurry on Nov. 6.
 
SAME GOES FOR PLAYING TIME
Ten different Miners have earned double figures in playing time on average, including seven who have appeared in every contest. Tae Hardy (31.6 mpg-second CUSA) is the only one on the squad to be earning more than 30.0 minutes per contest. Zid Powell (26.0 mpg) and Otis Frazier III (25.5 mpg) are the only others above 25.0 mpg.
 
UTEP IN THE RANKINGS
UTEP leads Conference USA in four major stat categories while placing second in the league in two others. The Miners top the conference in fastbreak scoring (19.5-second NCAA), free throw attempts per game (28.0-1-second NCAA), free throws made per game (19.3-seventh NCAA) and turnover margin (3.9-29th NCAA). The Orange and Blue are second in CUSA for steals per game (11.0-sixth NCAA) and turnovers forced per contest (18.2-seventh CUSA).
 
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 his lone 3-point try of the night.
 
FIRST BUZZER BEATER SINCE 2021-22
When Tae Hardy beat the clock, it marked the Miner's first buzzer beater since Alfred Hollins's tip-in as the horn sounded in a 70-68 triumph against Florida Atlantic on Jan. 27, 2022.
 
GOT IT DONE VS. POWER PROGRAM
UTEP took down Pac-12 member Cal, 75-72, on Nov. 20, thanks to the heroics of Tae Hardy's buzzer beater. It marked the initial win against a Power Five program under head coach Joe Golding and first since knocking off Arizona State on the road, 76-63, on Dec. 16, 2020.
 
BESTING A POWER PROGRAM ON A NEUTRAL COURT
UTEP's win against Cal marked the first time that it bested a Power Six program (Power Five + Big East) at a neutral site since taking out Xavier (Big East) on Nov. 28, 2014. It was also the initial occasion to defeat a Power Five foe in a neutral match-up since toppling SEC foe Tennessee, 78-70, on Nov. 28, 2013, in the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas.
 
TAKING OUT A PRESEASON FAVORITE
UC Santa Barbara has been to two of the past three NCAA Tournaments and set a school record for wins (27) last year, but the Miners weren't intimidated. UTEP led for 25 minutes, including never trailing in the second half, on the way to taking out the in the 2023-24 preseason favorites in the Big West, 89-76, on Nov. 13.
 
FIVE TIMES THIS CENTURY
The Miners got out of the gates at 5-0 this year dropping consecutive contests. It marked the fifth time since 2000 that the Orange and Blue had posted a start of least 5-0. It happened previously in 2019-20 (5-0), 2015-16 (6-0), 2009-10 (5-0) and 2000-01 (6-0).
 
TALKING 100-POINT GAMES
UTEP finished with the second-most points (120, now third) in program history in the win vs. McMurry on Nov. 6. The Miners followed that up with a school-record 123 points in routing USAO. It was the first time UTEP started a season with consecutive 100+ point showings. In fact, the only other time the Orange and Blue ever posted back-to-back 100-point games came during the 1968-69 season when they blasted Montana (103-90, 12/28/68) and then drilled Tahoe Paradise (109-63, 1/2/69). Prior to the outbursts this year, the Miners hadn't topped 100 since besting Rice, 101-89, on Jan. 8, 2021. UTEP now stands at 33-2 all time when surpassing 100 points in a contest, including 31-0 in El Paso (22-0 at the Haskins Center). UTEP has won 18 straight games when hitting the century mark.
 
AN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION TO BEGIN THE YEAR
The Miners enjoyed a three-game scoring stretch with at least 89 points to begin the year. The last time UTEP did so at any point in the season was 14 years ago. That year, the Orange and Blue also had a three-contest span (12/19/09-12/28/09). Making this season's effort stand out a bit is that the Miners had back-to-back 100-point outings for just the second time in school history. It also happened in 1968-69.
 
DUST OFF THE RECORD BOOKS
UTEP dented the record book in the first two games of the season.
-School-record 123 points vs. USAO (11/9) and third-most points (120) vs. McMurry (11/6). The 243 points are the most in a two-contest span in program history.
- Dished out a program-best 33 assists vs. McMurry, smashing the prior standard of 29.
- School-record 50 field goals vs. McMurry, crushing the previous mark (46) that had happened in both 1979 (vs. Illinois Tech, 12/22/79) and in 1966 (vs. NM State, 2/1/66).
- Second-most second-half points (71) at the school vs. USAO and tied for seventh-highest total (61) after the break against McMurry.
- Tied for fourth-most first-half points (59) against McMurry.
- Won back-to-back games by at least 49 points for first time ever, including tying for the seventh-biggest margin of victory (51) vs. USAO (W, 123-71).
- Posted 19 steals vs. McMurry, tying as the third most at the school, while the 18 thefts against USAO earned a share of fifth place.
 
STAYED HOME EARLY
UTEP played four straight (4-0) to start the season at home, something that hadn't happened since the 2019-20 campaign when it had five consecutive home games out of the gate (5-0 record). That included knocking off rivals NM State and New Mexico within the span of a week that year.
 
THE BEST FANS IN CONFERENCE USA
UTEP led Conference USA in attendance last year in both total number of fans (81,941) and average attendance (4,552). It marked the second straight season that the Miners 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 (40,509) and placing second in average attendance (4,501).
 
MORE THAN A MILLION FANS
UTEP has attracted more than one million fans to the Don Haskins Center over the past decade. A total of 1,116,176 individuals have passed through the turnstiles from the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign to the end of the 2022-23 season. That figure makes the Miners the only school out of the nine members in Conference USA to have topped one million fans in that timeframe.
 
HOME COOKING
UTEP is in search of its fifth straight season with at least 10 wins at home. The Miners compiled 11 victories at the Haskins Center last year, including going 3-0 at the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic Presented by Speaking Rock to claim the crown. The Orange and Blue are 7-2 on the year at home this season.
 
ROSTER RUNDOWN
UTEP returned its leading scorer (Tae Hardy-12.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 spg) and rebounder (Calvin Solomon-6.0 rpg, 9.6 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg) from last year's team. Overall, the Miners brought back 54.3 percent of their scoring and 50.5 percent of their rebounding. It is a stark difference from the situation the Orange and Blue faced going into the 2022-23 campaign, when they had just 20.8 percent of the rebounding and 11.1 percent of the scoring back. UTEP has seven lettermen in the fold, including three starters (Hardy, Solomon and Otis Frazier III; 7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Jon Dos Anjos (4.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg) , Derick Hamilton (2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg), Antwonne Holmes and Kevin Kalu are the other returning lettermen. The Miners landed six newcomers, including junior-college All-American Corey Camper Jr. (19.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg at Tyler JC) and DI transfers Zid Powell (13.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg at Buffalo) and Baylor Hebb (Colorado State). UTEP also has a pair of true freshmen (Trey Horton III, David Terrell Jr.) and another JUCO transfer (Sebastian Cole). Garrett Levesque (Tarleton State) and Elijah Jones (ECU) have also made their respective Miner debuts after redshirting the 2022-23 campaign.
 
DI EXPERIENCE
UTEP has ample DI experience across its roster, with a combined 454 games played (210 starts) among the Miners as of the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Calvin Solomon leads with way with 114 appearances (88 starts).
 
PRESEASON HONORS
UTEP seniors Tae Hardy and Calvin Solomon were tabbed to the 2023-24 CUSA All-Preseason Team in a vote by the league's nine head coaches. The Miners joined Middle Tennessee and WKU as the only programs in the conference to have a pair of members on the squad.
 
NEW-LOOK LEAGUE
UTEP joined Conference USA as the newest school in the league for the 2005-06 campaign. It entered the 2023-24 season as the most-tenured member. The 11 programs who were part of CUSA when the Miners moved to it have since departed to other conferences. Joining UTEP as returning league members are FIU, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee and WKU while Jax State, Liberty, NM State and Sam Houston are all in their first year.
 
CUSA IS UP FOR GRABS
UTEP was predicted to finish fifth in Conference USA in 2023-24, but it's anyone's guess as to who will take home the regular season crown this season with so much turnover in the league. Five of the top six teams from the standings a year ago have departed for other conferences, including regular season and tournament champion Florida Atlantic. FAU made waves nationally by making a run to the Final Four in the NCAA. The second (North Texas) and third-place (UAB) teams squared off in the NIT finale, and fifth-place Charlotte won the CBI. In fact, only one team (Middle Tennessee) that finished among the top six in the regular season last year is back. Incidentally, the Blue Raiders and newcomer Liberty were picked to win the league, followed by WKU (third), LA Tech (fourth), the Miners (fifth), Sam Houston (sixth), FIU (seventh), NM State (eighth) and Jax State (ninth).
 
A YEAR IN REVIEW
-    UTEP had a new-look squad in 2022-23 with head coach Joe Golding having to overhaul the roster after the Miners returned just one starter and three letterwinners total from a 20-win team a year prior.
-    The Orange and Blue managed a 14-18 record, including a 67-64 victory against NM State on Nov. 12, 2022, for their first win against the Aggies in three years. That was the start of a five-game winning streak, which was aided by back-to-back OT triumphs.
-    The five straight victories in November were the longest in the month in four years, which was aided by a mark of 3-0 in the inaugural Jim Forbes Classic Presented by Speaking Rock.
-    The Miners came within a point of winning the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, falling 47-46 to eventual NCAA Tournament participant Kent State on Dec. 22, 2022. UTEP experienced a tough 1-4 stretch early in league play, with those four setbacks by a combined 14 points.
-    UTEP remained resilient on the way to forging seven league triumphs, capped by a 77-65 "Senior Day" triumph against Middle Tennessee on March 4, 2023.
-    The Orange and Blue tied the single-season school record for overtime games at five, matching the 1994-95 and 2011-12 teams. All five of the OT games were in the regular season, which are the most ever at the school. Both the 1994-95 and 2011-12 Miners had in four OT games during the regular season and one postseason OT tilt.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP
-    This is the 103rd season of UTEP men's basketball. The Miners made history by starting five African-Americans to defeat Kentucky, 72-65, and win the 1966 NCAA Championship on the way to inspiring the Disney hit movie Glory Road.
-    UTEP has 17 NCAA Tournament appearances (last in 2010), 11 NIT bids (last in 2015), 12 conference championships (last in 2010) and 26 seasons with at least 20+ victories (last in 2015). The Miners have won five league tournaments (last in 2005).
-    The Miners have a strong presence in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with Don Haskins, Nate Archibald, Nolan Richardson, the 1966 team and Tim Hardaway all representing UTEP.
 
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 200-182 all time between Abilene Christian and UTEP, including 42-38 in his third season in the Sun City. That places him ninth on the Miners' all-time coaching win list. He needs five 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 200-182 in his 13th season as a collegiate head coach, including 42-38 at UTEP. Those 42 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 returns home to face Chicago State in its final nonconference contest of the season at 1 p.m. MT Sunday. The contest will be broadcast on 600 ESPN El Paso and streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.