Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (2-1) will play at undefeated UC Santa Barbara (4-0) at 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT Wednesday. The Miners have been idle since knocking off Division II foe UTPB, 78-58, on Nov. 12. The Gauchos preserved their perfect record to start the season with a 64-59 victory at San Jose State on Nov. 12. UCSB is 2-0 at home, having surpassed 90 points in each of those contests. UTEP will be looking for its first road win of the campaign. The Orange and Blue were upended at Utah Valley, 89-60, on Nov. 9, in their first road contest this year. Wednesday's tilt kicks off a stretch with four in a row outside of El Paso for the Miners, who will play three games in as many days at the Ball Dawgs Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. from Nov. 25-27, following the matchup with UCSB.  Jon Teicher (44th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso, with audio also available on the UTEP Miners App. The contest will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
 
FOUR IN A ROW OUTSIDE OF THE SUN CITY
The game at UCSB marks the start of four straight games outside of El Paso in the month of November for the first time since 2012. Following the matchup against the Gauchos, the Miners will have three contests in as many days in the "Sin City" as part of the Ball Dawgs Classic from Nov. 25-27. Twelve years ago, the Orange and Blue played at No. 12 Arizona (L, 72-51, Nov. 15) prior to dropping respective tilts vs. Oklahoma (L, 69, 48, Nov. 22), vs Clemson (L, 69-48, Nov. 23) and vs. Vanderbilt (L, 73-49, Nov. 25).
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 2-0
UTEP and UCSB will be meeting for the second straight season, but this time the Miners will be hitting the road to complete the home and home series. In 2023-24, UTEP derailed the Gauchos, 89-76, in a nationally-televised contest in front of more than 7,000 fans on Nov. 13, 2023. The only other game in the series was in the 1958-59 campaign when the Orange and Blue won, 74-54, in El Paso on Dec. 15, 1958.
 
GET TO KNOW UCSB (4-0, 2-0 HOME, 2-0 AWAY)
UC Santa Barbara, which was picked second in the Big West preseason poll, is off to a tremendous start in 2024-25. The Gauchos are 4-0 on the season, with two victories at home and a pair on the road as well. UCSB surpassed 90 points in the first three contests before winning a defensive battle last time out at San Jose State, 64-59, on Nov. 17. Five different players put up at least 10.0 points per game for the Gauchos, who are accounting for 86.3 ppg (second Big West/60th NCAA). Jason Fontenet II leads the way at 14.8 ppg on a sizzling 59.4 percent shooting (19-32), including 50.0 percent (9-18) from downtown. Stetson transfer Stephan Swenson, who led the Hatters to the NCAA Tournament and was a second-team All-ASUN honoree, paces UCSB in both assists (4.3 apg-fourth BWC) and steals (1.8 spg-seventh BWC). He adds 10.3 ppg to tie for third on the squad. Swenson was also tabbed to the Big West Conference preseason team. He is one of eight players, including six DI transfers to join the team. UCSB boasts a +25.0 (86.3-61.3) scoring margin (first BWC/23rd NCAA). The Gauchos are also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for 3-pointers made per game (12.0-first/11th), 3-point percentage defense (25.2-first/29th), fewest fouls per game (14.0-first/31st), field-goal percentage defense (35.7-second/35th), scoring defense (61.3-second/36th), field-goal percentage (50.8-third/40th), 3-point percentage (40.3-second/40th), bench scoring (34.3-second/46th) and rebound margin (+9.5-fourth/65th). UCSB is under the direction of eighth-year head coach Joe Pasternack, whose 152 wins (including 4-0 this year) are the most by any Gaucho men's basketball head coach at this point of their tenure in school history. The program plays at the UCSB Events Arena, a 6,000-seat venue which is better known as the Thunderdome. The Gauchos are 42-3 in nonconference contests at the Thunderdome since the start of the 2017-18 campaign. The losses have come against Portland State in 2023 (82-76), UT Arlington in 2021 (70-62) and Rice in 2019 (82-81). UCSB was established in 1891 as the Anna Blake School. Notable alumni include Academy Award winners Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow and Cleveland Guardians Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber.
 
LOOKING BACK
UTEP bolted to a 20-4 lead and never looked in the rear-view mirror on the way to a wire-to-wire 78-58 victory against Division II UTPB at home on Nov. 12. The home side connected on 58.8 percent (30-51) from the floor, including a sizzling 64.3 percent (18-28) in the opening frame to build a 27-point halftime cushion (46-19). The Miners piled up 18 assists on 30 field goals made in the game. At the other end of the court, the Orange and Blue held the Falcons to 36.7 percent shooting (22-60), including a paltry 17.6 percent (3-17) from distance. UTPB was particularly flustered by the pressure in first 20 minutes when it shot 21.4 percent (6-28). UTEP also forced 20 turnovers.
 
can't guard us all
UTEP had five different players reach double figures reach double figures in scoring in the against UTPB on Nov. 12. Otis Frazier III led the way with his third double-digit outing in as many games this season. Kevin Kalu tallied 12 points (one shy of his career high), followed by Corey Camper Jr. (12 points), Devon Barnes (12 points) and Trey Horton III (10 points).
 
KALU CRUSHES IT
Senior Kevin Kalu set career highs for both field goals made (six) and attempted (eight) while tallying 12 points (one shy of career best) in the victory against UTPB on Nov. 12. It marked his first double-digit scoring effort this year and third of his career. He previously did so against Sul Ross State (13 points, 11/15/22) and vs. WKU in the CUSA Tournament (10 points, 3/8/23).
 
FRAZIER III DROPPING DIMES
Otis Frazier III was credited with a career-high seven assists vs. UTPB on Nov. 12. He eclipsed his prior best (six), while also pacing the Miners with 17 points. The efforts helped UTEP finish with 18 assists on 30 made field goals.
 
TREY WAS BOXING OUT
Trey Horton III connected on 4-8 shots, including 2-5 from distance, to pace the Miners' reserves with 10 points against UTPB on Nov. 12. He shined in other areas as well. Horton III pulled down a career-best six rebounds, all of which were at the defensive end. His efforts on both sides of the ball allowed him to log a career-most 25 minutes of playing time.
 
STEALING THE SHOW
Corey Camper Jr. was all over the place defensively, racking up a career-high five steals against UTPB on Nov. 12. Otis Frazier III (four) and Kevin Kalu (two) also notched multiple thefts to help the Miners compile 13 steals against the Falcons.
 
ANYONE CAN BEAT YOU
Four different Miners (Otis Frazier III, 15.0 ppg, Ahamad Bynum, 14.5 ppg, Devon Barnes, 10.7 ppg and Corey Camper Jr., 10.0 ppg) are all in double figures in scoring while Trey Horton III (9.0 ppg) is just shy. Part of the reason for the balanced offensive attack has been UTEP making the extra pass. The Miners have recorded 49 assists on 80 field goals (61.3 percent).
 
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Kevin Kalu, who was third on the team in rebounding (4.7 rpg) a year ago, has led the team outright in boards in back-to-back contests. It's his longest such streak since doing so in three straight games (at DePaul, LA Tech, NC A&T) in December of 2022. He is now at a team-best 5.7 rpg (22nd CUSA).
 
CALLED FREE THROWS FOR A REASON
UTEP has done a good job across the board with free throws early on in the season. The Miners are among the CUSA leaders and top-100 nationally for free throws made per game (18.7-first/49th), attempted per game (24.7-second/74th) and percentage (75.7-third/75th). Otis Frazier III leads the charge by going 20-23 (87.0 percent) while Corey Camper Jr. (10-10) and Devon Barnes (7-8, 87.5 percent) have also gotten after it at the line.
 
COREY IS CRISP AT THE LINE
Corey Camper Jr. is a perfect 10-10 at the line, making him one of just 34 players (min. seven attempts) in the country to be perfect at the charity stripe through all games played on Nov. 17. It's a good start in the department for the senior, who connected on 71.2 percent (52-73) at the line in 2023-24.
 
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
UTEP is shooting a crisp 42.1 percent (24-57) from 3-point range through three contests on the campaign. It has been a three-headed attack from distance, with Ahamad Bynum (7-10. 70.0 percent), Trey Horton III (7-16, 43.8 percent) and Devon Barnes (5-12, 41.7 percent) combining for all but five of the makes from beyond-the-arc.
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
UTEP's reserves are producing 31.3 points per contest, good enough for third in CUSA and 72nd in the country. The top threat off the pine for the Miners has been Ahamad Bynum, who is second on the team in scoring (14.5-14th CUSA). Bynum has also connected on a sizzling 7-10 from distance to key the reserves. Trey Horton III (9.0 ppg) has also been a big part of the offensive output from the reserves, aided by going 7-16 (43.8 percent) from downtown.
 
CAN'T HANDLE THE PRESSURE
All three UTEP opponents have been harassed into making at least 19 turnovers, with both Sul Ross State (26, Nov. 4) and UTPB (20, Nov. 12) surpassing 20 giveaways. The Miners, who led the country in turnovers forced per game (18.7 tpg) last year while also setting a program record for most turnovers forced (636), head into Wednesday's contest second in the country (21.7) in the category this year.
 
RUN, UTEP, RUN
UTEP's pressure defense has led to plenty of opportunities in transition, and the Miners have taken advantage of the situation. They are producing 21.0 fastbreak points per game, which is second in CUSA and 18th nationally.
 
STEALING THE SHOW
UTEP set the school record for total steals (389) last year, which were the second most ever by a CUSA program since the league's inception. The Miners are building on that success in 2024-25, entering Wednesday's match-up at 14.0 steals per game to lead CUSA and rate second nationally. Otis Frazier III (3.0 spg-second CUSA/12th NCAA), Corey Camper Jr. (2.7 spg-third CUSA/48th NCAA) and Devon Barnes (2.3 spg-fifth CUSA/89th NCAA) have been the main culprits. The Miners have piled up 10+ steals in all three contests, including a season-high 19 in the opener against Sul Ross State.
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP has been credited with an assist on 61.3 percent (49-80) of its field goals through three tilts. Otis Frazier III (4.0 apg-eighth CUSA), who also paces the team in scoring (15.0 ppg-11th CUSA) and steals (3.0 spg-second CUSA/12th NCAA), leads the charge with setting up his teammates. Corey Camper Jr. (2.7 apg-15th CUSA) and David Terrell Jr. (2.5 apg-tied 16th CUSA) have also been effective in passing the rock.
 
INSTANT OFFENSE
Ahamad Bynum earned NJCAA Second-Team All-American status while pouring in a team-best 18.3 ppg to help lead Trinity Valley CC to a Region XIV Championships and earn a spot for the NJCAA Tournament in 2023-24. He's come off the bench in both of his appearances for UTEP in 2024-25 but is still second on the team in scoring (14.5-14th CUSA). Bynum has also connected on a sizzling 7-10 from distance.
 
BARNES BACK HOME
Tarleton State transfer Devon Barnes chose UTEP in part because he lived in the Sun City from kindergarten through fifth grade while his dad was stationed at Ft. Bliss. He has settled in nicely, tallying 10.7 ppg and 2.3 spg (fifth CUSA/89th NCAA). He has drilled 5-12 (41.7 percent) from distance and 7-8 (87.5 percent) at the charity stripe.
 
SPREADING THE PLAYING TIME
Head coach Joe Golding has done a fine job of sharing the wealth with playing time, with 10 different Miners averaging at least 10.0 minutes per game. Corey Camper Jr. (28.7 mpg), Otis Frazier III (27.6 mpg) and Devon Barnes (25.2 mpg) are all above 25.0 mpg. Trey Horton III (21.3 mpg), Ahamad Bynum (19.6 mpg), Baylor Hebb (18.5 mpg) David Terrell Jr. (18.2 mpg), Kevin Kalu (17.9 mpg), KJ Thomas (12.0 mpg) and Elijah Jones (10.1mpg) round out the list.
 
LIVING OUT OF THE SUITCASE
UTEP is in the midst of playing five of its first seven contests outside of El Paso, the initial time that has occurred since 2014-15. This year the Miners have two home (2-0 thus far), two road (0-1) and three neutral over the initial seven tilts. In 2014-15, UTEP went on to finish at 22-11, including 13-5 in league play (second place), despite having to endure two road contests (0-2) and a trio of neutral-site affairs (2-1) early on in the year.
 
AN OFFSEASON TO REMEMBER
UTEP had a special offseason to help prepare for the year, which included a foreign tour in The Bahamas, an intra-squad scrimmage in Juárez, an 111-62 exhibition win vs. Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (UACH) on Oct. 19 and a charity exhibition 74-70 setback at New Mexico on Oct. 28. The game in Chihuahua was the first preseason scrimmage in Mexico in program history.
 
EVERY ELIGIBLE GUY READY TO ROCK
UTEP brought back three starters (Corey Camper Jr., Otis Frazier III and Kevin Kalu) and all eight eligible scholarship players (Camper Jr., Frazier III, Derick Hamilton, Baylor Hebb, Trey Horton III, Elijah Jones, Kalu, David Terrell Jr.) from last year's team that piled up 18 wins and advanced to the program's first Conference USA Tournament Championship contest since 2011. The Miners also have redshirts Antwonne Holmes and Babacar Mbengue.
 
NEWCOMERS IN THE HOUSE
JUCO All-American Ahamad Bynum (20.0 ppg, 3.0 ppg), Tarleton State transfer Devon Barnes (8.0 ppg 5.0 spg), three-star HS recruit KJ Thomas, (2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg) JUCO Region XIV regular-season champion DaCannon Wickware, El Paso native Jordan Thomas and freshman Raijon Dispensa are also new to UTEP.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
UTEP brings back the 2024 Conference USA Freshman of the Year David Terrell Jr., (7.0 ppg, 5.0 spg) along with fellow 2024 CUSA All-Freshman team members Trey Horton III (17.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Elijah Jones (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) Otis Frazier III (17.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), who was a member of the 2024 CUSA All-Defensive team and a CUSA Honorable-Mention honoree, was tabbed to the 2024-25 CUSA Preseason Team.
 
THE BEST FANS IN CONFERENCE USA
UTEP has led Conference USA in attendance for either total number of fans or average attendance for three straight years. Last year, the Miners had a league-best 85,566 fans pass through the turnstiles while averaging 4,754 fans (second in the conference).
 
HOME COOKING
UTEP entered the 2024-25 campaign having ripped off at least 10 wins at home in five straight years.  The Orange and Blue were 13-5 at the Bear's Den last year, including winning the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for the first time under head coach Joe Golding. UTEP is 2-0 in El Paso this year with a pair of wins against Division II foes.
 
PRESEASON PREMONITIONS
UTEP was predicted to finish tied for fifth in the Conference USA preseason poll, as voted upon the league's 10 head coaches. It was a relatively close poll, with only 25 points separating the first six teams. LA Tech (87) was tabbed the favorite, followed by WKU (85), Sam Houston (83), Middle Tennessee (69), Liberty (62) and UTEP (62). NM State (39-seventh), Jax State (29-eighth), FIU (17-tied ninth) and Kennesaw State (17-tied ninth). LA Tech (three), Sam Houston (three), WKU (two), Middle Tennessee (one) and Liberty (one) all received at least one first-place vote.
 
A YEAR IN REVIEW
-    Finished the year at 18-16 for the second winning seasons in three years under head coach Joe Golding.
-    Made the program's first appearance in the conference tournament championship contest since 2011.
-    Beat the No. 1 seed Sam Houston in the semifinals, the Miners' first win against a top seed at the league tournament since the 1993 WAC Championships.
-    Became the first team in school history to come back from double-digit deficits to win consecutive contests in a league tournament. UTEP overcame a 12-point deficit vs. Liberty while roaring back from 14 against Sam Houston.
-    Won multiple games at the CUSA tournament for the first time since 2011.
-    Became the lowest seed in school history to advance to the championship contest of the league tournament.
-    Won a game at the league tournament by two points or less for the first time since 1992 after ousting top seed Sam Houston
-    Led the nation in both steals per game and turnovers forced per game.
-    Set school record for total steals and total turnovers forced. UTEP's 389 total steals are the second most ever by a CUSA program since the league's inception.
-    Tae Hardy earned All-District and All-CUSA honors.
-    UTEP had three of the five players on the CUSA All-Freshman Team, including Freshman of the Year David Terrell Jr. Terrell Jr. was joined on the All-Freshman squad by Trey Horton III and Elijah Jones
-    Otis Frazier III was All-CUSA Honorable-Mention and voted to the CUSA All-Defensive Team, the first selection to the squad for UTEP since 2015.
-    Won the 2023 Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for the first time under head coach Joe Golding.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP'S PROGRAM
-    This is the 104th 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.
 
GET TO KNOW COACH GOLDING
Joe Golding is in his fourth year at UTEP, and he 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 212-193 in his 14th season as a collegiate head coach, including 54-49 at UTEP. He has enjoyed two winning campaigns in three years. Golding is 10 victories shy of passing Marshall Pennington (63-83, 1937-43) to move into fifth place on the school's career charts. In 2021-22 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.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP has a bit of a break to prepare to play three games in as many days at the Ball Dawgs Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., from Nov. 25-27. The Miners will lock up with San Jose State (5:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. MT on Nov. 25), Long Beach State (5:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. MT on Nov. 26) and UNC Greensboro (4:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. MT on Nov. 27). Jon Teicher (44th year) and Steve Yellen (22nd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners App for each of the games. All three contests will also be streamed on Flow Sports (subscription required).