Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (3-2) will look to get back in the win column when it locks up with Big West member Long Beach State (1-6) on day two of play at the Ball Dawgs Classic at 5:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. MT in Henderson, Nev., Tuesday. The Miners are coming off a hard-fought 71-65 loss to San Jose State on Monday. UTEP trailed by 18 in that game with nine minutes left before furiously striking back to get within three, but it could not complete the comeback. The Beach dropped their sixth straight, 71-48, vs. UNC Greensboro on Nov. 25. Coincidentally enough, the Orange and Blue battled Long Beach State (W, 101-58, Dec. 13, 1963) and San Jose State (W, 53-37, Dec. 14, 1963) on back-to-back days early in the 1963-64 season. It marks the second matchup of the season for the Miners against a member of the Big West Conference, as UTEP toppled UC Santa Barbara on the road, 79-76, on Nov. 20. Jon Teicher (44th year) and Steve Yellen (22nd 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 Flo College Sports (subscription required).
 
KEY STATS TO WATCH
Long Beach State pulls down 13.1 offensive rebounds per game, which is third in the Big West and 68th in the nation. UTEP has been challenged thus far on the glass, sitting last in Conference USA and 346th (out of 355 teams) in the country with a rebounding margin of -9.4. If the Miners can clean up that department, it will give them a leg up in the battle with the Beach. Another thing to watch is turnovers. The Miners lead the nation in turnovers forced per game (21.0) while LBSU is 310th (out of 355 teams) nationally at 14.9 giveaways per contest.
 
FOUR IN A ROW OUTSIDE OF THE SUN CITY
By the time the tournament in the "Sin City" concludes, the Miners will have played four straight games outside of El Paso in the month of November for the first time since 2012. UTEP got the challenging stretch off to a good start by leading the entire contest in an eventual 79-76 triumph at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 20. It was the first nonconference road victory for the Miners (3-1) since a 77-69 triumph at New Mexico on Dec. 12, 2021.  Last time out, though, UTEP was upended by San Jose State, 71-65, on Nov. 25. 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: TIED, 1-1
UTEP and Long Beach State have split the only two meetings between the programs. The Miners won the first matchup, 101-58, in El Paso on Dec. 13, 1963. The then No. 6 Beach took care of business, 74-64, in a neutral-site affair on Dec. 10, 1971.
 
GET TO KNOW LONG BEACH STATE (1-6, 1-2 HOME, 0-3 AWAY, 0-1 NEUTRAL)
Long Beach State rolled to a 21-15 record last year, including winning the 2024 Big West Championship (W, 74-70, UC Davis), to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The No. 15 seed Beach were dropped by second seed and No. 9 nationally Arizona, 85-65, in the opening round. LBSU lost all five starters from that squad and returned just two letterwinners overall, and that has hindered the team early on. The Beach bested La Verne, 93-48, in their opener on Nov. 4, but they have lost six straight since to enter the matchup with the Miners at 1-6 on the year. That record is a bit deceiving, however, with three of those setbacks (L, 80-79 at South Dakota State; L, 63-61 to Portland and L, 72-69 to Fresno State) coming by a combined six points. Most recently, LBSU was upended by UNC Greensboro, 71-48, in its opening game of the Ball Dawgs Classic. The Beach do a good job of crashing the offensive boards, pulling down 13.1 offensive rebounds per game to rate third in the Big West and 68th nationally. That is something UTEP will have to be ready for, given the Miners rate 346th in the country with a -9.4 rebound margin. LBSU guards it relatively well, holding foes to 41.5 percent shooting (fourth Big West). Devin Askew, a former No. 1 overall recruit who played previously at Kentucky, Texas and Cal, leads the way for the Beach at 16.6 points per game (sixth Big West). He also tops the team in assists per contest at 4.0 (third Big West). Robert Morris transfer TJ Wainwright joins him in double figures for scoring at 11.0 ppg while Cam Denson pitches in 7.4 ppg. No one else on the squad is above 6.0 ppg. Derrick Michael Xzavierro, who is the first DI player from Indonesia and was developed through the NBA Global Academy, tops the team in both rebounding (6.6 rpg-ninth Big West) and blocks per contest (1.0). The 6-10 forward joined the squad after transferring from Grand Canyon. Austin Johnson (6.4 rpg) and Denson (5.3 rpg) also rebound it well, helping the team produce a +1.3 (38.4-37.1) margin. Long Beach State is under the direction of first-year head coach Chris Acker, who spent the prior five years as an assistant with San Diego State. His efforts helped the Aztecs make the NCAA Tournament in the past four years. LBSU was founded in 1949. Notable alumni include David Twohy (co-wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award winning film The Fugitive) and Linda Woolverton (wrote the screenplays for the Academy Award-winning Disney animated films Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King).
 
LOOKING BACK
Corey Camper Jr. poured in a career-high tying 21 points to go along with a career-best matching five assists while Otis Frazier III added 14 points (11 in second half), but a frenetic comeback bid came up just shy in UTEP's eventual 71-65 loss against San Jose State on Nov. 25. The Spartans led by 18 (59-41) with 9:10 remaining in regulation, but the Miners refused to quit. They fought to get all the way back within three (65-62, 1:38, 2H), but SJSU countered with a 5-0 run and managed to hold on. UTEP forced 24 turnovers that led to 32 points, but SJSU overcame that by connecting on 51.2 percent (22-43), including 46.7 percent (7-15) from distance. UTEP was also outrebounded (35-21). The Miners registered 13 assists to help them finish 21-51 (41.2 percent) from the floor. UTEP was however, 27.8 percent (5-18) from 3-point range after the Orange and Blue had entered the contest fourth nationally in 3-point shooting at 44.3 percent.
 
COREY'S BIG NIGHT
Corey Camper Jr. had a night to remember in the six-point setback vs. San Jose State on Nov. 25. He matched career highs in both points (21) and assists (five) while sharing the team lead in both rebounds (four) and steals (two). Perhaps most impressive as that he logged 35:11 of action and did not commit a single turnover. For good measure, he knocked down a career-best six free throws on six attempts. Camper Jr. is now 16-16 at the charity stripe through five contests in 2024-25, making him one of 13 nationally (min. 10 FTA) to be perfect at the line.
 
FRAZIER'S HEATING UP FROM DISTANCE
After going 1-8 from beyond-the-arc over the first three contests of the campaign, Otis Frazier III has started to find his stroke. He is 5-13 (38.5 percent) on triples the past two games, including matching his career best for 3-poiners (three) on a career-high seven attempts vs. San Jose State on Nov. 25.
 
TURNOVER BATTLE GOES TO UTEP
UTEP entered the game against San Jose State leading the nation in turnovers forced per game (20.5) while the Spartans (7.8) were second in the NCAA for fewest turnovers made per contest. Something had to give, and while SJSU did come away with the narrow 71-65 victory, it had no answer for the Miners' pressure. UTEP harassed the Spartans into making 24 turnovers that led to 32 points. In fact, the Orange and Blue forced SJSU into committing turnovers on six straight possessions to help fuel a 21-6 run to cut an 18-point deficit (59-41, 9:10, 2H) down to three (65-62, 1:38, 2H) before the Spartans held on.
 
DON'T BRING THAT WEAK STUFF TO US
UTEP rejected a season-high tying six blocked shots in the game vs. San Jose State on Nov. 25. Devon Barnes matched his career best with a pair of rejections while Otis Frazier III, Derick Hamilton, Elijah Jones and David Terrell Jr. all swatted one shot. UTEP is now third in CUSA and 86th in the country for blocks per game (4.4).
 
GOT IT DONE AT THE LINE
UTEP connected on a solid 75.0 percent (18-24) from the line against San Jose State on Nov. 25, its second-best effort on the season. The Miners were 25-29 (86.2 percent) at Utah Valley Nov. 9. Ironically, UTEP is now 3-0 when shooting below 70 percent at the line and 0-2 when hitting above that.
 
 
GOTTA START CRASHING THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP finished with seven offensive rebounds vs. San Jose State, marking the fifth time in as many contests that it has been held to single digits in that department. Conversely, Miner opponents have registered at least 11 offensive caroms in three consecutive contests. That has led to UTEP being -2 on second-chance points (29-31) on the year.
 
GET IN A STANCE
All three of UTEP's Division I opponents this year have shot better than 50 percent from the floor, with both Utah Valley (52.6 percent) and San Jose State (46.7 percent) taking care of business from downtown as well.
 
SCORE FIRST OR ELSE
Generally speaking, basketball games aren't decided early on, but that's actually been the case thus far for the Miners in 2024-25. UTEP is 3-0 when scoring first, including a pair of wire-to-wire wins (Sul Ross State and UTPB), while not trailing in its victory at UCSB (tied 2-2). The Miners never led last time out vs. San Jose State (tied 2-2) and were on the unfortunate end of a wire-to-wire setback at Utah Valley.
 
DEEPER DIVE ON THE STARTS
UTEP has either been really good or really bad early on in games this year. In the three victories, the Miners led Sul Ross by 13 (20-7, 12:55, 1H), were up by 16 (20-4, 13:05, 1H) against UTPB and shot out up by 12 (19-7, 12:48, 1H) at UC Santa Barbara. In the two setbacks, UTEP trailed by 15 (15-0, 14:53, 1H) at Utah Valley and by 11 (17-6, 13:46, 1H) vs. San Jose State.
 
VIDEO GAME TYPE NUMBERS
Ahamad Bynum has filled up 12-18 (66.7 percent) from 3-point range heading to the matchup vs. Long Beach State. He is easily atop the CUSA ratings while placing third in the country. His 3.0 triples per tilt is second in CUSA and 21st in the nation.
 
COMING AT YOU FROM EVERY ANGLE
There's not just one player that teams have be aware of when it comes to the Miners' pressure defense. UTEP accounts for four of the top 12 in the CUSA ratings for steals. Corey Camper Jr. is second in the league at 2.8 spg (21st NCAA), followed by Otis Frazier III (2.2-fourth CUSA/47th NCAA), Devon Barnes (1.6-eighth CUSA) and David Terrell Jr. at 1.5 spg (12th CUSA).
 
BETTER RUN US OFF THAT LINE
Last year the Miners were in the lower part of ratings for both 3-point percentage (31.9, eighth CUSA/284th NCAA) and 3-pointers made per contest (5.7, eighth CUSA/320th NCAA). While it is a small sample size with just five games played in 2024-25, UTEP looks to have made some serious strides in drilling shots from distance. It has made a dazzling 41.2 percent (second CUSA/13th NCAA) from distance, having connected on 40-97 from beyond-the-arc. That works out to 8.0 3-pointers made per game.
 
WHO NEEDS LEAD CHANGES ANYWAY
There has not been a single lead change in any of UTEP's five games this year. The Miners posted wire-to-wire victories against DII programs Sul Ross State and UTPB while also never trailing at previously unbeaten UC Santa Barbara (tied 2-2 before big run) on Nov. 20. UTEP fell behind 15-0 at Utah Valley and could get no closer than six. The Miners were tied 2-2 vs. San Jose State but never led.
 
FRAZIER III DOING IT ALL ON OFFENSE
Otis Frazier III has been picking apart defenses with his scoring, posting five double-digit outbursts in as many contests. That included a season-high 21 points (fourth 20+ point game of career) to help the Miners topple UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 20. It dropped the Gauchos to 42-4 at home in nonconference contests since 2017-18. Perhaps even more impressive has been his ability to set up his teammates. Frazier III has registered at least two assists in all five contests of the year, including 16 total the past three tilts.
 
ANYONE CAN BEAT YOU
Four different Miners are in double figures for scoring, including team leader Otis Frazier III (16.0 ppg, eighth CUSA). He is joined by Corey Camper Jr. (12.8 ppg-16th CUSA), Tarleton State transfer Devon Barnes (12.2 ppg, tied 18th CUSA) and JUCO All-American Ahamad Bynum (11.8 ppg, tied 21st CUSA). Part of the reason for the balanced offensive attack has been UTEP making the extra pass. The Miners have recorded an assist on 58.9 percent (76-129) of their field goals.
 
CALLED FREE THROWS FOR A REASON
UTEP has done a good job across the board with free throws early in the season. The Miners are among the CUSA leaders and top-100 nationally for free throws made per game (17.2-third/68th), attempted per game (23.2-second/85th) and percentage (74.1-third/92nd). Otis Frazier III (22-27, 81.5 percent) and Devon Barnes (21-27, 77.8 percent) have been the most frequent visitors to the line, but Corey Camper Jr. has been the best. The senior is a flawless 16-16 at the charity stripe, making him one of just 13 players in the country to not miss yet (minimum 10 attempts).
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
UTEP's reserves are producing 26.4 points per contest, good enough for third in CUSA. The top threat off the pine for the Miners has been Ahamad Bynum, who is fourth on the team in scoring (11.8-tied 22nd CUSA). Bynum has been lights out from distance, sitting third in the country at 66.7 percent (12-18) from 3-point range. Trey Horton III (6.2 ppg) has also made his presence felt.
 
CAN'T HANDLE THE PRESSURE
UTEP's pressure is causing fits for opponents. The Miners head into the tilt vs. Long Beach State topping the country at 21.0 turnovers forced per game.  The early-season success in the area should come as no surprise given what UTEP did last year. The Miners led the country in turnovers forced per game (18.7 tpg) while also setting a program record for total turnovers forced (636).
 
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 17.2 fastbreak points per game, which is first in CUSA and 28th 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, heading into the contest vs. Long Beach State first in CUSA and sixth in the country at 12.0 steals per contest. UTEP has registered at least nine steals in all five games, including three of 10 or more.
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP has been credited with an assist on 76 of 129 field goals (58.9 percent), helping it average essentially 77.0 ppg (76.8 ppg). Otis Frazier III (4.2 apg-seventh CUSA), who also paces the team in scoring (16.0 ppg-eighth CUSA), leads the charge with setting up his teammates. Corey Camper Jr. (3.0 apg- tied 13th CUSA) and Devon Barnes (2.0 apg-tied 18th CUSA) have also been effective in passing the rock. Camper Jr. has an impressive +3.0 (15-5) assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth CUSA/75th NCAA).
 
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 each of his appearances for UTEP in 2024-25 but is still fourth on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg, tied 21st CUSA). Bynum has been ridiculous from distance, rating third in the country at 3-point percentage (66.7). He is 12-18 from beyond-the-arc.
 
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 12.2 ppg (tied 18th CUSA) to go along with 1.6 steals per game (eighth CUSA) and 2.0 apg (tied 18th CUSA). He has drilled 8-19 (42.1 percent) from distance and 21-27 (77.8 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 nine different Miners (min. four games played) averaging at least 10.0 minutes per game. Corey Camper Jr. (31.3 mpg), Otis Frazier III (30.3 mpg) and Devon Barnes (25.7 mpg) are all above 25.0 mpg. Ahamad Bynum (21.2 mpg), David Terrell Jr. (21.2 mpg), Trey Horton III (19.3 mpg), Kevin Kalu (17.1 mpg), Baylor Hebb (11.9 mpg) and KJ Thomas (11.8 mpg) 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 (1-1) and three neutral (0-1) 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 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, Tarleton State transfer Devon Barnes, three-star HS recruit KJ Thomas, JUCO Region XIV regular-season champion DaCannon Wickware, El Paso native Jordan Thomas and freshman Raijon Dispensa are also new to UTEP, with each set to redshirt this season.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
UTEP brought back the 2024 Conference USA Freshman of the Year David Terrell Jr., along with fellow 2024 CUSA All-Freshman team members Trey Horton III and Elijah Jones. Otis Frazier III, 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 213-194 in his 14th season as a collegiate head coach, including 55-50 at UTEP. He has enjoyed two winning campaigns in three years. Golding is nine 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 will wrap up the Ball Dawgs Classic when it challenges UNC Greensboro at 3:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. MT Wednesday. Jon Teicher (44th year) and Steve Yellen (22nd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. The contest will also be streamed on Flo College Sports (subscription required).