Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (12-11, 3-5 CUSA) will conclude its three-game homestand by locking up with I-10 rival NM State (11-12, 5-3 CUSA) at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. The Miners will honor all-time leading scorer Stefon Jackson by raising his jersey to the Haskins Center rafters in a special ceremony. Furthermore, the first 4,000 fans will receive a free t-shirt with the Orange and Blue trying to "White Out" the Don. Both teams have been idle for a week, but plenty will be on the line Saturday night. The Miners are looking to split the season series with the Aggies, who notched a 63-53 triumph vs. UTEP in Las Cruces on Jan. 4. The Orange and Blue will also be vying to move up in the CUSA standings, as they currently sit tied for seventh heading into the tilt.  UTEP is aiming to get back into the win column after a hard-fought 67-65 setback vs. Liberty on Feb. 3 in a contest that featured three ties and nine lead changes. It marked UTEP's first home loss in league action (3-1) and dropped the Orange and Blue to 11-3 in the Sun City on the year. The Aggies have posted back-to-back victories-both at home- and by a combined total of nine points. Most recently, they held off Jax State, 67-65, on Feb. 3. NM State, however, is winless on the year when not playing in Las Cruces. The Aggies are 0-9 on the road (0-3 CUSA) and 0-2 in neutral-site tilts. 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) describing the action. Tickets start as low as $9.15. For more information, please visit www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets or call (915) 747-UTEP.
 
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 272-181 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. The Aggies have made tremendous strides as the season has worn on. NM State was saddled with a 5-9 start to the campaign, but it is 6-3 since, including 5-3 in CUSA to hold onto third place in the CUSA standings, a half game behind Sam Houston. They have won consecutive contests, including a 67-65 outcome vs. Jax State last time out on Feb. 3. NM State has been practically perfect at home (11-1, 5-0 CUSA), but it's been a different story outside of Las Cruces, N.M. The Aggies are 0-9 (0-3 CUSA) on the road and 0-2 in neutral games. Only three of those combined 11 setbacks outside of the Pan-American Center have been by single digits. NM State holds foes to just 40.4 percent (second CUSA/31st NCAA) shooting from the floor, but it is allowing 71.5 points per game (seventh CUSA). The bench produces 24.1 points per game (fourth CUSA/78th NCAA). The Aggies take care of the ball well with 12.7 turnovers per contest (third CUSA) and get to the line often with 14.6 free throws made per game (14.6-third CUSA). That is aided by nailing 70.7 percent (second CUSA) at the line. Jordan Rawls, a transfer from WKU, who dishes out 4.0 assists per game (fifth CUSA), runs the offense that features Femi Odukale (11.0 ppg-tied 16th CUSA) and Christian Cook (10.3 ppg-20th CUSA) in double digits for scoring. Third-leading scorer Robert Carpenter (9.7 ppg) is suspended indefinitely. Rawls (8.6 ppg), former Miner Kaosi Ezeague (8.3 ppg) and Jaylin Jackson-Posey (8.0 ppg) have all been consistent scorers as well.  Cook has nailed 35-112 from distance while Jaden Harris (28-66) and Carpenter (23-66) also get it down on 3-point tries. Rawls is the lone Aggie to log more than 30.0 minutes per game (30.6 mpg). NM State is challenged to guard without fouling, committing a league-worst 20.6 fouls per game (344th NCAA). It is also the worst offensive rebounding team in CUSA (9.0-284th NCAA). 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.
 
SERIES HISTORY: NM STATE LEADS, 122-104
NM State leads the all time series with UTEP, 122-104, aided by claiming 14 of the past 16 tilts. 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 is the first time that the two foes have locked up in a conference contest since the 1961-62 season when both teams were members of the Border Conference. The two sides split the series a year ago, with each successfully defending their home court. The Aggies have already held serve back in Las Cruces, 63-53, on Jan. 4, a contest that was the Miners' third-lowest scoring output this season. UTEP has used different offensive sets and line-ups since that setback, helping spark the offense.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME
Otis Frazier III (15 points, seven rebounds, three steals), Tae Hardy (14 points, four boards, two steals) and Corey Camper Jr. (13 points, career-high seven rebounds, three steals) all stuffed the stat sheet, but UTEP was clipped by Liberty, 67-65, at home on Feb. 3. The Miners trailed by eight (37-29) at the break, but they fought all the way back to lead the Flames by four (54-50) with just under seven minutes to play. Liberty managed to peel off nine consecutive points to regain the advantage for good. UTEP had a chance to tie it with 36 seconds left after Camper Jr.'s steal set up Hardy trey attempt with the Miners down three (65-62), but the shot refused to go down. Liberty did just enough in the final seconds to escape El Paso with the win.
 
GOT AFTER IT ON THE GLASS
UTEP controlled the boards (39-28) against Liberty, with the +11 differential serving as the best rebounding margin vs. DI opponent since crushing UTSA on the glass, 44-24, on Feb. 11, 2023. It also halted a three-contest stretch of being outrebounded. The Miners yielded an opponent season-low two offensive rebounds.
 
LOTS OF FREE THROWS LEAD TO LOTS OF WINS
UTEP is 9-1 on the season when attempting at least 29 free throws in a contest. The lone loss in the situation came when Abilene Christian was awarded 48 free throw attempts. The Miners head into Saturday's contest leading CUSA and rating in the top 15 of the country for both free throw attempts per game (25.9-seventh CUSA) and free throws made per contest (18.0-13th NCAA).
 
SO DOES CAMPER JR. SCORING 10+ POINTS
When Corey Camper Jr. hits double figures in scoring, the Miners are practically perfect. UTEP is 8-1 on the year (3-1 in CUSA) in the situation, with the lone loss under those circumstances coming by two points against Liberty.
 
CONSISTENT PLAY FROM OTIS
For the first time of his collegiate career, Otis Frazier III has posted consecutive games with at least 15 points. He had 17 vs. Jax State before following that up with 15 against Liberty. He has also grabbed 11 rebounds (5.5 avg) to go along with five assists (2.5 apg) and four steals (2.0 spg) in the stretch.
 
HORTON III IS TOO
Freshman Trey Horton III played a total of 45 minutes while appearing in seven of the first 15 games season, pitching in 1.4 ppg (2-12 FG, 0-9 3FG, 6-7 FT). In the eight contests since (missed one due to illness), the North Carolina native is tallying 5.9 ppg (14-27, FG, 10-20 3FG, 3-5 FT) in 12.4 mpg.
 
GETTING BACK TO THE LINE
After attempting its second-fewest free throws (17) on the season at Sam Houston on Jan. 27, the Miners have tried 25+ free throws in consecutive contests. UTEP was 23-29 in the win vs. Jax State on Feb. 1. It earned 25 free throw tosses vs. Liberty, but connected on only 15, which proved costly in the two-point loss.
 
SHOOTING GETTING BACK ON TRACK
UTEP has posted back-to-back contests of making at least 44.0 percent from the floors. The Miners are 47-106 (44.3 percent) from the field in that time frame. It is nice bounce back for the Orange and Blue, who finished a combined 32.8 percent (39-119) in the prior two tilts. Both of those led to setbacks on the road.
 
ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END
Even though Liberty had 14 turnovers (five above average), it halted a school-record streak of seven straight games where the opposition committed at least 19 giveaways. The Miners are still atop the nation with a readout of 19.1 turnovers forced per game, which is aided by 12 foes making at least 19 giveaways this year.
 
CLOSING IN ON STEALS SCHOOL RECORD
UTEP picked up nine more steals against Liberty, giving it 268 on the campaign. The Miners are now just 21 steals away from breaking the school standard that is currently shared by the 2009-10 and 2022-23 teams at 288. The 1986-87 Miners are third (284) followed by this year's team. UTEP is averaging a nation-leading 11.7 steals per contest, so it will blow past the current mark barring unforeseen circumstances.
 
HARDY'S HEATER
Senior Tae Hardy has hit double figures in nine straight games (prior best seven), the longest streak of his career. He is averaging 16.0 ppg while logging heavy minutes (35.0 mpg) during the hot streak.
 
15 GAMES WITH 10+ STEALS
UTEP has recorded 10 steals in 15 different games this season. To put that figure into perspective, consider that it easily surpasses the number of such contests by 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.
 
GUARDING THE 3-BALL
Even with Liberty having filled up eight 3-pointers (8-21) last time out, the Miners have been pretty stingy at defending from beyond-the-arc. UTEP opponents have been held to 31.5 percent (125-397) on 3-point attempts, with nine foes this year failing to get above 27 percent.
 
GOTTA GET TO 70
UTEP has had tremendous success this season when tallying at least 70 points. The Miners are 11-1 on the campaign when scoring 70+ points, including putting up 93 points in the win vs. WKU on Jan. 20. That was the most points vs. a DI foe since the Miners surpassed the century mark in a 101-89 victory against Rice on Jan. 8, 2021.
 
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
UTEP has been a different team when playing at home compared to on the road, especially with its offensive output. UTEP is putting up 81.9 ppg (58.4 ppg on road) on 49.1 percent shooting (38.4 percent on road). The Miners are +0.9 on the boards at home (-8.9 on the road.)
 
TURNED IT AROUND ON FREE THROWS
After shooting just 61.3 percent (76-124) on free throws over the first four games, the Miners are at 72.0 percent (337-472) in the 18 contests since. That includes six games of at least 75 percent during that timeframe, including three at 80 percent or better. The Miners did have a slip up in the department last time out, finishing 15-25, which proved costly in the two-point setback to Liberty.
 
TERRELL JR. REPEATS AS CUSA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
For the second consecutive week and third time this season, David Terrell Jr. was voted as the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office on Feb. 5. He played heavy minutes (26.1 mpg) off the bench in a pair of home games, helping the Miners forge a mark of 1-1 on the week. Terrell Jr. was the top-scoring reserve and placed fourth overall on the team for the week with 7.0 points per game, aided by going 6-7 at the charity stripe. He also accounted for 3.0 rebounds per contest and 1.0 steals per game.
 
STREAKING ON FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
UTEP has claimed the Conference USA Freshman of the Week Award in five consecutive weeks, a program best (prior long was three in a row, 2011-12). The Miners have now compiled eight on the season, also a school record (prior best, six, 2013-14). David Terrell Jr. started the current streak by taking it home on Jan. 8. That was followed by Trey Horton III (Jan. 15) and Elijah Jones Jan. 22). Terrell Jr. has brought it home the past two weeks. The Miners are responsible for more than half (eight of 13) of the CUSA Freshman of the Week awards this year. Jones set the tone by claiming it the first three weeks of the season. The next five weeks went to Middle Tennessee (four times) and Liberty (once). The Miners haven't lost it since, peeling off five in a row.
 
FINDING WAYS TO WIN LATE
After having lost 22 straight games when trailing with five minutes to play, the Miners are 3-5 when faced with that situation since halting the skid against Norfolk State on Dec. 20. UTEP trailed by two in that contest with five minutes left before fighting back for a 67-65 victory. UTEP was down four points with 4:10 left against Chicago State, but it closed the game on a 13-4 run for the win.  In the most-recent victory in the situation, WKU was up by one with 5:18 left but UTEP overcame that as part of a contest-closing 21-12 surge. The Miners had close calls in respective setbacks against Sam Houston and Liberty but couldn't get over the hill.
 
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. 
 
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 straight (longest of career), 14 of the past 15 games and a team-best 21 times total this season. He has also produced a squad-most five 20+ point showings, in addition to topping the team in old-fashioned three-point plays (nine).
 
ZID SCORES IN DOUBLE DIGITS, WE WIN
UTEP is 9-2 on the season when senior Zid Powell hits double figures in scoring, with the lone setbacks in the situation coming by a combined 10 points (L, 88-82, at ACU, Dec. 17 and L, 60-56, at Sam Houston, Jan. 27). Conversely, the Miners are 3-9 (1-9 vs. DI opposition) when Powell falls short of 10 points.
 
GET THE LEAD AND WE'RE PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD
UTEP is 9-2 on the season when leading at the half and a stout 9-1 this year when holding an advantage with five minutes remaining in regulation. It's not a recent trend, with the Miners a combined 36-7 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 15 times. UTEP's average of 11.7 steals per game leads the nation. The Miners tied the school record for steals with 288 last year, but that mark is going to be broken barring something unforeseen. UTEP is 21 steals shy of setting the standard.
 
TURNOVERS DO TOO FOR OPPONENTS
UTEP is leading the country by forcing 19.1 turnovers per game, which projects to 611 by season's end. The school record for most turnovers in a season by Miner opponents is 573, which was set in 2007-08. To break that standard, the Miners must force 14.9 turnovers per game the rest of the way.
 
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-fourth CUSA), minutes per game (32.9-first CUSA), 3-pointers made (45), attempted (125) and 3-pointers per game (2.0-seventh CUSA). Hardy rates second in assists per game (2.4-14th CUSA) and steals (1.9-fourth CUSA/68th NCAA. Hardy has hit at least one triple in all but one contest. He has reached double figures in scoring 21 times, aided by nine straight (longest of career) and 14 of the past 15. He has produced a team-best five 20+ point outings. The Ellenwood, Ga., native also moved past 1,000 career points (1,150) this year, with more than 700 of those coming with UTEP (756).
 
OTIS STEPPING UP
Junior Otis Frazier III, who was named the CUSA Player of the Week for the first time of his career on Jan. 22, has continued to ascend. He averaged 2.5 ppg in 35 appearances for George Mason from 2020-22 before transferring to UTEP. Last year he averaged 7.5 ppg on 50.3 percent (81-161) shooting in his first year with the Miners. His scoring is even better this year, accounting for 10.8 ppg (second team/17th CUSA) with a readout of 51.2 percent (85-166). He's getting after it on defense, leading the squad at 2.1 steals per contest (second CUSA/35th 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 (4.2 rpg-third team/24th CUSA). He has hit more free throws than last year and is a bit better percentage wise too. Frazier III is at 66.0 percent (64-97) from the charity stripe after finishing at 40-63 from the line (63.5 percent) a season ago. He is tied for second on the team in makes (tied seventh CUSA) and is alone in second for attempts (fifth CUSA). Frazier III has hit double figures in scoring 13 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 (3.0 apg-seventh CUSA), free throws made (80-second CUSA) and attempted (109-second CUSA).  He's hitting 73.4 percent at the charity stripe, including missing just six times in league play (24-30, 80.0 percent). Powell is second on the squad for rebounding (4.9-15th CUSA) and is third in scoring (10.7-18th CUSA) and steals (1.6-fifth CUSA. His 3.7 defensive boards per game pace the team and place him tied for ninth in CUSA. Powell has produced 11 double-digit scoring efforts (UTEP is 9-2 in those tilts), including the most points by a Miner since '21-22 with a career-high 32 vs. Wyoming on Dec. 21.
 
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 12 of 13 since. He is second on the team for 3-pointers made (19) and attempted (68), fourth in scoring (8.3 ppg) and tied for fourth in steals (1.4-tied 10th CUSA). The Arkansas native has also done a solid job at the charity stripe, nailing a team-best (minimum 30 attempts) 73.8 percent (45-61), including 81.0 percent (17-21) in CUSA. That included going 2-2 in the waning seconds of the game against Chicago State to seal the victory. Camper Jr. has nine games with double-digit scoring totals, including a career-high 19 points in the win vs. WKU on Jan. 20. The Miners are 8-1 in those contests.
 
SOLOMON'S ALL-AROUND GAME
Senior Calvin Solomon is displaying the full arsenal of his abilities in 2023-24, tying for the team lead in blocked shots (0.6-tied 14th CUSA), rating fourth in rebounding (3.9), assists (1.5) and tied for fourth steals (1.4-tied 10th CUSA). He also contributes 6.7 ppg (fifth on team). He has proven to be a team player by coming off the bench in 11 of the past 13 contests after starting nine early on. He did, however, start last time out vs. Liberty. Solomon is fourth for free throws made (61-10th CUSA) and attempts (83-seventh CUSA) for a readout of 73.5 percent. That is the second 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. The Houston native also joined the 1,000 career points club  (1,007) this year, with 461 coming at UTEP.
 
KALU MAKING HIS MARK
Kevin Kalu is tied for the team lead in blocked shots (0.6-tied 14th CUSA) while holding it outright for rebounding (5.0-14th CUSA). The junior is first on the team and 12th in the league for offensive boards per game (1.7) and second on the squad and 20th in CUSA for defensive rebounds per contest (3.3). He has pulled down at least four rebounds in 18 games. He is chipping in 4.4 ppg but is doing so at an efficient 60.0 percent (42-70) from the floor.
 
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 fourth for steals (1.4 spg-ninth CUSA). His scoring is coming around as well, as he's elevated it to 5.1 ppg (sixth on team) on a solid 46.4 percent from the floor. The three-time CUSA Freshman of the Week (Jan. 8, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5) has scored at least six points in eight of the past 10 contests. Two of his three double-digit scoring efforts on the year have come during the stretch.
 
4X CUSA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
UTEP forward Elijah Jones has been named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week four times this season, including each of the first three weeks. He became the first Miner in program history to win three straight CUSA Freshman of the Week honors, with it being more impressive that he did it out of the gates. After a strong showing in a pair of home wins against Middle Tennessee (Jan. 18) and WKU (Jan. 20), he picked up his fourth such honor on Jan. 22. Overall, Jones is seventh overall for scoring (4.6 ppg). He adds 2.0 rpg (seventh overall). He is an accurate free throw shooter, connecting on 13-17 (76.5 percent). He is also 7-19 (36.8 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 2.6 ppg and 1.1 rpg in 10.4 mpg, aided by a campaign-best seven points vs. Seattle U on Dec. 30.  He has, however, missed back-to-back contests with injuries.

GETTING TO THE LINE
The Miners' relentless drive toward to the paint (33.8 points in paint per game) and getting out in transition (17.7 fastbreak points per game-second NCAA) has led to them taking the seventh-most free throws per game (25.9-first CUSA) in the country. UTEP is also 13th nationally for free throws made per contest (18.0-first CUSA). The Miners have four players in the top 10 for CUSA for free throws made. They are Zid Powell (80-second), Otis Frazier III and Tae Hardy at 64 (tied seventh) and Calvin Solomon (61-10th CUSA).
 
POUNDING THE PAINT
UTEP has demonstrated the ability to get points in the paint in 2023-24. A good chunk (772-1,689, 45.7 percent) of the Miners' points on the season have come in the paint. On the year, the Orange and Blue have a 772-712 advantage for points in the paint. That works out to 33.6 ppg in the paint for UTEP compared to 30.9 by foes.
 
LET'S GET OUT AND RUN
The Miners are accounting for 17.7 fastbreak points per game, the second-highest average in the country. They have tallied at least 12 points on the break in 20 of 23 contests this year, including a campaign-best 47 against USAO on Nov. 9. Their DI high (31 vs. WKU on Jan. 20) was the most since the '06-07 season when they also had 31 vs. Marshall. UTEP has a remarkable 408-227 cushion against opponents this season in the category, with the 17.7-9.9 ppg differential on average.
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP is dishing out 13.0 assists per contest to rate fifth 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 (3.0 apg-seventh CUSA) and Tae Hardy (2.4 apg-14th CUSA) lead the charge. Freshman David Terrell Jr. (1.9 apg-19th CUSA) has also been good at setting up teammates.
 
GIVE ME THAT BALL
UTEP has notched at least seven steals in all 23 games, with double-digit totals 15 times. That effort has led to it leading the nation in both steals per game (11.7) and turnovers forced per contest (19.1). Foes have committed at least 17 turnovers 15 times, which included a school-record streak of eight straight with 19 or more. Both Chicago State (Jan.7) and Middle Tennessee (Jan. 18) were harassed into 27 turnovers, the most by a DI Miner opponent since Norfolk State had 32 on Dec. 28, 2009.
 
LOTS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OPPOSITION
UTEP has six players in the top 10 in Conference USA for steals per game. Each of them also help comprise the top-six scorers on the squad. Otis Frazier III (2.1-second CUSA/35th NCAA) leads the way, with Tae Hardy (1.9-fourth CUSA/68th NCAA) just back of him. Zid Powell is at 1.6 spg (fifth CUSA). Corey Camper Jr., Calvin Solomon and David Terrell Jr. round out the list at 1.4 steals per game (tied 10th 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 73.4 points per game (fifth CUSA), with the bench accounting for 24.0 ppg (fifth CUSA/84th NCAA). Overall, the Miners hold a 551-469 differential in reserve scoring. That works out to a 24.0-20.4 advantage per contest.
 
WHO IS PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Heading into Saturday's contest vs. NM State, three Miners are accounting for double figures in scoring while three others are between 5.0 ppg and 8.5 ppg. Senior Tae Hardy (15.0 ppg-fourth CUSA) tops the team. Junior Otis Frazier III (10.8 ppg-17th CUSA) and Buffalo transfer Zid Powell (10.7 ppg-18th CUSA) join him in double digits on average. JUCO Honorable-Mention All-American (Tyler JC) Corey Camper Jr. (8.3 ppg), senior Calvin Solomon (6.7 ppg) and three-time CUSA Freshman of the Week David Terrell Jr. (5.1 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
Nine different Miners have earned double figures in playing time on average, including seven who have appeared in every contest. Tae Hardy (32.9-first CUSA) is the only one on the squad to be earning more than 30.0 minutes per contest. Otis Frazier III (26.5 mpg), Zid Powell (25.7 mpg) and Corey Camper Jr. (26.0) are the only others above 25.0 mpg.
 
UTEP IN THE RANKINGS
UTEP leads Conference USA in six major stat categories. The Miners top the conference in fastbreak scoring (17.7-second NCAA), free throw attempts per game (25.9-1-seventh NCAA), free throws made per game (18.0-13th NCAA), steals per game (11.7-first NCAA), turnover margin (4.5-15th NCAA) and turnovers forced per contest (19.1-first NCAA). UTEP is also in the top-100 nationally for bench scoring (24.0-fifth CUSA/84th NCAA) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (31.5-third CUSA/71st 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 16-26 from the floor (61.5 percent) in 62 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.
 
HISTORIC PERFORMANCE FOR FRAZIER III
Otis Frazier III had a historic performance against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 18. He 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 that game.
 
SOLOMON & HARDY SURPASS 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Seniors Tae Hardy and Calvin Solomon have both moved past 1,000 career points this season. Hardy did so with a 3-pointer against Wyoming on Dec. 21 while Solomon joined the club after knocking down a free throw at Sam Houston on Jan. 27. Hardy is now at 1,150 (756 with UTEP) while Solomon stands at 1,007 (461 with the Miners).
 
HISTORIC STEALS STRETCH
The Miners put together a school-record seven straight games with 10+ steals (ended vs. Jax State with nine thefts). That included a stretch with 15+ steals in four consecutive contests, which tied as the second longest in the nation dating to 1996-97 (according to NCAA research). Missouri (five, 2022-23) had the most in that stretch, followed by the Miners, Clemson (four, 2009-10), Georgetown (four, 2003-04), Pittsburgh (four, 1998-99) and West Virginia (four, 1997-98). 
 
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, rating second in the league for total fans (60,998) and placing second in average attendance (4,357).
 
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 204-187 all time between Abilene Christian and UTEP, including 46-43 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 204-187 in his 13th season as a collegiate head coach, including 46-43 at UTEP. Those 45 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 opens up a two-game roadswing when it plays at Western Kentucky in a nationally-televised tilt (CBS Sports Network) 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.