Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (3-3) will look to bounce back when it faces former Conference USA rival UAB (5-2) in its second and final contest of the Jacksonville Classic, presented by Just Play Solutions, at 2 p.m. MT/4 p.m. ET Tuesday. The Miners whittled a 13-point deficit all the way down to one before eventually falling to William & Mary, 74-63, on Nov. 24. The Blazers rode a huge day from KyeRon Lindsay-Martin (25 points, 10 boards) to oust Southern Illinois, 81-73, for their fourth straight win in their first game at the event. The matchup is the final one in the month in November for the Orange and Blue. A victory would afford them their first against a DI opponent this season, in addition to extending to securing their seventh consecutive campaign with a winning record in the month of November. UTEP hasn't sustained a losing mark in the month since a 2-4 start in 2018-19. The Miners will have their hands full with the task, though, in facing a Blazer program that has qualified for postseason play in four straight seasons, including two bids to the "Big Dance." UAB also has 125 victories in that timeframe (11th most in the NCAA) while being one of six programs in college basketball to qualify for four consecutive conference tournament finals. The game against the Blazers continues a brutal stretch with four in a row and seven of nine outside of the Sun City. UTEP will enjoy a nice break following the MTE before true road contests at Seattle (Dec. 7) and Hawaii (Dec. 13). The Orange and Blue then have another gap off before returning home to play host to the 2025 WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 21-22). Following the holiday tourney, UTEP's first three league contests will also be in hostile territory. UTEP will venture to LA Tech (12/29), new CUSA member Missouri State (Jan. 2) and FIU (Jan. 4). Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners' App for the tilt vs. the Blazers. It will also be streamed on PassThaBall Live.
 
GET TO KNOW UAB (5-2)
Former Conference USA rival UAB (5-2) has peeled off four straight, including taking out Southern Illinois, 81-73, in its first game of the Jacksonville Classic presented by Just Play Solutions on Nov. 24. The Blazers have a completely rebuilt roster, having lost all five starters and 13 of 14 letterwinners from last year's team that forged a record of 24-13 and made a nice run to the quarterfinals of the NIT. UAB brought in six DI transfers, four players out of the JUCO ranks, a pair of walk-ons and two freshmen. It had one returnee, who was in the form of walk-on Joey Kahn. Former two-time SEC Coach of the Year Andy Kennedy (126-51, sixth season at UAB, 392-219, 19th year overall) has made things come together quickly, with his new-look squad doing plenty of things right. The high-flying Blazers put up 87.7 points per game (second American Conference/60th NCAA) thanks to Chance Westry (17.3 ppg-sixth AC), Jacob Meyer (16.3 ppg-10th AC), KyeRon Lindsay-Martin (11.9 ppg), Ahmad Robinson (11.7 ppg) and Daniel Rivera (11.1 ppg) all producing double figures in scoring. UAB is also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for numerous other categories, including assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.63-second/44th), assists per game (16.6-third/95th), fastbreak points per game (21.0-first/11th), fewest fouls per game (15.3-first/30th), free throw attempts per game (24.7-sixth/91st), rebound margin (+9.7-second/45th), defensive rebounds per game (29.4-first/38th), offensive boards per game (15.4-second/19th), scoring margin (+16.1-third/70th), steals per game (9.7-second/41st), 3-point percentage defense (26.1-first/27th), turnover margin (+4.1-third/55th) and fewest turnovers per game (10.1-fourth/50th). Westry (4.7 apg-third AC) and Robinson (4.7 apg-sixth AC) are both lethal passers while Rivera fills up 57.4 percent (fourth AC/90th NCAA) of his shots from the floor. Evan Chatman (8.7-third AC/62nd), Lindsay-Martin (7.4-seventh AC) and Rivera (7.3-eighth AC) are all beasts on the boards. Westry is also a menace defensively with 2.14 steals per game (fourth AC). UAB had a 1-2 start to the season, including a 77-74 home lose to Alabama State on Nov. 11 that shook the Blazers' faithful to their core, but it has made that setback a distant memory. The Blazers have won all four games since that point, including a pair of blowouts, while looking like a team that is destined to qualify for postseason play for a fifth straight season. Notable alumni include Regina Benjamin (former U.S. Surgeon General), Steve Chiotakis (featured on All Things Considered broadcast), Deidre Downs (2005 Miss America) and Vonetta Flowers (2002 Olympic gold medalist in bobsled)
 
SERIES HISTORY: UAB LEADS, 18-9
UAB leads the series with UTEP, 18-9, aided by nine straight wins. The former Conference USA rivals met up at least once per season every year from 2005-06 through the end of the 2022-23 campaign, but they haven't locked up since. The Miners are taking aim at their first victory against the Blazers since they knocked them off, 63-59, on Feb. 2, 2017, at the Don Haskins Center. The last time the Orange and Blue ousted UAB outside of El Paso was with a 63-61 vanquishing at Bartow Arena on Jan. 18, 2014. Tuesday's matchup is just the second between the programs that will not happen as conference foes. UTEP blasted UAB, 72-58, to take home the title at the 1988 Sun Carnival Classic on Dec. 29 of that year.
 
TOUGH NONCONFERENCE DI SLATE
Including the matchup against UAB, the Miners' four nonconference opponents this year enter Tuesday with a combined record of 22-5. LMU is 6-1 while Utah State stands at 6-0. Both William & Mary and UAB sport marks of 5-2. UTEP is 3-3 on the season, but it is search of its first DI triumph of the 2025-26 season.
 
GOING BACK IN TIME (WILLIAM & MARY 74, UTEP 63, 11/24/25)
Caleb Blackwell tallied a career-high tying 13 points (11 in second half) to pace a quartet of Miners in double figures for scoring, but UTEP was upended, 74-63, by William & Mary in its first game of the Jacksonville Classic presented by Just Play Solutions on Nov. 25. The Miners dug themselves a 13-0 hole five minutes into the contest. The deficit was 12 (35-23) at the half, and UTEP still trailed the Tribe (5-2) by double figures (48-37) with 14 minutes remaining in regulation. The Miners started to find their footing, though, ripping off a 12-2 run to cut the margin all the way down to one (50-49, 10:46, 2H). UTEP was within striking distance with roughly five minutes left, with the differential at three (61-58, 4:34, 2H), but William & Mary managed to hold on. The tilt featured runs from each side, but there were no ties or lead changes due to the sluggish start from UTEP.
 
SHOWED PLENTY OF FIGHT
Facing a 13-0 deficit five minutes into the game and still down by 11 (48-37) with only 14 minutes left in regulation, it would have been easy for UTEP to fold up shop against William & Mary. The Miners, however, showed some toughness by fighting back to make in a one-possession game on five separate occasions down the stretch, but couldn't get over the hill.
 
GROUP EFFORT ON THE GLASS
UTEP had a team approach to rebounding against William & Mary, with Cassius Brooks, Elijah Jones, David Tubek  Jamal West Jr. all grabbing five boards in the game.
 
BEEN THAT WAY ALL YEAR
Entering the matchup with UAB, five Miners are accounting for between 3.0-4.8 rpg. Jamal West Jr. (4.8) is atop the list, followed closely by Kaseem Watson (4.7 rpg) and Elijah Jones (4.5). David Tubek (3.5) and Cassius Brooks (3.0) have also contributed. While there's still plenty of time to change things, the last time the Miners failed to have a player record at least 5.0 rpg on the year was in 1952-53 (Jim Babers, 3.9 rpg). 
 
BOOST FROM THE BENCH
Cassius Brooks set DI highs for points (11), rebounding (five) and minutes (24) in his best showing of the season yet against William & Mary. He finished 3-5 from the floor (1-2 on 3s), while also establishing DI highs for free throws made (four) and attempted (four).
 
HEATED UP IN THE SECOND HALF
After being held to 23 points and shooting 31.0 percent (9-29) from the floor in a challenging first half, the Miners got their offense in gear over the final 20 minutes. UTEP knocked down 41.7 percent (15-36) from the floor, including 52.1 percent (12-23 on two-point tries. The result was a 40-point second half, the Miners' most against a DI opponent this season (prior best, 31, at Utah State).
 
MULTIPLE GUYS GOT GOING
Caleb Blackwell (13 points, 11 in second half), Kaseem Watson (11 points, all in second half) and Elijah Jones (10 points, eight in second half) picked up their play over the final 20 minutes of action against William & Mary. Cassius Brooks also reached double figures in scoring with 11 points, but seven of his were in the opening stanza.
 
SIX UP AND SIX DOWN FOR JONES
After registering a total of five double-digit scoring games through 60 contests played in his first two seasons with the Miners, Elijah Jones has done so in all six tilts thus far in 2025-26 to triple his prior career-long streak (two, twice). He has been steadfast, recording respective point totals of 13, 16, 10, 13, 15 and 10.
 
PILED UP THE STEALS
UTEP registered a season-high 15 steals against William & Mary, surpassing its prior high (12, three times). It was the most thefts in a contest by the Miners since they had 15 against LA Tech last year (1/2/25). That figure was also the most against a DI nonconference opponent since the Orange and Blue produced 16 against Long Beach State in a 70-44 throttling on Nov. 26, 2024.
 
PLENTY PITCHED IN
Jamal West Jr. (career-high four), Kaseem Watson (career-most three) and Caleb Blackwell (season-high three) keyed the charges for steals. Tyreese Watson also got involved with a pair of thefts.
 
PENCIL HIM IN FOR MULTIPLE STEALS
Tyreese Watson, who is second in CUSA and 20th nationally with 2.8 steals per contest, has been the epitome of consistency in the department this year. He has registered multiple thefts in all five games (2/5/3/2/2) he has played in (missed first due to injury) and is on pace to finish with nearly 90 by season's end.
 
STEALS ARE SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US
UTEP piled up 15 steals against William & Mary, elevating its season average to a 11.2 spg (first CUSA/11th NCAA). The Miners have been among the very best in the nation for the category the past few years under Joe Golding. The Orange and Blue were second nationally for steals per game in 2024-25 (10.2), led the country in 2023-24 (11.4) and were 12th in the NCAA in 2022-23 (9.0).
 
TALKING DOUBLE-DIGIT STEALS UNDER GOLDING
UTEP has produced 58 games with at least 10 steals under head coach Joe Golding, including doing so four times in six contests this year. To put that figure into perspective, consider that in the prior 15 seasons to Golding's arrival (started for 2021-22), the Orange and Blue amassed 60 total such efforts.
 
CASH MONEY
DII Arkansas Tech transfer Cassius Brooks continued his strong start to the season with a season-high 11 points against William & Mary on Nov. 24. It marked his third game this season with at least eight points off the pine. He enters the matchup against UAB pitching in 6.8 ppg to lead all Miner reserves.
 
PRACTICALLY PERFECT AT THE LINE
Caleb Blackwell has been nearly flawless at the free-throw line thus far on the season. He has knocked down 11-12 attempts for a team-best readout of 91.7 percent. That was aided by nailing a career-most five tries (in five attempts) to help UTEP snap a five-game OT losing skid in an 84-83 vanquishing of St. Thomas (Texas) on Nov. 19.
 
JONES HAS ELEVATED HIS PLAY
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year. He tops the team in blocked shots (1.3 bpg-sixth CUSA while rating second for scoring (12.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.5 rpg). The junior has also been an effective scorer by knocking down 56.6 percent (30-53) from the floor. That readout is good enough for sixth in CUSA while placing him just outside the top-100 nationally (101st) in the stat.
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE DO
UTEP is up to its old tricks with forcing turnovers in 2025-26. The Miners enter Tuesday's showdown with UAB at 18.8 opponent giveaways per game (first CUSA/sixth NCAA), which continues a trend of success the past few years. The Miners have led CUSA and been among the best, if not the best in the country, in that area the past three years (2024-25, 16.0-sixth, 2023-24, 18.7-first and 2022-23,16.8-10th).
 
THAT'S A MARGIN WE LIKE
Thanks in large part to forcing 18.8 turnovers per game (first CUSA/sixth NCAA), the Miners enter the matchup with UAB with one of the best turnover margins nationwide. UTEP boasts a +6.0 turnover margin, which places it second in CUSA and 17th nationally.
 
JAMAL JUST DOESN'T MISS
Jamal West Jr. is connecting on a ridiculous 66.0 (31-47) of his shots on the year which is third in CUSA and 21st in the country. He has also been solid at the charity stripe, connecting on 71.4 percent (15-21), pacing the Miners in makes while tying for the team lead in attempts with Tyreese Watson. Overall, he tops the team in both scoring (13.2 ppg) and rebounding (4.8 rpg). He also boasts a team-high four And-1s.
 
HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE SHOOTING IT WELL
Four Miners are connecting on at least 50.0 from the floor (min. 10 FGA). Jamal West Jr. leads the with way with a stunning 66.0 percent (31-47, third CUSA/21st NCAA), followed by Cassius Brooks at 62.5 percent (15-25), LA Hayes at 58.3 percent (7-12) and Elijah Jones at 56.6 percent (30-53, sixth CUSA).
 
THE BEST DEFENDERS ARE CONSISTENT THREATS
Caleb Blackwell is the only Miners to record at least one steal in every contest (all six) while team leader Tyreese Watson (2.8 spg-second CUSA/20th NCAA) has produced multiple thefts in all five games he's appeared in (missed one game due to injury). Jamal West Jr. and KJ Thomas both have at least one steal in five of six tilts this year. Overall, UTEP accounts for four players in the top 20 for CUSA in steals per game. They are in the form of Watson, West Jr. (1.67-11th) and Blackwell and Thomas (1.5-tied 17th).
 
QUICK RUNDOWN
- Lost all five starters and 11 letter winners overall from last year.
- Lost 89.0 percent of scoring, 77.7 percent of the rebounding, 90.3 percent of its assists, 90.8 percent of the steals and 74.7 percent of its blocks.
- Returned four players from last year, including two who started the opener (Elijah Jones & KJ Thomas), and another (Jordan Hernandez) who made his UTEP debut.
- Ten newcomers joined the squad, including DI transfers C.J. Smith (Oklahoma State), David Tubek (Seton Hall), Tyreese Watson (ULM), third-team All-MEAC member Kaseem Watson (Delaware State) and back-to-back All-Southland Conference second-team honoree Jamal West Jr. (Nicholls State). Second-team NJCAA All-American and the No. 12 JUCO player nationally Caleb Blackwell (South Plains), first-team all-conference and NJCAA All-Tourney team LA Hayes (Frank Phillips College) and 2025 NJCAA National Champion Mouhamed Mbaye (Trinity Valley CC) venture from the JUCO ranks. Three-star recruit Bobby Montgomery Jr. (Mt. Zion Prep) is a true freshman. DII transfer and second-team All-GAC recipient Cassius Brooks (Arkansas Tech), who scored more than 900 points in two years, rounds out the list of newcomers.
 
WINNING WAYS WITH GOLDING
UTEP head coach Joe Golding has led his squad to three winning seasons in four years, securing 18+ wins in each of them. That hadn't happened since the Miners claimed 18+ games in four straight seasons from 2012-16. UTEP has also posted consecutive campaigns with 18 wins for the first time since that stretch.
 
HOME COOKING
The Miners are 3-1 thus far at home, and they are looking for 10+ wins in the Sun City for the sixth straight year. UTEP was 11-5 at the Bear's Den last year, including winning the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for the second straight year.
 
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE
UTEP stands 25-4 at home in nonconference games dating to the start of the 2022-23 campaign, including 3-1 this year. The Miners were 7-0 in the Sun City in the situation last year. It was the first undefeated effort (min. five games) in the area since 2019-20 (8-0).
 
THE BEST FANS IN CONFERENCE USA
UTEP has led Conference USA in attendance for either total number of fans or average attendance for all four years of head coach Joe Golding's tenure. In 2024-25 the Orange and Blue topped the league in both categories. UTEP averaged a CUSA-best 5,247 fans and had a league-most 83,954 pass through the turnstiles.
 
PRESEASON PREMONITIONS
UTEP was predicted to finish eighth in Conference USA for the 2025-26 season, as voted upon by the league's head coaches. Defending regular-season and tournament champion Liberty (143) led the way, followed by Kennesaw State (113), NM State (113), Middle Tennessee (103), LA Tech (82), WKU (79), Jax State (67), the Miners (66), Sam Houston (56), FIU (36) and league newcomers Delaware (35) and Missouri State (30). UTEP did not land anyone on the league's All-CUSA Preseason Team.
 
 A YEAR IN REVIEW
-           Compiled a record of 18-15 in 2024-25, marking the third season of at least 18 triumphs in four years under head coach Joe Golding.
-           Outlasted I-10 rival NM State, 66-63, on the road, for its first victory against the Aggies in the Pan-American Center in 14 years.
-           Won the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for the second straight season.
-           Surged out to the best record through 20 games (15-5) in 15 years.
-           Won at least one contest at the CUSA Championships for the second consecutive campaign. That hadn't happened since an eight-season run (2010-17).
-           Nailed 241 triples, the second-most in a single season in program history.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP'S PROGRAM
-           This is the 105th 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 fifth 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 231-210 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 73-66 at UTEP. He has enjoyed three winning seasons in four years, piling up at least 18 triumphs in those campaigns above .500. He stands fifth all-time on the school's list for career victories, and he has a very good chance of taking over third place by year's end. Tony Barbee (82-52, 2006-10) and George McCarty (77-58, 1954-59) hold third and fourth, respectively. Golding set the tone for his tenure in his first year on the sidelines in the Sun City in 2021-22. He became the fourth head coach in program history to have a winning season in their initial season. Don Haskins was the first to do so 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 enjoy a nice break following the MTE before true road contests at Seattle (Dec. 7). It will be streamed on ESPN+ and Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners' App.
 

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