Game Notes In PDF Format

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (3-5) will challenge surging Hawaii (9-2) in its lone game of the week at 7 p.m. HT/10 MT Saturday. The Miners are coming off a hard-fought 75-68 setback at West Coast Conference member Seattle U on Dec. 7. It was their third straight loss, but UTEP played some of its best basketball of the season during the game that featured 11 ties and nine lead changes. The Rainbow Warrior have won five straight and are 9-1 at home. Last time out they smashed Hawaii Hilo, 98-46, on Dec. 10. Hawaii's two losses have come by a combined eight points, both on the road to Power Four programs. It fell at Oregon, 60-59, on an offensive putback driving layup in the campaign lid lifter on Nov. 4 while coming up shy at Arizona State, 83-76, on Nov. 20. Following a sprint to begin the season where the Miners played seven times in just over three weeks, the pace has slowed considerably. The matchup at Hawaii is just the second since the Jacksonville Classic (Nov. 24-25). UTEP has another break after Saturday's affair, with the Orange and Blue idle until the 2025 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 21-22). The Miners are then off for the holiday break before playing their first three CUSA contests in hostile territory. They will face LA Tech (12/29), first-year CUSA member Missouri State (1/2) and FIU (1/4). The tilt against Hawaii continues a brutal stretch (0-3 thus far) with four straight and seven of nine outside of El Paso. 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 Saturday's contest. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Felipe Ojastro (play by play) and Artie Wilson (color analyst) on the call.
 
GET TO KNOW HAWAII (9-2)
Big West member Hawaii is rolling on the season with a record of 9-2 on the year, including standing 9-1 at home. Its two losses have come by a combined eight points, both at Power four programs. The Rainbow Warriors fell at Oregon, 60-59, after giving up numerous offensive rebounds that resulted in a driving layup in the campaign lid lifter on Nov. 4. They also came up shy at Arizona State, 83-76, on Nov. 20. Hawaii returned just one starter and three other letterwinners from last year's team that finished 15-16. It added nine newcomers, including six from the DI level. Isaac Johnson (13.2 ppg), Dre Bullock (12.1 ppg), Harry Rouhliadeff (10.6 ppg) and Gytis Nemeiksa (10.3 ppg) are all in double figures for scoring to key a balanced attack that produces 81.7 ppg. The Rainbow Warriors get downhill, leading the Big West and rating in the top-10 nationally for both free throws made (20.7-10th) and free throws attempted (29.0-eighth) per game. The bench is also important with 30.6 ppg (second Big West/75th NCAA). Hawaii, however, is even better on the defensive side of the floor by holding the opposition to only 63.3 ppg (first Big West/13th NCAA) on 37.5 percent shooting (second Big West/18th NCAA). It is also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for rebounding margin (+11.2-first/14th), defensive boards per game (30.0-second/19th), total rebounds per game (41.8-second/33rd) and winning percentage (.818-second/40th). Individually, Johnson's three double-doubles are second in the league and 56th in the country. The Rainbow Warriors are in their 14th and final season of the Big West for the basketball program, with the school joining the Mountain West Conference alongside UTEP for the 2026-27 season. Notable university alumni include Ann Dunham (anthropologist and mother of President Barack Obama) and Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (USA Volleyball Team member and former Olympian).
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 34-19
UTEP has a lengthy history with Hawaii dating to when both programs were members of the Western Athletic Club, with the Miners holding a 34-19 advantage in the series. Aiding that mark was UTEP winning 10 straight against the Rainbow Warriors in the middle of the 1980's. The two programs last squared off in the 2019-20 season, a 67-63 victory by Hawaii as part of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. That outcome snapped a four-game winning streak by UTEP. It was also the first meeting between the programs since the '04-05 campaign.
 
BRUTAL NONCONFERENCE DI SLATE
Including the matchup at Hawaii, the Miners' five nonconference DI opponents boast a combined record of 46-14 and none of them has more than three setbacks.  Utah State (8-1, NET 33) and William & Mary (8-3, NET 68) are high in the NET rankings while UAB (101) and Seattle U (108) are on the cusp of the top 100 for the metric.
 
FEWEST HOME GAMES IN DECEMBER SINCE 1959-60
UTEP's two home games in December (both at the 2025 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational), are the fewest in the month in the Sun City since 1959-60 (one contest). The Miners lost, 68-41, to Oklahoma State (12/9/59) under the direction of first-year head coach Harold Davis. Davis took over for the then winningiest coach in program (George McCarty) before being replaced by the legendary and Naismith Hall of Famer Don Haskins.
 
LAST GAME (AT SEATTLE U 75, UTEP 68, 12/7/25)
Jamal West Jr. posted a monstrous double-double (21 points, 14 rebounds) while Elijah Jones (18 points) got going as well, but UTEP was clipped at West Coast Conference member Seattle U, 75-68, on Dec. 7. The Miners played well throughout the tilt that featured 11 ties and nine lead changes. They led the Redhawks by two (65-63) with 4:41 remaining in regulation, but the home side peeled off eight in a row to vault into the lead. Jones drilled a 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game (71-68,1:38, 2H), but SU managed to hold on.
 
BEST OFFENSIVE EFFORT VS. DI FOE THIS YEAR
UTEP operated well offensively, connecting on 47.4 percent (27-57) from the floor and turning it over only 13 times. It marked the Miners' top shooting percentage against a DI opponent in '25-26, which was aided by piling up 36 points in the paint. UTEP's 68 points were also its top readout vs. DI foes on the campaign. That was helped by surpassing 30 in each half for the first occasion vs. a DI opponent on the year.
 
ONE-TWO PUNCH AT SEATTLE U
Jamal West Jr. (21 points) and Elijah Jones (18) combined for more than half (39 of 68, 57.4 percent) of the Miners' points at Seattle U. The duo shot a combined 15-24 (62.5 percent) from the floor, but unfortunately the rest of the squad finished at 12-33 (36.4 percent) from the field.
 
BIG NIGHT ON THE BOARDS
Jamal West Jr. went for a season-high 21 points, but what was more encouraging was his 14 rebounds to deliver the first double-double by a Miner this season. The 14 boards were the most by a UTEP player since Kevin Kalu pulled down 15 against Sam Houston (3/11/25) in the 2025 CUSA Tournament. In terms of DI nonconference opposition, it was the highest number of caroms by a Miner since Keonte Kennedy snared 15 in the Basketball Classic vs. Western Illinois (3/19/22).
 
SECOND CAREER START FOR TREY
Trey Horton III earned his second career start at Seattle U. He delivered a fine performance, setting season highs for points (nine), minutes played (26), field goals made (three) and attempted (six) and 3-pointers made (two) and tried (five). The nine points were his second most vs. a DI nonconference opponent of his career, trailing an 11-point effort against Chicago State (1/7/24) in his freshman season.
 
IMPACT MINUTES FROM BIG MO
Mouhamed Mbaye only played six minutes at Seattle U, but he made the most of them. He boasted a +5 plus/minus in that timeframe, which led all Miners on the day. Mbaye also pitched in two rebounds, blocked a shot and got on the floor for a loose ball.
 
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Both Jamal West Jr. (64.1 percent, second CUSA/24th NCAA) and Elijah Jones (59.0 percent, third CUSA/51st NCAA) find themselves amongst the nation's leaders for field-goal percentage. The duo has combined to connect on 61.3 percent (87-142) of its shots, with the majority of those coming inside the arc.
 
EIGHT UP AND EIGHT DOWN FOR JONES
Elijah Jones has hit double figures in all eight contests this year. It marks the longest such stretch to begin a season by a Miner since Lee Moore achieved the feat over the first nine games out of the gate in 2015-16. Souley Boum posted 10+ points in his first nine appearances of 2021-22, but it came over a 13-game stretch (DNP four times due to injury).
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (14.5 ppg-eighth CUSA) and Jamal West Jr. (13.3 ppg-13th CUSA) are hitting shots at a high rate, so it comes as no surprise that the pair sits first and second, respectively for scoring on the team. Kaseem Watson (9.1 ppg) is on the verge of double figures on average while Caleb Blackwell and Tyreese Watson, both at 8.0 ppg, have also been threats on offense.
 
TALK ABOUT A LEAP
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 eight tilts in 2025-26. That effort also more than triples his prior career-long streak (two, twice). He lit up UAB for his first 20+ point career (21 points) showing on Nov. 25 before nearly reaching that figure again last time out when he tallied 18 points at Seattle U. Overall, he has respective point totals of (13, 16, 10, 13, 15, 10, 21 and 18) this year.
 
PROGRESS ON THE BOARDS
UTEP entered the game at Seattle U on the heels of being outrebounded by 24 (46-22) vs. UAB on Nov. 25. The Miners did not win the rebounding battle against the Redhawks (33-29), but they were much more competitive in the department. Lots of the credit goes to Jamal West Jr. and his game-high 14 rebounds (seven offensive, seven defensive).
 
THAT'S A LOT OF OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS
Jamal West Jr's seven offensive rebounds were the most by a Miner in a game since Kevin Kalu pulled down eight against Sam Houston (3/11/25) in UTEP's opening-round victory at the 2025 CUSA Tournament. The effort elevated West Jr. to 2.75 offensive boards per game, which is sixth in CUSA and on the verge (115th) of the top-100 nationally.
 
USING A GROUP EFFORT TO REBOUND
Four different Miners are contributing at least 3.0 rebounds per game, but no one as of yet has emerged as the true leader in the department. Jamal West Jr. (5.6 rpg) is making a case for that spot, with his average taking a big jump up after pulling down 14 rebounds at Seattle U last time out. Elijah Jones (4.1 rpg) and Kaseem Watson (4.1 rpg) share second on the team while Cassius Brooks pitches in 3.0 rpg.
 
PENCIL HIM IN FOR MULTIPLE STEALS
Tyreese Watson leads CUSA and is 42nd nationally with 2.3 steals per contest. He has been the epitome of consistency in the department this year. Watson had two or more in each of his first five tilts (2/5/3/2/2) he appeared in (missed first game due to injury) before coming up with one against both UAB and at Seattle U.
 
STEALS ARE SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US
UTEP piled up a season-high 15 steals against William & Mary on Nov. 24. Even with a combined total of 11 the past two tilts, the Miners enter the matchup at Hawaii at 9.8 spg (second CUSA/32nd NCAA). UTEP has 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). They topped CUSA in each of those campaigns.
 
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.
 
DOING IT ALL
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year. He tops the team in blocked shots (1.4-fourth CUSA) and scoring (14.5-eighth CUSA). He is also second on the team in field-goal percentage (59.0 percent-third CUSA/51st NCAA) and is also tied for second on the squad in rebounding (4.1 rpg).
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE DO
UTEP is up to its old tricks with forcing turnovers in 2025-26. The Miners enter the game at Hawaii with the opposition committing 16.5 giveaways per game (second CUSA/19th NCAA). 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 16.6 turnovers per game (second CUSA/19th NCAA), the Miners enter the matchup at Hawaii with one of the best turnover margins nationwide. UTEP boasts a +3.6 figure in the category, which places it second in CUSA and 49th nationally.
 
JAMAL DOESN'T MISS MUCH
Jamal West Jr. is connecting on a ridiculous 64.1 (41-64) of his shots on the year to rate second in CUSA and 24th nationally. He has also delivered at the charity stripe, connecting on 73.3 percent. West Jr. paces the team in both makes (22) and attempts (30). Overall, he is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg, helped by a squad-leading six And-1s.
 
HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE SHOOTING IT WELL
Three Miners are connecting on at least 50.0 from the floor (min. 10 FGA). Jamal West Jr. leads the with way with a stunning 64.1 percent (41-64, second CUSA/24th NCAA), followed by Elijah Jones at 59.0 percent (46-78, third CUSA/59th NCAA) and Cassius Brooks at 60.0 percent (15-25).
 
THE BEST DEFENDERS ARE CONSISTENT THREATS
UTEP boasts for players in the top 25 in Conference USA for steals per game. League-leading Tyreese Watson (2.3 spg-first CUSA/42nd NCAA) sets the tone. KJ Thomas, Kaseem Watson and Jamal West Jr. tie for 16th in the league.
 
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 231-212 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 73-68 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 has another lengthy break before returning home to play host to the 2025 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational from Dec. 21-22. The Miners open the event by facing 2025 NCAA Tournament participant Norfolk State at 7 p.m. on Dec. 21. UTEP will then either compete in the championship contest or third/fourth-place game against either North Dakota State or UC Irvine on Dec. 22. Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd 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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