Game Notes 

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (5-11, 1-4 CUSA) will venture back across the country to lock up with first-year CUSA member Delaware (5-11, 1-4 CUSA) at 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET on Thursday. It is the first of two games on the week for the Miners, who will also play at defending regular season and tournament champion Liberty at 1 p.m. MT/3 p.m. ET on Saturday. UTEP went 1-1 in El Paso in its initial home week of league play, besting then co-league leading Middle Tennessee, 83-80, in OT before falling to WKU, 68-56, last time out on Jan. 10. This week's stretch will conclude a brutal sequence of nine of 13 outside of El Paso (two neutral, seven road), including five of seven in hostile territory to commence league action. It is the opposite story for the Fightin' Blue Hen, who by week's end will have capped a sequence with seven of nine at home. UD is 3-5 at home on the year (1-2 CUSA) while the Orange and Blue stand 0-6 on the road (0-3 CUSA). The Hens dropped a pair of contests on the road last week, including most recently being held off at LA Tech, 70-68, in OT on Jan. 10. UD led by as many as 12 in the contest before the Bulldogs eventually stormed back to force OT and stake the victory. The matchup between UTEP and Delaware is the first of two on the year between the programs, with the Hens making the return visit to the Sun City on Jan. 31. Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners' App. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), Scott Klatzkin (play-by-play) and Bill Harman (analyst) describing the action.
 
GET TO KNOW DELAWARE (5-11, 1-4 CUSA)
Delaware is in its first year as a member of Conference USA after joining the league from the Coastal Athletic Association. It enters the matchup with the Miners on a two-game skid to stand at 5-11 overall (1-4 CUSA). The Fightin' Blue Hens are 3-5 at home (1-2 CUSA). Iron man Christian Bliss, who leads the country in minutes per game (39.1), does it all for UD. He's produces 15.2 ppg (eighth CUSA), 5.6 rpg and 6.4 apg (second CUSA/17th NCAA), making him the only player in the country with all of those metrics. He also gets after it on defense with a team-leading 2.0 spg (second CUSA/53rd NCAA). Bliss does the bulk of his rebounding on the defensive end (4.9-eighth CUSA). He is very accurate at the line (85.2-second USA) and is a consistent threat from distance (2.3 triples per game-seventh CUSA). Justyn Fernandez (14.5 ppg-ninth CUSA), Tyler Houser (12.5 ppg-17th CUSA) and Macon Emory (11.6 ppg-25th CUSA) are also in double figures in scoring while Jameel Brown is just shy at 9.8 ppg. No one else is above 5.0 ppg. Emory has been all over the boards (7.4 rpg-eighth CUSA), helping him produce a quartet of double-doubles (second CUSA/81st NCAA). Houser also boasts two double-doubles. Bliss isn't the only player to be heavy in playing time, with the Hens boasting the top three and four of the top eight for mpg in CUSA. Following Bliss is Emory (36.0-second CUSA/13th NCAA), Fernandez (35.3 mpg-third CUSA/18th NCAA) and Houser (32.2-eighth CUSA). Fernandez is also a sharpshooter, nailing 2.3 triples per tilt (seventh CUSA). Delaware starts everything with its defense, holding foes to 41.3 percent (fifth CUSA/67th NCAA) from the floor. It does so without foul, committing only 15.2 fouls per game (second CUSA/30th NCAA). That all adds up to allowing 70.8 ppg (sixth CUSA/106th NCAA). The Hens are also in the top three of CUSA for free-throw percentage (72.5-third) and 3-point percentage (35.1-second). Given that four of the five starters all account for 32+ minutes per game, it isn't surprising that UD is last in the nation for bench scoring (8.3 ppg). It is also last in the country for free throw attempts per game (13.6). The Hens find themselves in the bottom 300 in the NCAA for fastbreak scoring per game (4.6-360th), free throws made per game (9.9-356th), rebounding margin (-3.8-322nd), offensive rebounds per game (6.9-358th), scoring margin (-4.9-306th), scoring offense (65.9-344th), turnover margin (-2.6-335th) and turnovers forced per game (10.1-337th). The program has existed since the 1905-06 season and has played in the NCAA Tournament six times (1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2014, 2022, 0-6 record). It also has earned one NIT bid (2000, 0-1 mark) while making one appearance in the CBI (2012, 0-1). The University of Delaware has origins to 1743. Notable alumni include Joe Biden (former President of the USA), Chris Christie (former New Jersey Governor), Richard Heck (Nobel Prize-winning organic chemist) and Joe Flacco (Super Bowl MVP who later led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs).
 
SERIES HISTORY: FIRST MEETING
Thursday's matchup is the first meeting between the programs.
 
DAUNTING DI SCHEDULE TO DATE
UTEP has endured a challenging slate against its DI foes in 2025-26, with the 13 opponents boasting a combined record of 139-78. Of the 10, only Norfolk State is below .500.
 
LAST GAME (WKU 68, AT UTEP 56, 1/10/26)
Jamal West Jr. netted 15 points while LA Hayes came off the bench to tally a career-high 13 points, but UTEP was upended, 68-56, by WKU at the Don Haskins Center in front of a season-best 4,392 fans on Jan. 10. The Miners carried a four-point lead (35-31) into the locker room, but the Hilltoppers used a big second half (37-21) to down the Orange and Blue. A key stretch was when UTEP was in front by five (41-36) only to have WKU unleash a game-changing 15-4 run to vault ahead at 51-45 (11:20, 2H). UTEP managed to pull even at 51-51 but the Toppers had a response to account for the eighth and final lead change. The contest also featured 10 ties. The Miners had a solid shooting effort in the first frame before cooling off after the break to finish at 32.1 percent (17-53), including 5-22 (22.7 percent) on 3-pointers. Another factor was an uncharacteristic day with ball security. UTEP committed 15, including 12 in the second half. Those giveaways led to 20 points by the visitors, with 16 coming in the final 20 minutes of action.
 
LA'S CAREER SCORING NIGHT
LA Hayes came off the bench to turn in another strong showing against WKU, tallying a career-high 13 points (4-10 FG, 1-3 treys, 4-5 FT) to go along with seven rebounds and three steals.
 
PLAYING HIS BEST BALL
LA Hayes has turned up the intensity the past two tilts. He has back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time in his DI collegiate career (28 total contests, 14 with UTEP, 14 at Kent State). He started the upswing with his first career double-double (10 points, career-best 10 rebounds) vs. Middle Tennessee on Jan. 8 before tallying a career-most 13 points while adding seven boards against WKU.
 
GETTING TO THE LINE AND GETTING STEALS
Aside from scoring and rebounding, LA Hayes has been a pain for the opposition with his defense in addition to his ability to get to the free throw line. He has registered a season-high tying three steals in back-to-back games (five steals in first 12 showings). Hayes has also made plenty of trips to the charity stripe. He is a combined 12-16 at the line (75.0 percent) the past two tilts. That is the most makes and attempts by a Miner in a two-game stretch this season.
 
BLOCK PARTY
UTEP rejected six shots against WKU, equaling its most against a DI opponent this year (also six at Hawaii, 12/13). Elijah Jones led the efforts with a trio of rejections. In fact, Jones has blocked three shots in back-to-back games for the first time of his career. Furthermore, the three blocked shots tie as the second most of his career. The Miners enter the game at Delaware at 3.8 bpg, good enough for sixth in CUSA and within the top 130 nationally (128th).
 
FINALLY COOLED DOWN ON TRIPLES
After making at least seven 3-pointers in a stretch of six of seven games, UTEP cooled off from distance vs. WKU. The Miners started hot by going 5-12 in the opening frame before finishing the tilt at 5-22.
 
MAKES THEM WHEN HE TAKES THEM
Cassius Brooks doesn't shoot many from three-point land, but he's pretty accurate when he does. He was 1-2 from distance against WKU, improving to 5-11 (45.5 percent) on treys this season.
 
WKU JUST KEPT SHOOTING
WKU didn't shoot it particularly well against UTEP (25-64, 39.1 percent), but the combination of an uncharacteristic day for turnovers (15) and conceding 17 offensive rebounds led to plenty of opportunities for the Toppers. The 64 field-goal attempts set an opponent season high, and they were 11 more shot attempts than the Miners had.
 
STILL SLOWED THE TOPPERS DOWN
UTEP didn't get the win against WKU, but it was able to slow down its offense. The Toppers were held to 68 points, 14 below their average. They had entered the game at 81.9 ppg, which was fourth in CUSA and 93rd nationally.
 
HEALTH CHECK
With three Miners (Trey Horton III, David Tubek and Tyreese Watson), sidelined to injuries vs. WKU, UTEP has now lost 15 man-games to injury after having only three such contests a year ago. It's the most such man-games lost to injury since the 2023-24 campaign when that figure reached 17. Watson has been out for eight in a row while it's four straight for Tubek and back-to-back tilts missed for Horton III. Caleb Blackwell, however, did return to action after being sidelined for three consecutive contests.
 
TALKING DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Jamal West Jr. (two) and LA Hayes (one) are the lone Miners on the year to have produced double-doubles. Hayes came off the bench to register his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds (four offensive) in the 83-80 OT win vs. Middle Tennessee on Jan. 8. West Jr., meanwhile, posted a pair over the course of a three-game span. He tallied 21 points while grabbing a Miner season-high 14 rebounds (seven offensive) at Seattle U (12/7). After a strong showing at Hawaii (12 points, seven caroms, 12/13), West Jr. provided 16 points and 13 boards against Norfolk State (12/21).
 
DROPPING THOSE DIMES
KJ Thomas has registered at least four assists in six of the past seven games, including six helpers last time out against WKU. He has recorded 31 assists (4.4 apg) compared to just 17 turnovers (2.4 tpg) while securing 31.2 mpg on average in the stretch. Thomas has vaulted to a squad-best 3.6 apg (eighth CUSA). Thomas's assist-to-turnover ratio has also improved to +1.93 (10th CUSA). Overall, he boasts nine games with at least four helpers on the campaign. His season best as a freshman was three.
 
STILL FINDING A WAY TO SCORE TOO
While defense, ball-handling and setting up teammates for success has been his focus, KJ Thomas has found a way to score as well of late. He has tallied at least six points against DI competition in four straight games after failing to produce back-to-back such efforts over his first 41 contests played. Thomas matched his season high vs. 11 points vs. Middle Tennessee on Jan. 8 before pitching in seven points last time out against WKU.
 
THE TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 14.1 ppg-11th CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 12.7 ppg-16th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.3 ppg-18th CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring in 14 of 16 contests while West Jr. boasts 11 such efforts and Watson has 10 double-digit efforts. Watson has done so in six of the past eight games while West Jr. has achieved the feat in seven of the last nine.
 
MORE TRIPS TO THE FREE THROW LINE
After being nearly doubled up on free throw attempts (UTEP 36-48, 75.0 percent, opponents 56-87, 64.4 percent) over the first three CUSA games (all road), the Miners flipped the script in their two home contests. UTEP was a combined 42-58 (72.4 percent) while Middle Tennessee and WKU went 28-42 (66.7 percent) during the mini two-game homestand.
 
TURNING THE CORNER AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
After making a combined 17-37 at the free-throw line between games at Hawaii (12/13) and against Norfolk State (12/21), UTEP has locked in during its trips to the charity stripe. The Miners are 94-127 (74.0 percent) in the past seven games, including a readout of 77.3 percent (17-22) vs. WKU last time out.
 
ICE IN THE VEINS
Kaseem Watson was 4-4 at the free-throw line in the final five seconds to help hold off Middle Tennessee, 83-80 in OT on Jan. 8, continuing his sharp shooting of late at the line. He enters the tilt at Delaware having made his past 11 attempts at the charity stripe, which helped the Miners improve in the category of late. 
 
REVERSING THE OT CURSE
UTEP entered this season having dropped five straight OT contests dating to midway through the 2022-23 season. The Miners are turning over a new leaf in the situation this year. Following the thrilling 83-80 OT triumph against MTSU on Jan. 8, the Miners are now 2-0 in OT contests in 2025-26 (W, 84-83, OT, St. Thomas (Texas).
 
KJ SETTLING IN AS A STARTER
Thanks in part to injuries at the guard position (Caleb Blackwell and Tyreese Watson) and also to how he's been playing, KJ Thomas has logged six straight starts. He has now started in nine of 16 games on the year after coming off the bench in all 28 of appearances as a true freshman last year.
 
CONSISTENCY WITH SCORING
Elijah Jones (14), Jamal West Jr. (11) and Kaseem Watson (10) have been the most consistent scorers in terms of double-digit point totals this year. Jones reached double figures the first 13 contests, which was the longest streak out of the gates by a Miner since the legendary Randy Culpepper (14, 2009-10).
 
GET THAT WEAK STUFF OUT OF HERE
Jamal West Jr. has four games total this year with at least two blocks, having swatted a season-high three shots at Utah State (11/15/25). Furthermore, West Jr. boasts at least one blocked shot in 11 straight and 14 of 16 affairs on the season. The consistent effort has helped him tie for the team lead alongside Elijah Jones with 1.8 blocks per game (eighth CUSA). If he can block at least one shot at Delaware, it would mark the longest streak by a Miner since John Bohannon's 12-game surge in 2013-14.
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in nine of the past 12 contests. That includes consecutive 20+ point efforts for his first time as a Miner and the third occasion of his collegiate career (twice last year with Delaware State before finishing with seven points last time out against WKU. He is accounting for 13.8 ppg during the hot streak, which has raised his seasonal output from 8.4 to 12.0 ppg (22nd CUSA).
 
CRASHING THAT OFFENSIVE GLASS
UTEP has registered 10+ offensive rebounds in seven consecutive contests. That matches the longest surge at the school in three years. The Miners also had 10 or more offensive boards in a seven-tilt surge in the middle of the 2022-23 season. The Orange and Blue haven't eclipsed seven consecutive tilts with 10+ offensive caroms since at least 2009.
 
MIX AND MATCHING THE STARTING FIVE
UTEP has deployed seven different starting lineups in 16 contests this year. The Miners' most common unit is also their most successful one. The quintet of Caleb Blackwell, KJ Thomas, Kaseem Watson, Elijah Jones and Jamal West Jr.) stands 3-2 in the situation, but injuries have derailed that unit's availability.
 
SCORING FROM LOTS OF PLAYERS
In nine of the 16 contests this year, at least four UTEP players have reached double figures in scoring. Elijah Jones has been the most consistent with 14 such efforts. That included the first 13 games, which was the longest such stretch to start a season by a Miner in 16 years (Randy Culpepper, 16, 2009-10). Jamal West Jr. (11) and Kaseem Watson (10) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (four), KJ Thomas (four) and Tyreese Watson (three) also have multiple games with 10+ points.
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (13.8 ppg-11th CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (12.8 ppg-14th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.0 ppg-22nd) are all in double figures for scoring on average to lead the charge on offense for the Orange and blue. Caleb Blackwell (9.3 ppg) and Tyreese Watson (8.0 ppg) have also been threats on offense, but both have dealt with injuries this year. Blackwell, however, did return to action last time out against WKU.
 
WEST IS THE ALPHA ON THE BOARDS
Three different Miners are contributing at least 4.0 rebounds per game, but Jamal West Jr has emerged as the true leader in the department. He is securing a team-best 6.6 rpg (13th CUSA while Elijah Jones (4.5 rpg) and Kaseem Watson (4.5 rpg) share second place on the squad. West Jr. has shared or led the squad outright for the category nine times. He is all over the offensive boards, corralling 2.7 orpg (sixth CUSA).
 
STEALS HAVE BEEN SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US
The Miners enter the game at Delaware averaging 8.2 spg (third CUSA/79th 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 60 games with at least 10 steals under head coach Joe Golding, including doing so six times this year. To put that overall figure under Golding into perspective, consider that it matches the total such efforts (60) in the prior 15 seasons combined prior to Golding's arrival (started for 2021-22 season).
 
DOING IT ALL
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year. He tops the team in scoring (13.8-11th CUSA). He is also second in field-goal percentage (50.9 percent-third CUSA) and tied for second in blocked shots (1.2-eighth CUSA) and rebounding (4.5 rpg). He has hit a triple in 10 straight games, the longest streak since Otis Frazier (12) and Ahamad Bynum (12) last year.
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE'VE DONE
UTEP enters the game at Delaware with the opposition committing 14.0 giveaways per game (second CUSA/76th 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).
 
JAMAL DOESN'T MISS MUCH
Jamal West Jr. is connecting on 58.5 (79-135) of his shots on the year, which would be among the best in CUSA and in the national rankings too, but he doesn't qualify. Overall, he is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg (14th CUSA), helped by a squad-leading 10 And-1s. He has nailed better than 65 percent from the floor eight times total this season.
 
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 5-3 thus far at home (1-1 CUSA), and they are looking for 10+ wins in the Sun City for the sixth straight year (eight home games left). 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 went 4-2 in nonconference play this year on the way to improving to 26-4 at home in nonconference games dating to the start of the 2022-23 campaign. 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 233-217 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 75-74 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. He is three wins shy of taking over fourth place and could get to as high as third by year's end if UTEP can get things going. 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 concludes the stretch of five of seven on the road to begin CUSA play by playing at defending regular-season and tournament champion Liberty at 1 p.m. MT/3 p.m. ET on Saturday.  Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners' App. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
 

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