Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (7-12, 3-5 CUSA) will vie to make it a perfect week of basketball at home when it plays host to third-place Missouri State (11-8, 5-3 CUSA) at 2 p.m. MT Saturday.  The Miners are coming off an exciting 83-77 victory against FIU (1/22), their second win in the past three games. The Bears pulled out an 84-75 triumph at NM State (1/22), fending off big runs by the Aggies after they vaulted to a 27-10 advantage in the opening frame. UTEP will be looking to pick up back-to-back home league wins in the same week for the first time since the start of CUSA play last year when the Miners bested LA Tech (W 70-60, 1/2/25) and Sam Houston (W, 81-72, 1/4/25). UTEP will also be looking to avenge a 79-55 setback at MSU (1/2) in its second CUSA tilt earlier this season. The contest continues a four-game league homestand for the Orange and Blue, something they haven't had since the 2019-20 campaign. It is also part of a stretch with six of eight at home (1-0 thus far). UTEP stands 6-3 at home (2-1 CUSA) while the Bears are 2-6 on the road, with both of those triumphs in hostile territory coming during league play (2-3). The Miners are starting to find their groove, standing 3-2 over their past five games after the 0-3 start to league play. There is a great ticket special still in place, with fans able to buy all five remaining Saturday home games for only $60 ($9.15 per game). Every single-game premium-priced ticket (over $20) will be $20 for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.  The lowest ticket price remains only $9.15.  Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso for the matchup with the Bears. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with Andy Morgan and former Miner assistant coach Bobby Braswell describing the action.
 
GET TO KNOW MISSOURI STATE (11-8, 5-3 CUSA)
First-year CUSA member Missouri State put together a 6-5 mark in nonconference action, including winning the final two tilts prior to league play. The Bears kept things rolling at the onset of CUSA action, ripping off three straight and claiming four of the first five to soar to 10-6 overall (4-1 CUSA). They dropped the next two but got back into the win column while also securing their second road victory of the campaign of besting NM State, 84-75, at the Pan-American Center on Jan. 22. The Bears now stand 2-6 away from home (2-3 CUSA). MSU bolted to a 17-point first-half lead (27-10) and then withstood every charge by the Aggies to pick up the victory. The Bears have already surpassed their overall (9-23) and conference (2-18) win total from last season in what was their final year as a member of the MVC after a long run with the conference. They are under the direction of Cuanzo Martin, who is in his second stint with the program (2008-11, 2024-present). Martin stands 80-72 in that timeframe and 284-229 overall (16th year) as a collegiate head coach. He has prior stops at Tennessee (2011-14), Cal (2014-17) and Missouri (2017-22).  There has been plenty of continuity for the starting five, with three players starting all 19 contests and two others starting 16 times. The player to watch is Keith Palek III, does everything for his squad. He leads the Bears in scoring (18.4-second/68th), rebounding (7.0-ninth CUSA) and assists (3.7-seventh CUSA). He is second for minutes (32.2-ninth CUSA) and third on the squad in steals (1.1). Kobi Williams (13.8 ppg-11th CUSA) and Michael Osei-Bonsu (13.8 ppg-11th CUSA) join Palek III in double figures for scoring while Zaxton King (8.8 ppg) and Trey Williams Jr. (8.7 ppg) have also been threats. Williams has been a problem for the opposition from beyond-the-arc, connecting on 2.58 triples per tilt (fifth CUSA/100th NCAA). Osei-Bonsu (3.19-third CUSA/49th NCAA) and Darrion Sutton (2.21-13th CUSA) consistently crash the offensive glass. MSU is among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for free throws made (16.9-fourth/84th) and attempted (24.8-fourth/39th) and offensive rebounds per game (12.3-sixth/91st). It also has a top-four spot in CUSA for field-goal percentage (45.0-fourth) and fewest turnovers per tilt (11.4-fourth). It gets up and down the court, accounting for 76.3 ppg, but they allow 72.9 ppg. MSU is only among the bottom 300 nationally for two major stat categories, which are free-throw percentage (68.2-302nd) and bench scoring (15.4-337th). The Bears have a proud history, boasting 24 league titles, 10 NIT appearances, six bids to the NCAA Tournament and two NAIA national championships (1952 and 1953). Missouri State was founded in 1905 and held classes for the first time in 1906. Notable alumni include John Goodman (actor), Horton Smith (winner of the first and third Masters Tournaments) and Jackie Stiles (all-time leading scoring for NCAA Women's Basketball history upon graduation).
 
SERIES HISTORY: MISSOURI STATE LEADS, 3-2
Missouri State leads the series, 3-2, aided by a 79-55 vanquishing of the Miners in Springfield, Mo., earlier this year (1/2). UTEP cut a once 28-point deficit all the way down to 12 in the contest, but the Bears recovered and built their lead back up down the stretch. That matchup was the first between the programs in more than 30 years. The last time MSU locked up with UTEP in El Paso was in the championship contest of the 1990 Sun Carnival Classic. The Miners prevailed, 81-70 (12/29/90). UTEP also successfully defended home court, 93-48, (1/28/630 which was the third year of the Don Haskins tenure.
 
LAST GAME (AT UTEP 83, FIU 77, 1/22/26)
Jamal West Jr. erupted for a season-high 28 points (11-14 shooting) while adding seven rebounds and a campaign-best five assists while Elijah Jones (14 points) and LA Hayes (12 points) also reached double figures in scoring to help the UTEP topple FIU, 83-77, at the Don Haskins Center on Jan. 22.
 
JAMAL GOES OFF
Jamal West Jr. exploded for a season-high 28 points on a sizzling 11-14 (78.6 percent shooting). It was the most points in a game by a Miner since Zid Powell torched Wyoming (12/21/23) for 32 points in the championship contest of the 2023 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
 
STILL PERFECT ON THURSDAYS
UTEP marched to 3-0 this season on Thursdays after downing FIU, 83-77.
 
BIG SCORING OUTBURST FOR A CUSA GAME
Jamal West Jr.'s 28 points were the most by a UTEP player in a CUSA tilt since Souley Boum also put up 28 points against LA Tech four years ago (2/17/22).
 
HIT PLENTY OF SHOTS
Jamal West Jr. connected on a career-high 11 field goals (on 14 attempts) against FIU. That included a career-best two triples when the Panthers left him open and dared him to shoot. The 11 FGM are the most by a Miner since Jamal Bieniemy went 13-22 (59.1 percent) at Rice four years ago (2/5/22).
 
DROPPING DIMES TOO
With FIU doubling Jamal West Jr., he did a good job of passing out of it on the way to recording a season-high five assists. 
 
HE REALLY DID IT ALL
Jamal West Jr. became the first Miner this season to share for or pace the team outright in points (28), rebounds (seven) and assists (five) in a contest. The last UTEP player to do so was David Terrell Jr. last year at Middle Tennessee (2/1/25) when he registered 15 points, 11 rebounds and six helpers.
 
A BLITZ FROM THE BENCH
LA Hayes blitzed FIU with 12 points (all in the first half) in only 14:30 of action. He connected on a pair of 3-pointers (career high), including a triple that capped a big run and forced FIU to call timeout with the Miners out by 12. His efforts, along with Trey Horton III (five points), Mouhamed Mbaye (three points) and Cassius Brooks (two points), helped the Miners put up a season-high 22 bench points.
 
SIZZLING FROM 3-POINT RANGE
UTEP has hit 11 3-pointers in back-to-back games, going 11-23 at Liberty (1/17) and 11-25 vs. FIU (1/22). It marks the first time that the Miners have nailed at least 11 treys in consecutive contests in six years. UTEP went 12-28 vs. Rice (2/22/20) and followed that up with an 13-32 effort vs. Southern Miss (3/1//20).
 
JONES LED THE WAY
Elijah Jones was flawless from distance against FIU, connecting on a career-most four 3-pointers on four attempts. The sharp shooting helped him finish with 14 points in the game.
 
PUTTING UP THE POINTS
UTEP put up 83 points in the win vs. FIU, matching its highest output vs. DI competition this year. The Miners also had 83 against Middle Tennessee in the OT victory (1/8). The last time Orange and Blue had at least 83 points in a non OT contest vs. a DI foe was when they tallied 87 points at Sam Houston last season (3/26/25).
 
SHARING IS CARING
UTEP recorded 20 assists vs. FIU, marking its most helpers against a DI opponent since being credited with 22 dimes a year ago. Incidentally, that also came against the Panthers in a Miners' victory (W, 77-63, 2/13/25). Three different Miners registered at least four assists. They were in the form of Jamal West Jr. (season-high five), Caleb Blackwell (five) and KJ Thomas (four).
HELPING HAND
Caleb Blackwell has 12 assists compared to just four turnovers in the past two tilts. KJ Thomas has also been piling up the helpers of late, registering 32 dimes to 17 giveaways over the last seven contests. Thomas has vaulted to a squad-best 3.6 apg (eighth CUSA). His assist-to-turnover ratio has also improved to +1.92 (11th CUSA).
 
GOT SOME STEALS
UTEP recorded nine steals vs. FIU, its highest output in league play this year and best showing in the department since tallying 12 against North Dakota State (12/22/25). LA Hayes and Jamal West Jr. each recorded three thefts. Hayes matched his season best with the effort while West Jr.'s effort tied his second most in the department this year. The effort helped lead to 19 points off turnovers for the Orange and Blue.
 
BACK-TO-BACK BETTER THAN 50% FROM THE FLOOR
After nailing 54.9 percent (28-51) from the floor at Liberty (1/17), the Miners filled up 51.7 percent (31-60) of their shots against FIU. It marks the first time UTEP has knocked down at least 50.0 percent overall against DI competition in consecutive contests since getting hot at Louisville (29-57, 50.9 percent, 12/11/24) and vs. Seattle U (32-57, 56.1 percent, 12/7/24) last year. The last time the Miners achieved the feat in league action was in the final three contests (all wins) of the 2023-24 campaign. That season they pulled it off vs. FIU (30-55, 54.5 percent, 3/7/24), at Liberty (28-53, 52.8 percent, 3/2/24) and at Jax State (27-51, 52.9 percent, 2/29/24).
 
SPARK BY BIG MO
With Elijah Jones in foul trouble (four fouls), Mouhamed Mbaye gave a spark off the bench with three points and three rebounds (two offensive) in an impactful seven minutes of action vs. FIU. He also attempted a career-best three free throws. He also came up with a steal, his first against a DI foe and second of the season.
 
KJ GETTING ON THE BOARDS
Point guard KJ Thomas stuck his nose in amongst the bigs against FIU, pulling down a career-high five rebounds. All five came on the defensive end, which was especially important given that the Panthers entered the contest rating 21st in the nation with 13.9 offensive boards per contest. Thomas also had five caroms in the OT win vs. Middle Tennessee (1/8).
 
LOTS OF 20+ POINT SCORERS LATELY
The Miners have had a 20+ point scorer in five of the past six contests. Kaseem Watson has led the way with three in the stretch, followed by Elijah Jones (two) and one each from Caleb Blackwell and Jamal West Jr. That is the best such stretch at the school since there was a 20+ point scorer in eight out of nine contests late in the 2021-22 season. That year it was courtesy of both Souley Boum (seven) and Jamal Bieniemy (two) during that sequence, with both reaching 20+ points in the same game once in stretch.
 
WATCH OUT FOR JONES AND WEST JR. AT THE RIM
The duo of Elijah Jones (26 blocks, 1.37 bpg-fifth CUSA) and Jamal West Jr. (22 blocks, 1.16 bpg-11th CUSA) has accounted for 48 of UTEP's 73 rejections on the season. No one else on the team has more than seven swats. Jones already has his most rejections in his third year with the program (prior best 23, 2024-25). He is four shy of becoming the first UTEP player to record at least 30 blocked shots since Tydus Verhoeven (32). in 2021-22.
 
JONES BLOCKING SHOT IN BUNCHES
Elijah Jones has been a shot-blocking machine of late. He has swatted 13 shots over the past five games (3/3/3/2/2). Jones had a total of 13 blocks in his first 14 contests of the campaign, with five of those coming vs. DII WNMU (11/7). The surge has lifted him to 1.37 bpg-fifth CUSA). His total of 26 rejections ranks fourth in the league. Jamal West Jr. has been more consistent all year, with at least one rejection in 16 contests.
 
GOTTA GET TO 70
The Miners are 7-1 on the season when scoring at least 70 points, most recently doing against FIU (W, 83-77).
 
WHAT A LEAP BY ELIJAH
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year, topping the team in scoring (13.9 ppg-10th CUSA) and blocked shots (1.37-fourth CUSA). Jones is also second in rebounding (4.6 rpg), field-goal percentage (106-207, 50.2 percent-fourth CUSA) and third for 3-pointers made (25). Last year Jones averaged 3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg in 2024-25 and 3.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 2023-24.
 
THIS TEAM CAN RALLY
UTEP has won three different games this year in contests when it trailed by double figures. The Miners overcame a 10-point deficit (25-15, 5:41, 1H) in the 70-69 win at Delaware (1/15). They previously did so against North Dakota State (trailed 14-2, 15:50, 1H, W, 76-66, 12/22) and vs. St. Thomas of Houston (down, 41-28, 00:36, W, 84-83, OT, 11/19).
 
WE CAN WIN THEM CLOSE
UTEP is 3-1 on the year in contests decided by three points or less, with two of those triumphs coming by a single point (W, 84-83, OT, vs. St Thomas, 11/19 and W, 70-69, at Delaware, 1/15). It's the first time in six years that the Miners have picked up multiple wins by one point (W, 71-70, vs. Ball State, 12/23/19 and W, 67-66, at Middle Tennessee, 1/30/20).
 
TALKING ONE-POINT ROAD WINS
The Miners' 70-69 win at Delaware marked their first victory by a single point on the road since they derailed then CUSA member Charlotte, 87-86, nearly eight years ago (2/15/18).
 
JAMAL DOESN'T MISS MUCH
Jamal West Jr. is connecting on a sizzling 60.7 percent 99-163) of his shots on the year. That allows him to lead CUSA and rate 23rd nationally among qualified players.  Overall, he is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 ppg (16th CUSA), helped by a squad-leading 12 And-1s. He has nailed better than 65 percent from the floor 10 times total this season, most recently filling up 11-14 (78.6 percent) against FIU.
 
HEALTH CHECK
With two Miners (David Tubek and Tyreese Watson), sidelined to injuries vs. Missouri State, UTEP has now lost 21 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 2022-23 season (34).
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in 11 of the past 15 contests, including 20+ points in three of the last six games. Watson is accounting for 13.5 ppg in the stretch, elevating his season scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.1 ppg.
 
KJ SCORING SOME 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 in seven straight games after failing to produce back-to-back such efforts (vs. DI competition) over his first 41 contests of his career.
 
THE TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 13.9 ppg-10th CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 13.4 ppg-16th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.1 ppg-23rd CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 17 times followed by West Jr. (13) and Watson (12).
 
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 112-154 (72.7 percent) in the past nine games.
 
ICE IN THE VEINS
Kaseem Watson was a perfect 2-2 at the line (one-and-one opportunity) for two huge insurance points in the win at Delaware (1/15). He previously went 4-4 from the stripe in the final five seconds to help hold off Middle Tennessee, 83-80, in OT (1/8). Watson enters the matchup vs. Missouri State having made 14 straight free throws to move to 76.8 percent (43-56) on the season.
 
WEST JR. SURGING ON THE BOARDS
Jamal West Jr. has piled up 95 rebounds (7.9 rpg) over the past 12 games, aided by three double-doubles (at Delaware, 1/15, vs. Norfolk State, 12/21 and at Seattle U, 12/7) during the stretch. The effort has vaulted his rebounding average to 6.6 rpg (15th CUSA), which would be the highest by a Miner since Bryson Williams's readout of 7.4 rpg in 2020-21. West Jr. put up 4.4 rpg in the first seven contests of the campaign. Overall, West Jr. has shared or led the squad outright in the category 11 times, and he has been very active offensive boards (2.63 orpg-seventh CUSA).
 
KJ SETTLED IN AS A STARTER
KJ Thomas has started nine straight games, contributing 6.6 ppg, 4.1 apg and 3.3 rpg in 31.9 mpg to help the Miners go 4-5 in the stretch (1-7 prior eight tilts). Overall, Thomas has earned 12 starting nods after coming off the bench in all 28 appearances as a true freshman.
 
CONSISTENCY WITH SCORING
Elijah Jones (17), Jamal West Jr. (13) and Kaseem Watson (12) 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).
 
LOOKING AT THE STARTING FIVE
UTEP has deployed seven different starting lineups 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 5-3 in the situation.
 
SCORING FROM LOTS OF PLAYERS
Ten times this year, at least four UTEP players have reached double figures in scoring. Elijah Jones has been the most consistent with 17 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. (13) and Kaseem Watson (12) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (six in 15 GP), KJ Thomas (three), LA Hayes (three) Tyreese Watson (three in seven GP) also have multiple games with 10+ points.
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (13.9 ppg-10th CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (13.4 ppg-16th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.1 ppg-23rd) are all in double figures for scoring on average to lead the charge on offense for the Orange and Blue. The last time UTEP had at least three players produce 12.0 ppg or more in a season was during Joe Golding's first year (2021-22) on the sidelines. That campaign, it was in the form of Souley Boum (19.9 ppg), Jamal Bieniemy (14.7 ppg) and Keonte Kennedy (14.1 ppg).
 
TALKING DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Jamal West Jr. (three) 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. put up 16 points and grabbed 10 boards in the win at Delaware (1/15). He posted a pair over the course of a three-game span in nonconference play (21 points, Miner season-high 14 rebounds at Seattle U, 12/7 and 16 points, 13 boards vs. Norfolk State, 12/21).
 
STEALS HAVE BEEN SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US
The Miners enter the game vs. Missouri State averaging 7.8 spg (third CUSA/103rd NCAA), although that figure has dipped of late. 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).
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE'VE DONE
UTEP enters the game vs. Missouri State with the opposition committing 13.2 giveaways per game (second CUSA/104th NCAA), although that has dropped off of late. 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).
 
WAS A DAUNTING NON D1 SCHEDULE
UTEP endured a challenging nonconference DI foes. Through Jan. 20, those eight opponents have combined to go 105-56, with both Hawaii and North Dakota State currently in first place of their respective leagues
 
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 6-3 thus far at home (2-1 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.
 
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 235-219 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 77-75 at UTEP. He has enjoyed three winning seasons in four years, piling up at least 18 triumphs in those campaigns above .500. He is tied for fourth all time with George McCarty (77-58, 1954-59) after the vanquishing of FIU last time out. If the Miners can get hot, he could tie or surpass Tony Barbee (82-52, 2006-10, third place) by year's end. 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
The Miners return to the Don Haskins Center to play host to LA Tech (7 p.m. MT, on Wednesday).  Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso for each contest. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with Andy Morgan and former Miner assistant coach Bobby Braswell describing the action.