Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (5-10, 1-3 CUSA) will shoot for a second straight victory when it plays host to WKU (9-6, 2-2 CUSA) in a special matinee 2 p.m. tipoff at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday. The Miners picked up their first league win of the year while eradicating a three-game skid by rallying past co-league leading Middle Tennessee, 83-80, in OT in their CUSA home opener on Jan. 8. Thanks to El Paso showing out with a season-high 4,368 fans, the special '915' promotion remains in place, with all seats only $9.15. Fans can purchase the $9.15 tickets by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or calling (915) 747-UTEP. The Hilltoppers had a two-game winning streak snapped when they fell at NM State, 80-64, on Jan. 8. A slow start (trailed 21-2) doomed WKU, which kept playing hard but couldn't complete a comeback. UTEP has won back-to-back contest inside the "Bear's Den" to move to 5-2 inside the venue on the year, including 1-0 in league play. The Toppers are 1-3 on the road (0-2 CUSA), with each of those setback by 10+ points. UTEP is in search of consecutive league victories for the first time since February of 2025. The last time the Orange and Blue claimed two home CUSA tilts in a span of three days was during the opening weekend of conference play a year ago. The Miners are also 2-3 over the past five games after a 3-7 start to the season. The matchup with WKU continues a stretch of six of eight at home for UTEP. 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), with Andy Morgan and former Miner assistant coach Bobby Braswell describing the action.
  
GET TO KNOW WKU (9-6, 2-2 CUSA)
High-flying WKU enters the game against UTEP at 9-6 overall, including 2-2 in league play. The Hilltoppers had their two-contest winning streak snapped with an 80-64 setback at NM State on Jan. 8. The loss dropped them to 1-3 on the road (won road opener), with the three setbacks in hostile territory all by 10+ points. The Toppers have one of the higher scoring offenses in both CUSA and the nation, accounting for 81.9 ppg (fourth/93rd). They crash the offensive glass hard (14.8-third CUSA/seventh NCAA) while doing an amazing job of getting to the line. WKU makes 20.2 free throws per game (first CUSA/10th NCAA) on 27.2 attempts per tilt (first CUSA/11th NCAA). It is also among the league's leaders and top-100 nationally for bench scoring (34.1-second/26th), free-throw percentage (74.3-second/100th), defensive rebounds per game (27.6-third/46th), total rebounds per contest (42.4-third/16th), steals per game (8.2-third/81st), turnover margin (+2.7-second/61st) and fewest turnovers per game (10.6-second/66th). It is among the lower 300 in the country for field-goal percentage (41.0-333rd), most fouls per game (19.8-313th). Teagan Moore keys the charge offensively with 17.3 ppg (fifth CUSA), with Armelo Boone (12.3 ppg-20th CUSA) and Grant Newell (10.9 ppg) also in double figures. Ryan Myers is essentially there are 9.9 ppg. Boone (6.1 rpg) and Moore (5.9 rpg) set the tone on the glass while Boone (1.6 spg-sixth CUSA) and LJ Hackman (1.5 spg) come up with plenty of steals. Notable university alumni include Romeo Crennel (former head coach of the Cleveland Browns & KC Chiefs), the late Duncan Hines (pioneer of restaurant ratings for travelers) and the late Cordell Hull (Secretary of State under FDR).
 
SERIES HISTORY: WKU LEADS, 13-2
WKU leads the series, 13-2, aided by winning four in a row against the Miners. WKU swept the series last year, taking the two tilts by a combined 11 points. UTEP and the Toppers split the regular-season series in 2023-24, with both sides successfully defending their home court. WKU then knocked off the Orange and Blue, 78-71, in the 2024 Conference USA Championship contest. The Miners' first triumph in the series came in OT (93-89, Feb. 6, 2016) in front of a capacity crowd as part of the 50-year celebration of them winning the 1966 NCAA Championship vs. Kentucky, 72-65.
 
DAUNTING DI SCHEDULE TO DATE
UTEP has endured a challenging slate against its DI foes in 2025-26, with the 10 opponents boasting a combined record of 111-57. Of the 10, only Norfolk State is below .500. Both MT and WKU the week at 9-5 overall. Utah State (NET 16) and William & Mary (NET 93) are in the top 100 of the NET.  
 
LAST GAME (AT UTEP 83, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 80 (OT), 1/8/26)
Kaseem Watson (23 points, seven rebounds), Elijah Jones (20 points, four boards), Jamal West Jr. (16 points, eight rebounds), KJ Thomas (11 points, career-best five rebounds, four assists) and LA Hayes (10 points, career-high 10 rebounds) all had big nights to help UTEP rally past CUSA co-league leader Middle Tennessee for an exhilarating 83-80 overtime victory in front of a season-high 4,368 fans at the Don Haskins Center on Jan. 8
 
FOUGHT UPHILL ALL NIGHT LONG BUT NEVER QUIT
The Miners faced double-digit deficits on five separate segments throughout the contest, including trailing MTSU by 10 (55-45) with 15 minutes remaining in regulation, but they refused to quit. UTEP was still down by nine (66-57) with 6:40 to play before it unleashed a 12-2 surge, capped by one of Kaseem Watson's career-high tying five triples to give the home side its first lead (69-68, 3:40, 2H) of the game. 
 
COMEBACK COMPLETED
UTEP's biggest deficit against Middle Tennessee was when it trailed by 13 (30-17, 8:22 1H). The Miners eventually erased that completely on the way to the 83-80 OT win. The rally secured their largest come-from-behind victory since the Orange and Blue rallied back from down 14 (46-32, 13:11 2H) to best top seed Sam Houston, 65-63, in the semifinals of the 2024 CUSA Championships (3/15/24). In terms of regular-season rallies, it was the largest since UTEP overcame a 14-point deficit (19-5, 1H 11:47) in a 69-57 triumph against UTSA three years ago (1/11/23).
 
PUT UP THE POINTS
UTEP's 83 points against Middle Tennessee was its highest scoring output vs. a DI opponent this year. The Miners were consistent, tallying 35+ points in both the first (37) and second half (36) and 10 in OT. It's the first time that the Orange and Blue have done so vs. DI competition since a 79-65 win against Sam Houston in the opening round of the 2025 CUSA Championships. 
 
WON THOSE BOARDS
UTEP outworked MTSU on the boards (38-32), helped by a 13-7 advantage in offensive rebounding. The effort moved the Miners to 4-2 this year when winning the battle on the glass. 
 
TOOK CARE OF THE BALL TOO
The Miners finished with only nine turnovers against Middle Tennessee. It marked the fourth game this season with single-digit giveaways (three vs. DI competition) for UTEP. 
 
HAVE HEATED UP FROM 3-POINT RANGE
UTEP has nailed at least seven 3-pointers in six of the past seven contests, including going a combined 18-45 (40.0 percent) the past two tilts. The Miners connected on at least seven triples just twice over their first eight games of the season. UTEP was 8-19 against Middle Tennessee, with the readout of 42.1 percent rating as its second-best effort of the year (9-21, 42.9 percent, vs. LMU, 11/11). 
 
DID IT WITH JUST 10 DRESSED
With four Miners (Caleb Blackwell, Trey Horton III, David Tubek and Tyreese Watson) sidelined with injuries against Middle Tennessee, UTEP had just 10 healthy players dressed. That led to some heavy minutes for several players, with Kaseem Watson (season-high 43), Jamal West Jr. (season-most 43), KJ Thomas (career-most 41), Elijah Jones (career-high 36) and LA Hayes (career-best 30 minutes) showing off their endurance with lots of playing time.
 
HEALTH CHECK
UTEP has now lost 12 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. 
 
BACK-TO-BACK 20-POINT EFFORTS IN CUSA PLAY
Kaseem Watson has gone off for 20+ points in consecutive CUSA contests, putting up a season-high 25 at FIU (1/4) before going off for 23 last time out against Middle Tennessee (1/8). He's the first Miner to accomplish the feat since Tae Hardy did so two years (20, vs. MTSU, 1/18/24 and 27 vs. WKU, 1/20/24). The last Miner to tally 20+ points in three straight league tilts was Souley Boum (20, at North Texas, 2/7/22, 32, vs. Marshall, 2/13/22, 28 at LA Tech, 2/17/22)
 
KASEEM IS LOCKED IN FROM 3-POINT RANGE
Kaseem Watson has drained five 3-pointers in back-to-back contests (5-9 at FIU, 1/4 and 5-8 vs. MTSU, 1/8), making him the first Miner to accomplish the feat since Jorell Satterfield did so in 2021-22. That year, Satterfield hit six vs. UTSA (1/20/22) and five at the Roadrunners (1/23/22) the ensuing game. Prior to Watson, the last time a UTEP player accomplished that feat against different opponents was Jamal Bieniemy (6 vs. LA Tech, 1/6/22 and five against Southern Miss (1/8/22). UTEP hasn't had an individual connect on at least five 3-pointers in three consecutive contests since Mark Ingles in the 1995-96 campaign. That year, he had six vs. Colorado State (2/17/96), six at Hawaii (2/22/96) and seven at San Diego State (2/24/96).
 
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
LA Hayes registered 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. He added three assists (no turnovers) and three steals in a career-high 30 minutes of action while finishing with a +10 plus or minus.
 
DRAWING THE CONTACT
LA Hayes and Jamal West Jr. both made things a nightmare defensively for Middle Tennessee, with each drawing eight fouls. Their efforts played a big role in the Blue Raiders having two key players foul out while two others finished with four infractions.
 
DROPPING THOSE DIMES
KJ Thomas has registered at least four assists in five of the past six games. He has 24 assists (4.0 apg) in the stretch compared to just 14 turnovers while logging 31.3 mpg on average. The effort has elevated him to a team-leading 3.5 assists per game (10th CUSA). Overall, he boasts eight games with at least four helpers. 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 here and there as well of late. He has tallied at least six points against DI competition in three straight games after failing to produce back-to-back such efforts over his first 41 contests played. Thomas tied his season high vs. DI competition with 11 points last time out against Middle Tennessee. He also had 11 against LMU (11/11). 
 
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 15 contests while Watson and West Jr. both boast 10 such efforts. Watson Jr. has done so in six of the past seven games while West Jr. has achieved the feat in seven of the last eight.
 
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT AT THE 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 against Middle Tennessee. They finished 25-36 (69.4 percent) at the charity stripe compared to the Blue Raiders' readout of 15-17 (88.2). UTEP piling up 13 offensive rebounds while yielding only seven and racking up 30 points in the paint helped it make plenty of trips to the line. 
 
MORE ABOUT THE CHARITY STRIPE
UTEP connected on 25-36 (69.4 percent) on free throws against Middle Tennessee. It marked the most makes and attempts by the Miners against DI competition since they were 33-43 (76.7) a year ago in an 80-73 setback to WKU (2/27/25). LA Hayes led the charge by setting the tone by going 8-11, both career bests. 
 
ICE IN THE VEINS
Kaseem Watson was cool as a cucumber in the final moments of the win against Middle Tennessee. He was 4-4 at the free-throw line in the final five seconds to help hold off the Blue Raiders. Watson has now nailed his past 11 attempts at the charity stripe. 
 
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, the Miners are now 2-0 in OT contests in 2025-26 (W, 84-83, OT, St. Thomas (Texas).
CUSA HOME TEAMS DOMINATING LEAGUE PLAY
Following the most-recent slate of games, CUSA home teams are 20-4 in league home contests. The Miners are 1-0 in CUSA action at home after knocking off previously unbeaten in CUSA action (3-0) and co-league leading Middle Tennessee, 83-80, in OT.
 
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 five straight starts. He has now started in eight of 15 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. (10) 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 10 straight and 13 of 15 affairs on the season. The consistent effort has helped him pace the team and rate eighth in CUSA with 1.2 blocks per game. If he can block one shot in each of the next two contests, 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 11 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). He is accounting for 14.4 ppg during the hot streak, which has raised his seasonal output from 8.4 to 12.3 ppg.
 
CRASHING THAT OFFENSIVE GLASS
UTEP has registered 10+ offensive rebounds in six consecutive contests, matching the longest surge at the school in three years. The Miners also had 10 or more offensive boards in a six-tilt surge in the stretch run of the 2022-23 season. 
 
MIX AND MATCHING THE STARTING FIVE
UTEP has deployed seven different starting lineups in 15 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 Watson and Blackwell have missed multiple games of late due to injuries.
 
SCORING FROM LOTS OF PLAYERS
In nine of the 15 contests this year, at least four UTEP players have reached double figures in scoring. Elijah Jones has been the most consistent by 14 times. 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. (10) and Kaseem Watson (10) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (four), KJ Thomas (three) and Tyreese Watson (three) also have multiple games with 10+ points. 
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (14.1 ppg-11th CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (12.7 ppg-16th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.3 ppg) 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 been sidelined of late with injuries. 
 
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 6.5 rpg while Elijah Jones (4.5 rpg) and Kaseem Watson (4.3 rpg) are also getting after it on the glass. West Jr. has shared or led the squad outright for the category nine times. He is all over the offensive boards, corralling 2.9 orpg (sixth CUSA/76th NCAA). 
 
STEALS HAVE BEEN SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US 
The Miners enter the game vs. WKU averaging 8.3 spg (second CUSA/74th 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 (14.1-11th CUSA). He is also second in field-goal percentage (52.8 percent-second CUSA/99th NCAA), blocked shots (1.1-11th CUSA) and rebounding (4.5 rpg).
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE DO
UTEP enters the game vs. WKU with the opposition committing 14.3 giveaways per game (second CUSA/68th 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 59.7 (74-124) of his shots on the year, which would lead the league and be among upper echelon nationally, but he doesn't qualify due to shot amounts. Overall, he is second on the team in scoring at 12.7 ppg (16th 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 5-2 thus far at home (1-0 CUSA), 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 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 233-216 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 75-73 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 heads to the Eastern Time Zone for a pair of matchups. Up first, the Miners will lock up at first-year league member Delaware at 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET on Jan. 15. UTEP will conclude the roadswing at defending regular-season and tournament champion Liberty at 1 p.m. MT/3 p.m. ET on Jan. 17.  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 both games. Each contest will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
 

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