Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team will tip off its 106th season in program history when it takes on Northern Kentucky University as part of the prestigious Field of 68 24-Hour Marathon at 12 p.m. MT/1 p.m. CT at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Monday. The contest will be the sixth of eight in the event, with 16 top-tier mid-major programs squaring off with the national spotlight. The Miners have a rebuilt squad under head coach Joe Golding, who brought in eight DI transfers, four from the high school ranks, a pair out of international basketball, and one JUCO transfer to account for the 15-man roster. The Miners went 11-20 last year while the Norse are coming off a 20-win campaign (20-14). Plenty has changed for the Orange and Blue with not a single player returning from that squad, in addition to three new head coaches being appointed to the staff. The contest will be streamed live on the Field of 68 YouTube channel with Alex Heinert (play-by-play), Terrence Oglesby (analyst) and Rob Dauster (analyst) on the call. Jon Teicher (46th year) will be on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso.
 
TIPPING THINGS OFF
The Miners are 78-27 all-time in season openers, aided by claiming 59 of the past 65. UTEP stands 4-1 in the situation under head coach Joe Golding. After opening the season at home for 18 of the past 19 years, the Orange and Blue are switching it up this season. They will start with a neutral-site affair for the first time in 20 years. UTEP downed Penn, 69-66, on Nov. 10, 2006, as part of the BCA Invitational in the first game of the Tony Barbee era. Incidentally, Golding can pull into a tie with Barbee for third all-time in program history for most career wins (82).
 
EARLIEST START DATE EVER, AGAIN
For the third straight season, UTEP is tipping things off on the earliest start date in program history. The date of Nov. 2 bests the campaign opener from a year ago (Nov. 3, 2025), which had bested the beginning in 2024-25 (Nov. 4).
 
GET TO KNOW NKU
Northern Kentucky University is coming off a strong showing in 2025-26, finishing 20-14 to secure the program's first 20+ win season in three years (22-13) and fourth since 2019-20. The Norse return six players from a year ago, including starting PG Ethan Elliott, while adding seven newcomers. Elliott dished out 4.6 apg (fourth Horizon League/97th NCAA) while chipping in 5.1 ppg to go along with 0.9 spg.  It did have significant turnover, though, losing its top-five scorers from that unit, which played a part in it being selected to finish fifth in the Horizon League. NKU is under the direction of eighth-year head coach Darrin Horn, who sports a mark of 134-90 in that timeframe. He is 305-201 all-time in his 17th year as a collegiate head coach with prior stops at South Carolina and his alma mater, WKU. Horn boasts three NCAA appearances (two at NKU) and a trio of NIT showings. He has claimed two Horizon League titles with NKU, most recently in 2023. The Norse play an up-tempo style of hoops, putting up 83.1 ppg (second Horizon League/30th NCAA) in 2025-26, aided by good ball movement (15.8 apg-third/71st). NKU was also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for fastbreak scoring (17.5-first/fifth), field-goal percent (46.7-fifth/80th), free throw attempts per game (22.4-second/90th), offensive rebounds per contest (11.9-fourth/89th), scoring margin (+5.7-second/90th), steals per game (8.6-second/27th), 3-point attempts per game (27.6-fourth/42nd), 3-pointers made per game (9.4-fourth/62nd), turnover margin (1.9-third/69th) and turnovers forced per game (13.8-third/38th). The contest against the Miners will be the first of four in a span of nine days outside of Highland Heights, Ky., to begin the year, with the Norse also set to play at South Dakota (Nov. 4), at Texas A&M (Nov. 6) and at Saint Louis (Nov. 10). NKU has only had full active DI status since August 2016. Notable university alumni include Rich Boehne (former president of E.W. Scripps Company that sponsors the Scripps National Spelling Bee), Adam Gregory (actor 90210 and the Bold and the Beautiful). George Clooney studied broadcast journalism (1979-81) before transferring.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Monday's matchup is the first between the programs.
 
FRESH START
It is a new era for UTEP men's basketball in 2026-27, with the Miners renewing old rivalries as part of joining the Mountain West Conference. Head coach Joe Golding returns for his sixth year at the helm of the program, and he enters the season with 81 wins with the Orange and Blue. He needs two triumphs to surpass former bench boss Tony Barbee (82), who occupies third on the career charts. UTEP has a completely-revamped 15-man roster compiled by Golding and staff. There's a ton of size (school-record five players 6-10 or taller) and a quality backcourt too. There are proven players from the high major, mid major and international levels, in addition to some highly-touted high school recruits.
 
ROSTER RUNDOWN
The 2026-27 roster was constructed through DI transfers, in addition to the JUCO, prep and international ranks. DI transfers include 6-10 forward Reid Cason (East Carolina), 6-10 forward Augusto Cassia (Ole Miss), 6-6 guard/forward Ryan Jackson Jr. (William & Mary), 6-8 forward Mikey Kelvin II (FIU), 6-5 guard Reese Miller (William & Mary), 6-7 guard Leif Moeller (Evansville), 6-11 forward Janusz Ratowski (Stetson) and 6-3 guard Jace Whiting (Weber State). Second-team All-American 6-5 guard Cam McDaniels (John A. Logan College) is coming out of the JUCO ranks while 6-8 forward Ivan Perasovic (Croatia) and 6-10 forward Youssouf Traore (Mali) venture from international action. There are four additions from the prep ranks, including a trio (6-5 four-star guard Donovan Criss, 6-11 three-star center Delano Tarpley and 6-6 three-star forward Isaiah Ward) that led San Antonio's William J. Brennan HS to runner-up honors at the 2026 state tournament. The Miners also inked 6-7 three-star guard Kaleb Jackson (Kingdom Collegiate).
 
HOW'S THE VIEW UP THERE?
UTEP features five players on this year's team at 6-10 or taller, making it the first such roster on record in school history. The individuals are in the form of Augusto Cassia (6-10, F), Reid Cason (6-10, F), Delano Tarpley (6-11, C), Janusz Ratowski (6-11, F) and Youssouf Traore (6-10, F).
 
SIZE ACROSS THE BOARD
Every player on UTEP's squad is 6-3 or taller, giving the Miners some nice size across the board. It marks the first time in school annals that the Orange and Blue have rostered a squad where everyone stands at least 6-3. Weber State transfer Jace Whiting holds that distinction at 6-3 while the rest of his teammates check in at 6-5 or taller.
 
SCHEDULE RUNDOWN
Tipping off the season at the Field of 68 24-Hour Marathon (Nov. 2), spending the week of Thanksgiving in Mexico for the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 24-25), hosting the 65th Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 20-21) and navigating 18 conference games in the first season as members of the Mountain West highlight the 2026-27 UTEP men's basketball schedule. There are up to 13 matchups vs. teams that won 20+ games a year ago and as many as seven contests vs. squads that played postseason hoops (three NCAA, four NIT). The Miners will have 17 of their 31 tilts inside the venerable GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center, which will feature a new court design and an upgraded fan experience to make UTEP's inaugural campaign in the Mountain West even more special.
 
TAKING THEIR TALENTS TO EL PASO
A unique part to UTEP's roster in 2026-27 is the fact that three standouts from the same high school all signed with the Miners to continue their careers together. 6-5 four-star guard Donovan Criss, 6-11 three-star center Delano Tarpley and 6-6 three-star forward Isaiah Ward are all venturing to the 915 after leading San Antonio's William J. Brennan HS to incredible success. The program has gone to the Final Four in three of the past four years, including earning runner-up honors at the 2026 state tournament.
 
BLOCK PARTY
East Carolina transfer Reid Cason is a 6-10 post who will provide a defensive presence in the paint. He blocked 30 shots last year, with at least two in nine games. Cason also shot it well, drilling 56.1 percent from the floor.
 
POWER CONFERENCE FLAVOR
Ole Miss transfer Augusto Cassia boasts starting experience in both the SEC (Rebels) and the BIG EAST (Butler). The senior 6-10 forward hit a combined 47.5 percent of his shots the past two years while also excelling at the line (81.1 percent) in that timeframe. He previously gained incredible experience on the world stage through training at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, with a prior stop at the NBA Academy Latin America in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He represented Brazil at the 2019 South American U17 championship, accounting for 6.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg in four contests, in addition to playing for Corinthians, a professional team in Brazil.
 
FOUR STAR DON
Donovan Criss was a four-star recruit (ESPN.com) and a top-150 player nationally. The 6-5 guard piled things up with 14.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.4 apg and 1.5 spg as a senior, leading San Antonio William J. Brennan HS to runner-up accolades at the 2026 state tournament with fellow signees 6-11 center Delano Tarpley and 6-6 forward Isaiah Ward.
 
KALEB'S CORNER
Kaleb Jackson is a 6-7 guard who was tabbed as a three-star recruit coming out of Kingdom Collegiate. He averaged 16.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.6 spg last year. Overall, he posted 49 double-digit scoring efforts, including eight double-doubles, while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor during two seasons of play.
 
KELVIN SQUARED
Transfer Mikey Kelvin II is shooting to be back on the court for the first time since 2024 when starring for Queens University. He put up 10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 1.1 bpg to help the squad forge a 30-6 record and snare runner-up honors nationally in 2023-24. It was part of three straight showings in the USPORTS Final 8, which is the Canadian equivalent of the NCAA's March Madness tournament. He was with FIU last year, but he did not play.
 
ACTION JACKSON JR.
William & Mary transfer Ryan Jackson Jr. put up 7.0 ppg on 67.9 percent shooting while adding 3.0 rpg last year. The field-goal percentage was third all-time on the school's single-season list. The 6-6 guard's effort helped the squad pick up its first 20+ win season in six years alongside fellow transfer Reese Miller.
 
ALL-AMERICAN CAM
6-5 guard Cam McDaniels was a second-team NJCAA All-American, All-Region and League Freshman of the Year in 2025-26 with John A. Logan College. He helped the program claim the conference crown and earn a Region 24 co-championship. McDaniels poured in 17.4 ppg, which was aided by 10 games with at least 20 points, while also adding 5.1 rpg.
 
COMING BACK TO THE LONE STAR STATE
Round Rock, Texas, native and William & Mary transfer Reese Miller is venturing back to the Lone Star State for his senior season. He was the leading scorer (12.1 ppg-21st CAA) for a well-balanced William & Mary team while also chipping in 2.5 rpg and 2.4 apg. The 6-6 guard's effort helped the squad pick up its first 20+ win season in six years alongside fellow transfer Ryan Jackson.
 
RUNNING THE POINT
Evansville transfer and 6-7 point guard Leif Moeller stuffed the stat sheet last year with 10.8 ppg, 4.0 apg and 3.8 rpg. He was credited with 7+ assists in seven games. Moeller also posted 15 double-digit scoring efforts, including 10 of the final 12 games. The German native previously competed with Rist Wedel at the ProB level in Germany, putting up 12.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 4.1 apg across 14 contests. He also was a key cog in the rotation for Veolia Towers Hamburg, a squad which competes in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
 
CROATIAN CONNECTION
6-8 forward Ivan Perasovic will make his collegiate debut after playing 115 games in the first division of the ABA League in Croatia. He accounted for 6.5 ppg (57.1 percent shooting) and 3.1 rpg in 2025-26 with KK Split. He previously was a standout for Croatia at the 2018 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup. Perasovic registered 7.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.3 apg at the event.
 
RATOWSKI ROUNDING INTO FORM
Janusz Ratowski is a 6-11 forward who nailed 63.2 percent of his shots last year after transferring from SEC foe Texas A&M. He has international experience, previously notching 9.6 ppg and 9.4 rpg with SMS PZKosz Wladyssalwowo in Poland in 2023-24. He also was invited to join the U20 Poland National Team in 2024.
 
CENTER OF ATTENTION
Three-star center signee Delano Tarpley accounted for 10.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg (6.1 drpg), 1.9 apg and 1.2 bpg in a sensational senior campaign with San Antonio William J. Brennan HS. He had 20 double-digit scoring efforts while shooting 67.2 percent from the floor, helping the squad secure runner-up honors at the 2026 state tournament with fellow signees 6-5 guard Donovan Criss and 6-6 forward Isaiah Ward.
 
MALI MADNESS
6-10 post Youssouf Traore is a standout for Mali on the national team level who will begin his first season at the collegiate level. He was named the Tournament MVP after averaging a double-double (12.8 ppg, 16.2 rpg) to lead Mali's U18 team to the U18 AfroBasket title in 2024. He has also played three years in Spain's Liga Endesa with Casademont Zaragoza, which is considered a top-five league in the world.
 
THE WARDEN
6-6 forward signee Isaiah Ward is a three-star prospect who earned TABC All State and All-Region accolades following his senior season with San Antonio William J. Brennan HS. He accounted for 12.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.1 apg and 1.1 spg during his prep career. Ward, considered a glue guy and an emotional leader, helped the team earn runner-up honors at the 2026 state tournament with fellow signees 6-5 guard Donovan Criss and 6-11 center Delano Tarpley.
 
SHARPSHOOTING JACE
Jace Whiting is a 6-3 sharpshooter transfer from Weber State. He produced 11.2 ppg (third on team) on a robust 44.7 percent shooting (85-190), including 36.2 percent (25-69) from distance, while also adding 3.5 rpg and 2.7 apg (second on squad) in 30.8 mpg during his lone season with the Wildcats. Whiting shot 44.7 percent from the floor and 82.4 percent on free throws. He has ample experience in the Mountain West, previously playing in 68 games with Boise State and UNLV.
 
STEALS HAVE BEEN SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US
The Miners have been among the best for steals the past few years under head coach 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 had a slight drop off last year but still checked in 90th (7.6 spg).
 
TALKING DOUBLE-DIGIT STEALS UNDER GOLDING
UTEP has produced 62 games with at least 10 steals under head coach Joe Golding, including doing so 10 times last season. That overall figure under Golding surpasses the total number of such efforts (60) in the prior 15 seasons combined prior to his arrival (Golding started in the 2021-22 season).
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE'VE DONE
The Miners have been among the best, if not the best in the country, in that area the past four years. They were sixth in 2024-25 (16.0), first in 2023-24 (18.7) and 10th in 2022-23 (16.8). UTEP dipped some last year, but it still finished among the top-100 nationally by rating 90th in 2025-26 (12.7).
 
QUICK RUNDOWN
- Lost all five starters for the second straight season.
- No returning players whatsoever from the 2025-26 squad, marking the first time in school history that UTEP didn't bring back at least one individual from the prior year.
- Joe Golding enters his sixth season (81-83) at the helm of UTEP and his 16th campaign (239-227) overall as a collegiate head coach.
- There are eight DI transfers, four from the high school ranks, two out of the international pool and one via junior college.
- School-record five players listed at 6-10 or more.
- Playing 17 home games, including nine conference contests, in the first season as members of the Mountain West.
 
THE BASIC FACTS ON UTEP'S PROGRAM
-    The 2026-27 campaign will be the 106th year 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 27 seasons with 20+ victories (last in 2022). 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 sixth 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 239-227 in his 16th season as a collegiate head coach, including 81-83 at UTEP. He has enjoyed three winning seasons in five years, piling up at least 18 triumphs in those campaigns above .500. He is fourth all-time at UTEP. Golding needs two triumphs to surpass Tony Barbee (82-52, 2006-10, third place). Golding set the tone for his tenure in his first year on the sidelines in the Sun City in 2021-22. He became the fourth head coach in program history to have a winning season in their initial season. Don Haskins was the first to do so when he directed the Miners to a mark of 18-6 in 1961-62. Doc Sadler (27-8, 2004-05) and Tim Floyd (25-10, 2010-11) also achieved the feat. Overall, the prior 19 head coaches combined to forge an average record of 9-13 in their first year with UTEP. Previously Golding spent 10 years at Abilene Christian (158-144), helping it transition from a Division II to a Division I program. Golding led the Wildcats to the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Tournaments, including a stunning upset as a 14-seed of third-seeded Texas in the first round of the 2021 Big Dance.
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will welcome UIW to GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center for its home opener at 5 p.m. MT on Nov. 8. The contest will be streamed on MW+ (subscription required), in addition to being carried on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso.
 

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