Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (10-15, 6-8 CUSA) will look to stop surging and unbeaten in CUSA play Liberty (21-3, 13-0 CUSA) in a nationally-televised tilt (ESPN2) at 12 p.m. inside the Don Haskins Center Saturday. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to receive up to 60 percent off their tickets while also being able to participate in the halftime teddy bear toss. The Miners have won back-to-back games against DI opposition for the first time this year, having dispatched then second-place Jax State 69-64 on the road last time out (2/11). The Flames are riding a school-record 15-game winning streak (third-longest active surge in the country). Their 13-0 start to league play is the program's best at the school, and they have ripped off 18 straight triumphs vs. CUSA foes (including postseason) dating to last year. Most recently, LU bested NM State (2/11), 77-75, on the road with a buzzer-beating jump shot from reigning CUSA Player of the Week Zach Cleveland. It marked the Flames' second straight victory by three points or less by while improving them to 5-1 (4-0 in CUSA) in that situation this year. After dropping its first road game, LU has won eight straight in hostile territory (ties third longest active straight in the country). It is 8-1 overall on the road (ties fourth most wins in country), including 7-0 in league action. UTEP stands 8-5 at home (4-3 CUSA). The Miners are looking to avenge an 80-69 setback at Liberty (1/17) roughly a month ago. That game was tied at 49 with 16:08 remaining in regulation before the Flames pulled away down the stretch. UTEP is arguably playing its best basketball of the season, riding a two-game winning streak and emerging victorious in three of the past four tilts. David Saltzman and Sean Harrington will have the call on ESPN2 while Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd year) will be describing the action on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso.
 
GET TO KNOW LIBERTY (21-3, 13-0 CUSA)
Defending CUSA regular-season and tournament champion Liberty has put together one of its finest seasons in program thus far in 2025-26. The Flames stand at 21-3 (13-0 CUSA) after a 77-75 road vanquishing on a buzzer beater against NM State on Feb. 11. Liberty is riding a 15-game winning streak, the longest in program history (third-longest active surge in the nation). They are 13-0 in CUSA play, their best start in league action in program history. LU has won 18 straight games vs. CUSA programs (including postseason) dating to last year). It paces CUSA and is among the top-100 nationally for assist-to-turnover ratio (+2.05-third), assists per game (17.6-28th), field-goal percentage (52.1-second), fewest fouls per game (13.8-fifth), scoring margin (+11.3-38th), 3-point percentage (40.5-third), 3-pointers made per game (10.5-24th), turnover margin (+3.0-first/39th), fewest turnovers per game (8.6-third) and winning percentage (87.5-10th). It is also third in CUSA and 41st nationally for scoring defense. The Flames sit 300th or worse in the country for fastbreak scoring (6.7-340th), free throws made (11.5-346th) and attempted (16.3-341st) per tilt, rebounding margin (-2.9-306th), offensive rebounds per game (5.7-361st) and total rebounds per contest (30.0-352nd). Reigning CUSA Player of the Week Zach Cleveland contributes across the board for the Flames, sitting among the league and NCAA leaders for assists (7.2 apg-first/seventh NCAA), blocks per game (1.4-third/100th NCAA), double-doubles (eight-first/37th), playing time (34.0-fifth/85th), defensive boards per game (7.4-first/seventh) and total rebounds per contest (8.1-fourth/72nd). Cleveland also tops the team in steals (1.39-sixth CUSA). Brett Decker Jr., who averaged 4.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game as a freshman last year, has taken off this season by pouring in 17.0 ppg (fifth CUSA) to go along with 2.8 rpg and 1.1 apg. Kaden Metheny (13.8 ppg-13th CUSA), Colin Porter (11.7 ppg-23rd CUSA) and JJ Harper (11.0 ppg-29th CUSA) join Decker Jr. and Cleveland in double figures for scoring, meaning that every starter puts up at least 10.0 ppg. Decker Jr. is one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation, nailing 49.7 percent (second NCAA) while drilling 3.46 treys per tilt (10th NCAA). Metheny (2.92-third CUSA/42nd NCAA) and Porter (2.09-10th CUSA) also drill at least two 3-pointers per game. The Flames boast a proud history with seven conference crowns and seven bids to the NCAA Tournament (1994, 2004, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025). LU has been especially successful since the 2018-19 season, rating among the top 10 nationally for most wins (190). Notable university alumni include Terry Fator (Ventriloquist who won America's Got Talent, former Vegas Headliner), Toby Mac (hip-hop artist) and Phil Snyder (voice actor known for Disney's Jiminy Cricket.
 
SERIES HISTORY: LIBERTY LEADS, 4 -3
Liberty has a 4-3 edge in the ledger, aided by claiming the past three matchups. The Flames held off the Miners, 80-69, nearly a month ago (1/17). That game was tied at
49 with 16:08 remaining in regulation before LU pulled away down the stretch. It marked UTEP's first loss (2-1) inside Liberty Arena. All seven matchups vs. the Flames have occurred since they joined CUSA, including a pair in the league tournament. Last year then No. 1 seed Liberty bested the Miners, 81-60, in the quarterfinals of the CUSA Championships, avenging a 66-57 come-from-behind win for UTEP in the quarters of the 2024 edition.
 
LAST GAME (UTEP 69, AT JAX STATE 64, 2/11/26)
UTEP buried 11 3-pointers and used a big run in the second half to rally past second-place Jax State on the road, 69-64, on Feb. 11. In a tilt that featured seven ties and 12 lead changes, it was the Miners who got hot at the right moment. With the Gamecocks up by three (52-49) with nine minutes to play, UTEP unleashed a game-altering 15-3 surge to rip control of the contest and vault ahead by nine (64-55) with 4:19 remaining in regulation. JSU punched back, but UTEP withstood the charge on the way to handing the Gamecocks just their second loss at home in CUSA play this year.
 
SOMETHING ABOUT PLAYING AT JAX STATE WE LIKE
Locking up with Jax State on the road is no easy feat, but following the triumph last time out, the Miners moved to 2-1 inside Pete Mathews Coliseum since the Gamecocks joined CUSA. The most-recent 69-64 victory handed the Gamecocks just their second league home setback this season.
 
FINALLY, A WIN WITHOUT SCORING 70+
For the first time this year, UTEP won a contest when it failed to tally 70+ points in its 69-64 road vanquishing of Jax State (2/11). The Miners, who obviously came very close to that figure in the tilt, had entered the game with a mark of 0-14 this season when falling short of 70 points before putting an end to that by taking out the Gamecocks.
 
DROPPING DIMES
Caleb Blackwell has recorded 11 assists to four turnovers in the past two tilts, including six (five in second half) at Jax State last time out. His six helpers tied as his second-best total this year (two games with seven previously).
 
KEPT IT CLOSE THROUGHOUT
For just the second time in 14 CUSA contests, the Miners did not face a double-digit deficit in the win at Jax State. The Gamecocks' largest advantage was six with 15 minutes to play. It also occurred in UTEP's home 83-77 victory against FIU (1/22) (largest deficit was one).
 
CLOSING THINGS OUT
The Miners improved to 6-0 this year in games where they've led with five minutes to play following the triumph at Jax State. UTEP was up by seven (62-55) as the clock hit 5:00, and it did enough down the stretch to hold on and stay flawless in that situation this year.
 
STARTING TO COME TOGETHER
For this first time this year, the Miners have claimed back-to-back contests against DI competition. UTEP rallied past I-10 rival NM State (2/7) for the 91-88 victory before using a big second-half surge to dispatch second-place Jax State (2/11) on the road, 69-64, last time out. The Orange and Blue hadn't peeled off consecutive wins vs. DI foes since midway through last year (W, 66-63, at NM State, 2/8/25 and W, 77-63, vs. FIU, 2/13). Furthermore, UTEP has emerged victorious in three of its past four contests after having sustained back-to-back home setbacks.
 
TALKING FEBRUARY HOOPS
For the third straight year, the Miners are 2-1 to start the month of February. If the Orange and Blue can pull off the upset against league-leading Liberty, it would be their first three-game winning streak in the month since the 2016-17 season. That year, UTEP ripped off five straight, with the final four of those coming on the road.
 
GET THAT WEAK STUFF OUT OF HERE
Jamal West Jr. has rejected 10 shots over the past three games, including back-to-back contests with four rejections. The last Miner to enjoy consecutive contests with four blocks was Tydus Verhoeven in 2021-22, both of which came against UTSA.
 
BOMBS AWAY
UTEP has buried 10+ triples in consecutive contests and four out of the past eight tilts. The Miners were 11-25 (44.0 percent) in the win at Jax State (2/11) after going 11-32 in the OT triumph vs. NM State (2/7). Earlier in the league slate, UTEP sank 11-23 (47.8) in a setback at Liberty (1/17) before drilling 11-25 (44.0 percent) in a home win against FIU (1/22). Prior to this year, the Miners hadn't connected on at least 10 treys in back-to-back games since doing so once in 2020-21 (10-22 at Southern Miss, 1/2/21 and 12-28 vs. Rice, 1/8/21). The last time the Orange and Blue had done so on multiple occasions in a campaign was in 2007-08 (three times).
 
JONES GOT GOING AGAIN
Elijah Jones matched his career highs in 3-pointers made (five) and attempted (eight) in the win at Jax State. He previously did so vs. LA Tech (1/28). The effort moved Jones to 29-69 (42.0 percent) from beyond-the-arc in CUSA action. Jones was 12-37 (32.4 percent) in nonconference action
 
GET TO 10 STEALS AND GOOD THINGS HAPPEN
UTEP registered 11 steals at Jax State, with KJ Thomas (career-high tying three), Caleb Blackwell (two), Elijah Jones (two) and LA Hayes (two) all recording multiple thefts. The effort moved the Miners to 6-2 this year when tallying 10+ steals (2-0 in CUSA).
 
CALEB IS ON A HEATER
Caleb Blackwell has strung together four straight double-digit scoring efforts. He is averaging 17.3 ppg in the sequence, which included consecutive 20+ point showings. His initial 17 games in the Orange and Blue, Blackwell had six total tilts with 10+ points. Making it more impressive is that the prior two contests before getting going, Blackwell had a combined two points on 1-8 shooting. The surge has vaulted him into double digits for scoring (10.3 ppg) heading into the matchup with Liberty.
 
SO IS WEST JR.
Jamal West Jr. has ripped off a season-long stretch of seven straight games in double figures for scoring. He is putting up 17.0 ppg in the sequence, aided by tallying 20+ points in three of those tilts. The effort has elevated his seasonal average to 13.8 ppg, up from 12.6 ppg when the hot streak began.
 
THOMAS ON A STEALING SURGE
KJ Thomas has picked up his defensive pressure, registering a steal in seven straight games. He has 13 total takeaways in the stretch, aided by at least two thefts in four of those tilts. Thomas had a career-high tying three steals at Jax State (2/11), matching his effort vs. Missouri State (1/24), which was the second game of the current surge. The uptick has elevated him to 1.2 spg, putting him tied for first on the squad with Caleb Blackwell.
 
A BIG THREE FOR TREY
Trey Horton III made his only 3-point shot of the game at Jax State (2/11), but it was a big one. Horton III filled up a corner triple late in the first half to allow the Miners to go into the locker room knotted at 33. It loomed even larger after Jax State scored on the opening possession of the second stanza, with the Miners being down only two instead of facing a five-point deficit. Horton III is starting to find his stroke from beyond-the-arc, making 3-6 over the past four games. He had been stuck in a 4-15 skid the previous six contests.
 
IT'S NOT OVER 'TIL THE CLOCK HITS ZERO
UTEP has posted five wins this year when facing a deficit of 10+ points, with four of those coming during CUSA play (two against Delaware and one vs. Middle Tennessee and vs. NM State). The other came vs. St. Thomas (Houston) in nonconference play. It is the most such come-from-behind triumphs since at least 2004-05.
 
WE LIKE SCORING FIRST
While basketball is a 40-minute game, interestingly enough the Miners are 6-3 on the year when scoring first and 4-12 when the opposition does so. UTEP has gotten on the board first in its past two tilts, with a layup from Jamal West Jr. starting things off at Jax State. In the victory vs. NM State (2/7) there was a 3-pointer from Kaseem Watson, who coincidentally capped the scoring in regulation with a triple to force OT.
 
CALEB LOVING THE ROAD LATELY
In his past four road tilts, Caleb Blackwell has gone off. He is averaging 18.3 ppg while making 26-53 attempts (49.0 percent), including 15-33 (45.5 percent) from 3-point range. He put up 16 points in the key victory at Jax State (2/11) last time out.
 
RUNNING THE OFFENSE AND SNAGGING STEALS
Sophomore KJ Thomas has done a fine job at the point guard slot for UTEP, pacing the squad in assists (3.3-tied 11th CUSA) while sharing it for steals (1.2). The last Miner to top the unit in each of those categories (among qualified players) was Omega Harris eight years ago. Harris had 2.0 apg and 1.0 spg.
 
BLACKWELL PICKING IT UP AT THE LINE
Caleb Blackwell is a combined 16-19 (84.2 percent) at the free-throw line the past four tilts. Incredibly, he went 14-23 (60.9 percent) over his first 17 games played.
 
THAT'S CONSISTENT
Elijah Jones has reached double figures in 22 of 25 contests this year. He has tallied 15+ points in 12 games and 20 or more in five tilts. He had five double-digit efforts over his first two seasons as a Miner, never reaching 20.
 
DOUBLE THE FUN
After never recording a double-double at the collegiate level through his first 81 appearances, Elijah Jones has now achieved the feat in two of the past four games. He had 15 points and 12 boards vs. Delaware (1/31) while registering 17 points and 12 caroms last time out against NM State (2/7)
 
THESE TWO ALL OVER BOARDS LATELY
Over the past four games, Elijah Jones is pulling down 9.3 rpg while Kaseem Watson has secured 9.0 rpg the past three tilts.
 
MORE WITH WATSON ON THE GLASS
For the second time this season (both in league play), Kaseem Watson has recorded at least seven rebounds in three consecutive contests. Watson has recorded 27 boards (9.0 rpg) in the most-recent surge, including a career-high 12 while producing his first career double-double (18 points, 12 caroms) vs. NM State (2/7). He did not string together three such games in his prior two seasons at the DI level before joining the Miners this year. Watson is now averaging 4.8 rpg, aided by a readout of 5.0 rpg in CUSA play.
 
TALKING DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Jamal West Jr.'s double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) vs. LA Tech (1/28) was the 16th of his career, with four (tied seventh CUSA) of those coming this year as a Miner. Otis Frazier III also had four double-doubles in 2024-25. The last UTEP player to have at least five such efforts was Bryson Williams (five) in 2020-21. Elijah Jones (two), LA Hayes (one) and Kaseem Watson (one) have also produced double-doubles this year. UTEP's four different players with at least one double-double are also the most in four years (2021-22).
 
DON'T LEAVE THEM OPEN
Kaseem Watson (44-117, 37.6 percent), Elijah Jones (41-106, 38.7 percent) and Caleb Blackwell (37-101, 36.6 percent) have all proven to be threats from 3-point range in 2025-26. The last UTEP team to have three players make at least 35 triples while shooting at a clip of 35.0 percent or better was five years ago thanks to Jamal Bieniemy (68-188, 36.2 percent), Souley Boum (64-174, 36.8 percent) and Jorell Saterfield (49-113, 43.4 percent).
 
TALKING 20+ POINT SCORERS
Caleb Blackwell (22 at Sam Houston, 2/4 and 21 vs. NM State, 2/7), Kaseem Watson (25 at FIU, 1/4 and Middle Tennessee 1/8) and Jamal West Jr. (21 at Sam Houston and 20 vs. NM State, 2/7) all have produced back-to-back games with at least 20 points at some point this season. It's the first time since the 2020-21 season that a trio of Miners (Souley Boum, Jamal Bieniemy and Bryson Williams) have all enjoyed consecutive contests of 20+ points in a campaign.
 
BEEN LOTS OF THEM THIS YEAR
Across the board, the Miners have had 17 separate showings with 20+ points this year. Elijah Jones and Jamal West Jr. lead the way with five each, followed by four from Kaseem Watson and three by Caleb Blackwell. It's the most combined 20+ point efforts at the school since 2021-22 (28). That year was also the last time three different players had four or more 20+ outings. In '21-22 Souley Boum racked up 17, followed by six by Jamal Bieniemy and four courtesy of Keonte Kennedy.
 
CASSIUS 1,000+ CAREER POINTS AT THE NCAA LEVEL
Cassius Brooks enters the matchup with Liberty at 1,007 career points at the NCAA level. The majority of those came during his stellar two-year run with DII program Arkansas Tech (931 points from 2023-25).
 
 
WATCH OUT FOR JONES AND WEST JR. AT THE RIM
The duo of Jamal West Jr. (34 blocks, 1.36 bpg-sixth CUSA) and Elijah Jones (31 blocks, 1.24 bpg-11th CUSA) has accounted for 65 of UTEP's 95 rejections on the season. No one else on the team is in double digits. It marks the first time 2021-22 that multiple Miners posted 30+ blocked shots. That year it was courtesy of Jamari Sibley (34) and Tydus Verhoeven (32). With his next rejection, West Jr. will have the most in a single season by a UTEP player since Matt Willms (40, 2016-17).
 
THEY CONNECT OFTEN
Jamal West Jr. (56.3 percent-second CUSA/52nd NCAA) and Elijah Jones (48.8 percent-sixth CUSA) give the Miners two of the top five players in the league rankings for field-goal percentage.
 
IMPORTANT TO GET TO 70
The Miners are 9-1 this season when tallying 70+ points, most recently doing so with the 91-88 OT triumph vs. NM State (2/7). UTEP picked up its first victory (1-14 on year) when falling shy of 70 points in the five-point road vanquishing of Jax State (2/11).
 
WHAT A LEAP BY ELIJAH
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year, topping the team in scoring (14.3 ppg-ninth CUSA) while rating second for blocked shots (1.2-11th CUSA), rebounding (5.4), field-goal percentage (48.8-sixth CUSA) and 3-pointers made (41). Last year Jones averaged 3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg in 2024-25 and 3.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 2023-24.
 
MR AND-1
Jamal West Jr. has posted a squad-leading 13 And-1s on the season. It shouldn't come as a surprise given that he's leads the team in both free throws made (81-11th CUSA) and attempted (128-sixth CUSA).
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in six straight (14.2 ppg), 10 of 12 (14.8 ppg) and 17 of the last 20 (13.7 ppg). The effort has vaulted his scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.6 ppg. Furthermore, he is UTEP's leading scorer for CUSA play at 14.4 ppg, barely eclipsing Elijah Jones (14.1 ppg) and Jamal West Jr. (14.0 ppg). Watson has made a team-leading 34 triples (34-88, 38.6 percent) in 3-point range and 97.1 percent (34-35) at the charity stripe in league action.
 
THIS TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 14.3 ppg-ninth CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 13.8 ppg-12th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.6 ppg-21st CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 22 times followed by West Jr. (19) and Watson (18). 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).
 
TURNED THE CORNER AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
UTEP has connected on 73.8 percent (194-263) from the free-throw line in CUSA play. It is a notable improved from nonconference action when the Miners were just 64.5 percent (147-228).
 
STREAKING AT THE LINE
Kaseem Watson has made 29 consecutive free throws and 34-35 (97.1 percent) in CUSA action, including going 4-4 last time out. It is the longest streak at the charity stripe since UTEP Athletics Hall of Famer Brandon Wolfram, who drilled 34 in a row at the stripe during the 1999-2000 campaign. LA Hayes also has his own streak, albeit shorter, by sinking his past 10 tries.
 
WEST JR. ON THE BOARDS
Jamal West Jr. has secured a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game (14th CAA), aided by 6.9 rpg in CUSA only action. He has been a menace on the offensive boards (2.48 orpg-eighth CUSA). His overall average would be the highest by a Miner since Bryson Williams's readout of 7.4 rpg in 2020-21.
 
LOOKING AT THE STARTING FIVE
UTEP has deployed eight 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 8-5 in the situation.
 
SCORING ACROSS THE BOARD
Thirteen times this year (9-4 overall), including five occasions in CUSA play (5-0), at least four UTEP players have reached double figures in scoring in the same game. As individuals, Elijah Jones has been the most consistent with 22 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. (19) and Kaseem Watson (18) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (10 in 21 GP), KJ Thomas (three), LA Hayes (three) Tyreese Watson (three in seven GP) also have multiple games with 10+ points.
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (14.3 ppg-11th CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (13.8 ppg-12th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.6 ppg-21st CUSA) all average better than 12.0 ppg. 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 thanks to Souley Boum (19.9 ppg), Jamal Bieniemy (14.7 ppg) and Keonte Kennedy (14.1 ppg).
 
STEALS HAVE BEEN SECONDARY IN NATURE TO US
The Miners enter the game vs. Liberty averaging 7.9 spg (second CUSA/76th NCAA), helped by tallying 11 last time out at Jax State (2/11). 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 62 games with at least 10 steals under head coach Joe Golding, including doing so eight times this year (8-2). That overall figure under Golding surpasses the total number of such efforts (60) in the prior 15 seasons combined prior to his arrival (started for 2021-22 season).
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE'VE DONE
UTEP enters the game vs. Liberty with the opposition committing 13.2 giveaways per game (second CUSA/84th NCAA), with 13 turnovers forced last time out at Jax State (2/11). 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 vs. DI foes. Through Feb. 12, those eight opponents have combined to go 130-71.
 
OT WARRIORS
UTEP rallied back from as many as 14 down to force OT in the eventual 91-88 victory against NM State (2/7). It moved the Miners to 3-0 this year in overtime, the most such victories since the 2016-17 campaign (3-0). UTEP's three-game winning streak in OT affairs is also the longest since that '16-18 season.
 
ANOTHER CLOSE WIN
UTEP marched to 4-1 this year in contests decided by three points or less with the 91-88 OT triumph against NM State (2/7), 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).
 
HEALTH CHECK
With two Miners (David Tubek and Tyreese Watson), sidelined to injuries at Jax State, UTEP has now lost 33 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).
 
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 8-5 at home (4-3 CUSA), giving them a shot still to secure 10+ wins in the Sun City for a sixth straight year if they can claim two of their final three home tilts.
 
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 238-222 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 80-78 at UTEP. He has enjoyed three winning seasons in four years, piling up at least 18 triumphs in those campaigns above .500. He is fourth all time at UTEP, and he needs just three wins to 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
UTEP has a week off before heading up the road to battle I-10 rival NM State at 7 p.m. MT on Feb. 21. Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd year) will also be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also stream on ESPN+. Miner fans are encouraged to head up early to cheer on the UTEP women's basketball team, which will lock up with the Aggies inside the Pan-American Center at 2 p.m. that day.
 

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For complete coverage of UTEP men's basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPMBB (Twitter), @utepmbb (Instagram) and on Facebook @UTEPMensBasketball  or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at www.UTEPMiners.com