Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (10-16, 6-9 CUSA) will look to get back into the win column while also aiming to complete a season sweep of I-10 rival NM State (12-13, 5-10 CUSA) when it locks up with the Aggies inside the Pan American Center at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. The Miners bested NM State, 91-88, in OT on Feb. 7. A victory for the Orange and Blue would give them their first sweep of their rivals since the 2010-11 campaign. It would also mark their third consecutive triumph against NM State, which hasn't happened since they peeled off six in a row from 2003-04 through 2005-06. UTEP had a two-contest winning streak snapped with a hard-fought 73-64 setback at the hands of league-leading Liberty (2/14). The Aggies halted a two-game skid by besting Jax State, 79-70, on the road on Feb. 14. It is a vital tilt for both teams, with UTEP holding a one-game lead in the league standings over the Aggies, FIU and Delaware. The Miners are currently tied for eighth in the league with Middle Tennessee. A victory would provide some breathing room between the programs, in addition to giving the Miners the ever so important tiebreaker by virtue of their home vanquishing of NM State earlier this year. The contest tips off a three-game roadswing, something the Orange and Blue also endured with the initial three tilts of the league slate. It marks the first time since 2021-22 that the Miners will have had two separate stretches of three in a row in hostile territory during league action. That season was UTEP's first under the direction of head coach Joe Golding. The Miners are 2-8 (2-5 CUSA) on the road while the Aggies stand 7-5 (2-5 CUSA) at home. UTEP, which notched a wire-to-wire 66-63 triumph in Las Cruces in 2024-25, hasn't claimed consecutive games inside the Pan American Center in 16 years. Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd year) will be describing the action on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ with Adam Young and Rus Bradburd on the call.
 
GET TO KNOW NM STATE (12-13, 5-10 CUSA)
NM State stormed out of the gates at 8-3, including claiming its CUSA opener with an 87-78 vanquishing of Sam Houston (12/21) and capping nonconference play with a 104-33 rout of Southwest (N.M). The Aggies then dropped two straight and eight of the next 10. They halted the slide, which included a four-contest skid, with a 72-63 victory at LA Tech (2/4). NM State fell in the next two tilts, with the Miners (2/7) overcoming a 10-point deficit with roughly six minutes to play in a 91-88 OT win and league-leading Liberty (2/11) besting it on a buzzer beater. The Aggies got back into the win column with a gut-check 79-70 triumph at Jax State (2/14) in their most-recent outing. NM State enters Saturday's showdown at 12-13 overall, including 5-10 in CUSA play. The Aggies were 5-0 in Las Cruces in nonconference, but they have gone just 2-5 at home in conference action. This marks the second straight season that NM State has been saddled with at least five home losses (9-6 last year), something that hasn't happened since the 2003-04 (8-7) and 2004-05 (3-11) campaigns. NM State guards tightly, keeping foes to 40.7 percent shooting (third CUSA/35th NCAA). It is also among the league's best and top-100 nationally in bench scoring (29.0-second/44th), fastbreak points (12.5-third/87th), offensive boards per game (12.2-sixth/80th), overall rebounds per contest (37.6-sixth/79th), 3-point percentage defense (30.9-third/44th) and fewest turnovers per game (10.7-86th). The Aggies are in the 300s for most fouls per game (19.8-340th. Individually, CSU Bakersfield transfer Jemel Jones (16.9 ppg-sixth CUSA) sets the tone, with Idaho transfer Julius Mims buoying him by nearly averaging a double-double (11.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg-first CUSA/34th NCAA). In fact, Mims has recorded seven double-doubles (second CUSA/59th NCAA) this season. Elijah Elliott (9.3 ppg), Jayland Randall (8.5 ppg) and Anthony Wrzeszcz (8.2 ppg) provided some offense as well. Wrzeszcz (49-137, 35.8 percent) is a sharpshooter, nailing 1.96 triples per tilt (14th CUSA). In fact, he has only made 16 two-point shots compared to his 49 from beyond-the-arc. Jones does a great job of getting to the line, nailing 99 (sixth CUSA) of 118 (10th CUSA) for a readout of 83.9 percent (third CUSA). Both Mims (2.88-fourth CUSA/75th NCAA) and Jae'Coby Osborne (2.04-14th CUSA) crash the offensive glass extremely hard. Jones also does a good job of pressuring the opposition, producing 1.4 steals per game (fourth CUSA). Notable alumni include actor Scott Bailey, who is best known for his playing the role of Sandy Foster on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, and former Olympic basketball player Chito Reyes. Additionally, Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the planet Pluto (since reclassified to a dwarf planet), taught astronomy at the school from 1955 until his retirement in 1973.
 
SERIES HISTORY: NM STATE LEADS, 123-107
NM State holds a 123-107 advantage in the all-time series. The Miners have won back-to-back games against the Aggies for the first time claiming consecutive contests spanning the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns. Earlier this season the Miners rallied from down 10 to force OT on a Kaseem Watson 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left. UTEP built a nine-point lead in the extra session and held on for the 91-88 triumph. Last year, UTEP avenged an 85-57 setback (1/11/25) in front of sold-out crowd at the Don Haskins Center by staking a 66-63 wire-to-wire victory (2/8/25) at the Pan American Center. It marked their first road triumph in the series since the 2010-11 campaign (W, 74-72, 11/30/10). It is UTEP's oldest series while rating as the second oldest for the Aggies. It started in 1914 and the two squads squared off at least twice annually every year since 1944-45 before Covid interrupted that. The 2024-25 season was the first campaign that the two foes locked up in a conference contest since the 1961-62 season when both teams were members of the Border Conference. UTEP is in search of a third straight win against NM State, something that hasn't occurred since it peeled off six in a row from 2003-04 through 2005-06.
 
LAST GAME (LIBERTY 74, AT UTEP 63, 2/14/26)
KJ Thomas tallied a career-high 14 points (6-7 FG) while Elijah Jones (15 points), Kaseem Watson (10 points) and Caleb Blackwell (10 points) joined him in double digits for scoring, but UTEP was derailed by defending league champion and first-place Liberty, 73-64, inside the Don Haskins Center on Feb. 14.
 
GAME OF RUNS
After the Flames vaulted to a 9-2 edge roughly four minutes into the contest, the Miners powered in front by virtue of a 23-6 run on the way to staking a 10-point cushion. To its credit, Liberty regrouped and closed the half with a 13-2 surge to put UTEP down by a pair (28-26) heading to the locker room. The Miners fought back to tie the tilt on multiple occasions only to have another big run afford the visitors a 12-point advantage (53-41) with nine minutes in regulation. UTEP refused to quit, narrowing the gap to three on a trio of occasions and creeping within two (66-64, 1:42, 2H), but the Flames answered every time en route to extending their winning streak to a school-record 16 games.
 
MOVED PAST 200 STEALS ON THE SEASON
For the fifth time in as many years under head coach Joe Golding, UTEP has tallied 200+ steals. The Miners registered four thefts against Liberty (2/14) to lift their season total to 202. Prior to his arrival, UTEP hadn't surpassed 200 takeaways in a year since an eight-year streak from 2003-04 through 2010-11.
 
ON THE CUSP OF 100 BLOCKS
UTEP heads into the game at NM State with 97 blocked shots, putting it three shy of surpassing the century mark in the category. The Miners last did so in 2021-22 (121), which was head coach Joe Golding's first season on the sidelines.
 
BOMBS AWAY
UTEP has banged home a total of 30 triples the past three tilts (30-76, 39.4 percent). The Miners buried a season-high tying 11 3-pointers in victories against NM State (W, 91-88, OT, 2/7) and at Jax State (W, 69-64, 2/11) before sinking 8-19 (42.1 percent) in the 73-64 setback against Liberty (2/14).
 
MAKING MORE AND MORE TREYS
UTEP has connected on a least eight 3-pointers 15 times this season, with 11 of those performances coming in league action. The Miners have banged home eight or more treys in three straight and eight of the last 10 tilts.  UTEP is 10 shy of reaching 200 3-pointers this year, which would mark the third time in five seasons under head coach Joe Golding to post 200+ triples made.  The Miners had three such seasons (2015-16, 2017-18, 2019-20) in the prior 11 campaigns to Golding's arrival.
 
KJ HAS FOUND HIS DEEP TOUCH
KJ Thomas has drilled a combined 5-10 (50.0 percent) from 3-point range the past three tilts, including tying his most makes (two) from distance last time out vs. Liberty (2/14). It is a stark contrast (10-43, 23.3 percent) over his first 23 contests of the campaign.
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in seven straight (13.6 ppg), 11 of 13 (14.4 ppg) and 18 of the last 22 (13.5 ppg). The effort has vaulted his scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.5 ppg. Furthermore, Watson (14.1 ppg) is practically tied with Elijah Jones (14.2 ppg) for the team lead in scoring in league action. Watson tops the team for 3-pointers made and attempted (46-122, 37.7 percent) on the year, including a squad-best 36-93 (38.7) from distance in league play.
 
CALEB IS ON A HEATER
Caleb Blackwell has ripped off five consecutive double-digit scoring efforts to nearly match his total such performances (six) over his first 17 games played with the Orange and Blue. He is putting up 15.8 ppg during the hot streak, aided by consecutive 20+ point showings. Blackwell has nailed multiple 3-pointers in all five contests of the surge, including going 2-4 from distance last time out vs. Liberty (2/14). It has been a great response to the two-tilt stretch that preceded it where he had two points on a combined 1-8 shooting.
 
STICKING HIS NOSE IN TO REBOUND TOO
In addition to his scoring outburst, Caleb Blackwell has gotten after it on the glass of late. He has grabbed 24 rebounds the past five games (4.8 rpg), all of which have come on the defensive end. He has at least four boards in every contest of the stretch.
 
JONES IS DIALED IN FROM DISTANCE
Elijah Jones is a combined 9-17 (52.9 percent) from 3-point range the past three tilts, including tying his career best for makes (five) and attempts (eight) in the victory at Jax State (2/7). The surge has moved him to 31-74 (41.9 percent) from beyond-the-arc in conference play. His percentage in CUSA action tops the team while his 31 makes trail only Kaseem Watson (36-93, 38.7 percent).  Jones was 12-37 (32.4 percent) in nonconference play.
 
BOUNCED BACK OVERALL
After being held to a season-low four points at Sam Houston (2/4) in just 23 minutes of action, Elijah Jones has tallied at least 15 points in the past three games. He has nailed 18-38 (48.6 percent) from the floor overall, including 9-17 (52.9 percent) from 3-point range, in the stretch. Jones has also been on the boards with 26 rebounds (8.7 rpg) while playing 30+ minutes each tilt.
 
ALL STREAKS COME TO AN END
Jamal West Jr.'s season-long stretch of seven straight games (17.0 ppg) in double figures for scoring came to a close when he finished with eight points last time out vs. Liberty (2/14). Foul issues were the biggest problems, with West Jr. playing only 24:44 (his lowest amount in CUSA) before picking up his fifth foul. West Jr. is still putting up 13.6 ppg heading into the showdown at NM State, up a tick from 12.6 ppg when his hot streak had commenced.
 
THOMAS ON A STEALING SURGE
KJ Thomas has picked up his defensive pressure by registering a steal in eight straight games. He has 14 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.
 
WE CLOSE THINGS OUT
UTEP is 6-0 on the year when leading with five minutes to play in regulation. The most-recent situation came was when the Miners were ahead by seven (62-55) as the clock hit 5:00, and they did enough down the stretch to hold off Jax State (2/11) on the road, 69-64.
 
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. The Miners nearly pulled off the feat against Liberty (2/14) as they whittled a 12-point deficit (53-41) with 9:05 left all the way down to two (66-64, 1:42, 2H) before the Flames held on.
 
WE LIKE SCORING FIRST
While basketball is a 40-minute game, interestingly enough the Miners are 6-4 on the year when scoring first and 4-12 when the opposition does so.
 
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).
 
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 (3.2-11th 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 five 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 23 of 26 contests this year. He has tallied 15+ points in 13 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 done so twice this year. Both have come withing the past five contests. He had 15 points and 12 boards vs. Delaware (1/31) while registering 17 points and 12 caroms against NM State (2/7).
 
THESE TWO ALL OVER BOARDS LATELY
Over the past five games, Elijah Jones is pulling down 9.0 rpg while Kaseem Watson has secured 8.4 rpg the past four tilts.
 
JONES HITTING THAT OFFENSIVE GLASS
With Elijah Jones crashing the boards of late, it's not a surprise to see him getting it done in that department at the offensive end. He has grabbed two or more in six straight contests, amassing a total of 22 (3.7 orpg) over that timeframe.
 
MORE WITH WATSON'S REBOUNDING EFFORTS
For the first time of his career (prior best three earlier in league play) Kaseem Watson has recorded at least seven rebounds in four consecutive contests. Watson has registered 34 boards (8.5 rpg) in the 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 4.9 rpg, aided by a readout of 5.1 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 performances 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 (46-122, 37.7 percent), Elijah Jones (43-111, 38.7 percent) and Caleb Blackwell (39-105, 37.1 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 in 2021-22 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 at NM State at 1,009 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. (35 blocks, 1.35 bpg-fifth CUSA) and Elijah Jones (32 blocks, 1.24 bpg-ninth CUSA) has accounted for 67 of UTEP's 97 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). West Jr's 35 blocks are the most by a Miner in a single season since Matt Willms (40, 2016-17).
 
THEY CONNECT OFTEN
Jamal West Jr. (55.7 percent-second CUSA/53rd NCAA) and Elijah Jones (48.8 percent-sixth CUSA) give the Miners two of the top 10 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 is 1-15 when falling shy of that figure, but the lone triumph in the situation came recently (W, 69-64, at 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-11th CUSA) while rating second for blocked shots (1.2-ninth CUSA), rebounding (5.5), field-goal percentage (48.8-sixth CUSA) and 3-pointers made (46). 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 (83) and attempted (130-seventh CUSA).
 
THIS TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 14.3 ppg-11th CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 13.6 ppg-16th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.5 ppg-21st CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 23 times followed by Watson and West Jr. with 19 each. 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 73.7 percent (202-274) 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 31 consecutive free throws and 36-37 (97.3 percent) in CUSA action. 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 much shorter, by sinking his past 12 tries.
 
WEST JR. ON THE BOARDS
Jamal West Jr. has secured a team-leading 6.6 rebounds per game (15th CUSA), aided by 6.7 rpg in CUSA only action. He has been a menace on the offensive boards (2.38 orpg-ninth 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 8-6 in the situation.
 
SCORING ACROSS THE BOARD
Fourteen times this year (9-5 overall), including six occasions in CUSA play (5-1), 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 23 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 (19) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (11 in 23 GP), KJ Thomas (four), 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. (13.6 ppg-16th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.5 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 at NM State averaging 7.8 spg (second CUSA/83rd 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 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 at NM State with the opposition committing 13.0 giveaways per game (second CUSA/90th 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).
 
WAS A DAUNTING NON D1 SCHEDULE
UTEP endured a challenging nonconference vs. DI foes. Through Feb. 19, those eight opponents have combined to go 138-78.
 
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 victories 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 vs. Liberty (2/14), UTEP has now lost 35 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 2021-22 season (38).
 
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 8-6 at home (4-4 CUSA), meaning they need to win their final two tilts at the Don Haskins Center to secured 10+ victories in the Sun City for a sixth 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 238-223 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 80-79 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. Golding needs 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 will play the second of three straight on the road while also looking to complete a season sweep of Middle Tennessee when it challenges the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, Tenn., at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT on Feb. 26. Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also stream on ESPN+ (subscription required).

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