Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (10-17, 6-10 CUSA) will begin its final roadswing of the regular season when it plays at Middle Tennessee (13-14, 7-9 CUSA) at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT Thursday. The Miners will be vying to snap a mini two-game skid, in addition to attempting to complete a season sweep of the Blue Raiders. UTEP outlasted MTSU, 83-80, in OT at the Don Haskins Center back on Jan. 8, which at the time was the first setback of the league slate for the Blue Raiders. If the Miners can indeed emerge victorious, it would mark their first sweep of MTSU since 2019-20 (W, 67-66, in El Paso, 1/30/20, W, 60-56, in Murfreesboro, 3/4/20), and second all-time against the program. That 60-56 road triumph in 2019-20 was also the last time the Orange and Blue picked up a triumph inside the Murphy Center. UTEP is 2-9 on the road this season (2-6 CUSA) while the Blue Raiders are 9-4 at home (5-3 CUSA). The Miners were clipped at I-10 rival NM State, 67-63, last time out. The game is the second of three straight away from home, with the regular-season road finale set to be contested at WKU at 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CT on Saturday. After enduring four in a row on the road (1-3), MTSU got back into the win column with a 78-66 home triumph against Delaware (2/21). It marked the first of three in a row in Murfreesboro for the Blue Raiders. The game is important for both squads, with UTEP just one game back of MTSU in the standings. The Blue Raiders are tied for seventh in CUSA while the Miners share eighth place with FIU and NM State. Jon Teicher (45th year) will be describing the action on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ with Jake Rose and Steve Prohm on the call.
 
GET TO KNOW MIDDLE TENNESSEE (13-14, 7-9 CUSA)
Middle Tennessee went 6-5 in nonconference play and opened CUSA action at 3-0 before being dealt an 83-80 OT triumph at UTEP (1/8). The Blue Raiders bounced back by winning two of the next three, including taking out NM State on the road (59-55, 1/10), but they then dropped five in a row and seven of the next eight. Included in the skid were back-to-back setbacks in OT. MTSU got back into the win column last time out with a 78-66 home vanquishing of Delaware, putting it at 13-14 (7-9 CUSA) heading in Thursday's tilt with the Miners. The Blue Raiders like to shoot the 3-ball with 27.7 attempts per game (second CUSA/45th NCAA), helping them make 9.3 treys per contest (third CUSA/71st NCAA). They are also in the CUSA leaders and top-100 nationally for blocks per game (4.4-fourth/53rd). Other top-four league spots for the Blue Raiders include assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.32-second) and fewest turnovers per contest (11.0-fourth). MTSU does not get to the line often (12.5 FTM/game-303rd) on 18.2 FTA/contest (285th), and its effort of 68.8 percent is 288th in the nation. Four different players account for at least 8.0 ppg. They are in the form of Kamari Lands (13.6 ppg-17th CUSA), Torey Alston (13.2 ppg-18th), Jahvin Carter (10.0 ppg), Sean Smith (9.8 ppg) and Alec Oglesby (8.6 ppg). Both Smith (3.7 apg-fifth CUSA) and Carter (3.6 apg-ninth CUSA) share the ball effectively while Alston (7.6 rpg-fifth CUSA) is the top rebounder on the squad. Defensively, Smith comes up with 1.4 spg (eighth CUSA) while Alston and Chris Loofe are tied for 10th in the conference for blocks per contest (1.19). Oglesby (2.12-eighth CUSA) and Lands (2.11-ninth CUSA) both make multiple triples per tilt. Notable university alumni include Kelly Holcomb (NFL QB, including with the Cleveland Browns, from 1995-2007) and James McGill Buchanan (Nobel Prize Winner).
 
SERIES HISTORY: MIDDLE TENNESSEE LEADS, 13-8
Middle Tennessee has a 13-8 cushion in the series with UTEP, but the Miners snapped a three-contest skid against it with an 83-80 OT victory earlier this season (1/8). It marked the third time in the past four meetings between those programs that OT was required. The programs have been playing close matchups of late, with the past four contests decided by a combined 13 points. (L, 96-90, 2OT, 2/17/24, L, 71-68, 2/1/25 and L, 76-75, OT, 3/1/25). UTEP is in search of its first victory in Murfreesboro since the 2019-20 season and third all time (2-8). All 21 matchups between the programs have occurred since the Blue Raiders joined Conference USA for the 2013-14 campaign. With UTEP departing for the Mountain West next year, Thursday's matchup could be the last between the programs for the foreseeable future unless they run into each other at the CUSA Tournament.
 
LAST GAME (AT NM STATE 67, UTEP 63, 2/21/26)
Jamal West Jr. tallied a game-high 22 points while Caleb Blackwell poured in 18 points, aided by drilling four 3-pointers, but UTEP was held off at I-10 rival NM State, 67-63, on Feb. 21. The Miners jumped to an early 8-2 lead before the Aggies kicked things into gear on the way to putting UTEP down by 10 (35-25) at the break. The Miners battled over the final 20 minutes of action. They eventually climbed within two (63-61) with 51 seconds to play only to have the home side hold on.
 
REBOUNDING WAS BIG
UTEP (22-55, 40.0 percent) and NM State (27-66, 40.9 percent) shot nearly identical percentages from the floor, but it was the effort on the glass by the Aggies that proved consequential by giving them 11 more attempts. Despite a contest-high 10 rebounds from Kaseem Watson, NM State outrebounded UTEP (38-35). That was aided by 14 offensive caroms.
 
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
The four-point differential was the smallest margin in a setback in Las Cruces for the Miners since they were held off by a final count of 71-69 during the 2006-07 campaign (12/9/06).
 
SHOT IT WELL AT THE LINE
UTEP connected on a high clip at the charity stripe at NM State, making 11-13 (84.6 percent). It was the second-best effort at the line this year, trailing only the sensational 89.5 percent (17-19) against LA Tech (1/28) in the Don Haskins Center. In terms of road tilts, it marked the best readout (min. 10 attempts) since also sinking 11-13 at Liberty (3/12/25) last season.
 
WEST JR. KNOCKED THEM DOWN
Jamal West Jr. is starting to lock in at the line. He is a combined 10-12 (83.3 percent) on free throws the past two tilts, including a stellar 8-10 (80.0 percent) at NM State last time out. The eight makes were his second most of the year. It also marked the third time this season (min. five attempts) that he sunk at least 80 percent at the charity stripe.
 
TOOK GREAT CARE OF THE BALL
The Miners committed only six turnovers at NM State, tying for their second-fewest giveaways in a game this season. It also marked the eighth contest of the year the UTEP finished in single digits for turnovers, five of which have occurred in CUSA play.
 
GUARDED WITHOUT FOULING
UTEP was called for 11 fouls in the setback at NM State. It was the second-lowest total this year, with only the game at Liberty (10, 1/17) having fewer infractions on the Miners. Furthermore, the Aggies finished 5-7 at the charity stripe. That's the fewest makes and attempts at the line by a league foe since the 2025 CUSA quarterfinals against Liberty (3/12/25). The Flames also were 5-7 on free throws.
 
BLACKWELL WAS FEELING IT
Caleb Blackwell buried four 3-pointers at NM State, with three of them coming in the opening 20 minutes of play. It marked the seventh game this season for Blackwell with three or more triples in a tilt, four of which have occurred during CUSA play.
 
NEARLY ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Kaseem Watson came within two points of recording his second double-double of the season in the game at NM State. The junior pulled down a contest-high 10 boards while tallying eight points.
 
LA WAS THE BENCH
The Miners received five points off the pine at NM State, with all of them courtesy of LA Hayes. He chipped in five points in only eight minutes of action, in addition to grabbing a pair of rebounds.
 
SURPASSED 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 head into the game at Middle Tennessee with 204 thefts. Prior to his arrival, UTEP hadn't surpassed 200 takeaways in a year since an eight-year streak from 2003-04 through 2010-11.
 
MAKE IT 100 BLOCKS THIS SEASON
For the first time in four years, the Miners have reached the century mark for blocked shots. UTEP enters the game at Middle Tennessee with 100 rejections, the most since posting 121 swats during head coach Joe Golding's first season (2021-22) on the sidelines.
 
BOMBS AWAY
UTEP has banged home a total of 38 triples the past four tilts (38-103, 36.9 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 eight each against Liberty (2/14) and at NM State.
 
MAKING MORE AND MORE TREYS
UTEP has connected on a least eight 3-pointers 16 times this season, with 12 of those performances coming in league action. The Miners have banged home eight or more treys in four straight and nine of the last 11 tilts. The Orange and Blue are two triples 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.
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in seven of eight (12.9 ppg), 11 of 14 (13.9 ppg) and 18 of the past 23 contests (13.3 ppg). The effort has vaulted his scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.5 ppg. Watson tops the team for 3-pointers made and attempted (48-128, 37.5 percent) on the year, including a squad-best 38-99 (38.4) from distance in league play.
 
CALEB IS ON A HEATER
Caleb Blackwell has surpassed double figures in scoring in a career-long six straight games (16.2 ppg), matching his total such performances (six) over his first 17 games played with the Orange and Blue. It has been quite the response to a two-game stretch with two total points on 1-8 shooting.
 
SHOOTING IT WELL IN STRETCH
Caleb Blackwell hasn't been a volume scorer during his hot streak. He has shot the ball well, both inside and outside the arc. During his six-game double-digit scoring surge, Blackwell has connected on 33-69 (47.8 percent) from the floor. That includes a readout of 15-37 (40.5 percent) from 3-point range, aided by sinking a combined 6-11 (54.5 percent) the past two tilts.
 
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 26 rebounds the past six games (4.0 rpg), all of which have come on the defensive end. He had four+ rebounds in the first five contests of the surge.
 
JONES IS DIALED IN FROM DISTANCE
Elijah Jones is a combined 10-18 (55.6 percent) from 3-point range the past four tilts, including making 1-2 last time out at NM State. 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) on treys in nonconference play.
 
BACK IN DOUBLE DIGITS FOR WEST JR.
After being held to eight points against Liberty, due primarily to foul trouble, Jamal West Jr. went off for 22 points at NM State on 7-13 shooting and an effort of 8-10 at the charity stripe. He has now surpassed double figures in eight of the past nine games (16.6 ppg). That has been helped by tallying 20+ points in four of those nine contests. Overall, West Jr. is putting up 13.9 ppg (15th), up from 12.4 ppg early in CUSA league play.
 
THOMAS ON A STEALING SURGE
KJ Thomas has picked up his defensive pressure by registering a steal in nine straight games. He has 15 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. In each the past two tilts, UTEP has whittled a double-digit deficit down to a single-possession contest before ultimately coming up just shy.
 
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 4-13 when the opposition does so.
 
CALEB LOVING THE ROAD LATELY
In his past five road tilts, Caleb Blackwell has gone off. He is averaging 18.2 ppg while making 33-64 attempts (51.6 percent), including 19-40 (47.5 percent) from 3-point range. Most recently he lit up NM State for 18 points on 7-11 shooting, including 4-7 from distance.
 
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 six tilts, although he hasn't attempted one the past two times out. 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 27 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 six 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 six games, Elijah Jones is pulling down 8.3 rpg while Kaseem Watson has secured 8.8 rpg the past five 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 seven straight contests, amassing a total of 24 (3.42 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 five consecutive contests, including hauling down 10 caroms at NM State last time out. Watson has registered 44 boards (8.8 rpg) in the surge. 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 5.1 rpg, aided by a readout of 5.4 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 (48-128, 37.5 percent), Elijah Jones (44-113, 38.9 percent) and Caleb Blackwell (43-112, 38.4 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 40 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 18 separate showings with 20+ points this year. Jamal West Jr. leads the way with six such outings, including putting up 22 points at NM State last time out. Elijah Jones follows with five 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 Middle Tennessee 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. (36 blocks, 1.33 bpg-fifth CUSA) and Elijah Jones (33 blocks, 1.22 bpg-ninth CUSA) has accounted for 69 of UTEP's 100 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 36 blocks are the most by a Miner in a single season since Matt Willms (40, 2016-17).
 
THEY CONNECT OFTEN
Jamal West Jr. (55.6 percent-second CUSA/58th NCAA) and Elijah Jones (48.7 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 1-16 when falling shy of that figure, with the triumph in the situation coming at Jax State (W, 69-64, 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 (14.0 ppg-13th CUSA) while rating second for blocked shots (1.2-ninth CUSA), rebounding (5.5), field-goal percentage (48.7-sixth CUSA) and 3-pointers made (44). 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 (91) and attempted (140-seventh CUSA). He's been especially aggressive in CUSA play. He is 62-97 (63.9 percent) in 16 games (6.0 FTA/game) compared to 29-43 (67.4 percent) in 11 nonconference contests (3.9 FTA/game).
 
THIS TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 14.0 ppg-13th CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 13.9 ppg-15th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.3 ppg-21st CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 23 times followed by West Jr. (20) and Watson (19). 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 74.2 percent (213-287) from the free-throw line in CUSA play, helped by drilling 11-13 (84.6 percent) last time out at NM State. It is a notable improved from nonconference action when the Miners were just 64.5 percent (147-228). UTEP has nailed at least 70.0 percent three straight tilts and 11 times total in league action.
 
STREAKING AT THE LINE
Kaseem Watson has made 33 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 (14th CUSA), aided by 6.8 rpg in CUSA only action. He has been a menace on the offensive boards (2.37 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 8-7 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. (20) and Kaseem Watson (19) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (12 in 24 GP), KJ Thomas (four), LA Hayes (three) Tyreese Watson (three in seven GP) also have multiple games with 10+ points.
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (14.0 ppg-13th CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (13.9 ppg-15th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.3 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 Middle Tennessee averaging 7.6 spg (third CUSA/104th NCAA), which has been hindered by making a combined six steals the past two tilts. 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 Middle Tennessee with the opposition committing 12.7 giveaways per game (third CUSA/109th NCAA), with that number dropping of late as the past two foes recording a combined 11 turnovers. 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. 22, those eight opponents have combined to go 144-79.
 
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 '16-17 season. The Miners previously bested Middle Tennessee (83-80, 1/8) and St. Thomas (Houston), 84-83 (11/19) in OT earlier this 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 at NM State (2/21), UTEP has now lost 37 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.
 
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 238-224 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 80-80 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 its final regular-season road contest when it locks up at WKU at 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CT on Saturday. The Miners will be looking to avenge a 68-56 home setback to the Hilltoppers (1/10) earlier this year. 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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