OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (8-14, 4-7 CUSA) will shoot for its second straight win when it competes at sizzling Sam Houston (15-7, 7-4 CUSA) at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday. It is the first of two games on the week for the Miners, who will return home for the "Battle of I-10" against NM State at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. UTEP put together a big second half to cruise past Delaware, 70-55, on Jan. 31 while the Bearkats secured their sixth straight victory with an 83-67 vanquishing of LA Tech last time out. It marks their longest winning streak since they peeled off eight in a row in 2023-24. Coincidentally, that surge was halted by the Miners when they toppled the regular-season champs and No. 1 seed Sam Houston, 65-63, in the semifinals of the 2024 CUSA Championships (3/15/24). Wednesday's matchup is the only scheduled meeting on the year between the programs. It is also the first of back-to-back weeks where the Miners will have a road tilt on a Wednesday before returning to the Sun City for a Saturday contest. UTEP is vying to secure back-to-back wins against DI programs for the initial occasion of the campaign. Furthermore, it is seeking consecutive victories against CUSA foes in regular-season action for the first time since besting NM State on the road (W, 66-63, 2/8/24) and FIU at home (W, 77-63, 2/13/24) last year. Sam Houston is 8-1 at home while UTEP is 1-7 on the road. After the 0-3 start to league play, the Miners have gone 4-4 to climb into ninth place in the league's standings. Sam Houston, meanwhile, has vaulted all the way up to a tie for second place by virtue of ripping six straight and seven of the past eight to make an 0-3 beginning to league play a distant memory. The top-10 finishers of the regular season will qualify for the 2026 CUSA Championships. Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call for the contest at Sam Houston on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with Jason Barfield and Ken Holland describing the action.
 
GET TO KNOW SAM HOUSTON (15-7, 7-4 CUSA)
Sam Houston cruised to an 8-3 mark in nonconference play, with all three setbacks coming on the road against power programs. The Bearkats claimed seven of their last eight out of league matchups. Sam Houston stumbled out of the gates in CUSA action with a trio of setbacks, all on the road, but it has caught fire since. The Bearkats have won six straight and seven of the past eight contests to enter the matchup with the Miners at 15-7 overall (7-4 CUSA). The six-game winning streak is the longest since Sam Houston peeled off eight in a row in 2023-24. Incidentally, UTEP put an end to that surge while also knocking out the top-seeded Bearkats from the 2024 CUSA Championships with a 65-63 come-from-behind victory in the semifinals of the event. Sam Houston features a well-balanced and explosive offense in 2025-26, putting up 83.3 ppg. Po'Boigh King (13.3 ppg-18th CUSA), Veljko Ilic (11.1 ppg), Kashie Natt (10.9 ppg) and Isaiah Manning (10.7 ppg) give it four players in double figures for scoring while Justin Begg (9.6 ppg) and Jacob Walker (9.1 ppg) are just shy. The Bearkats are also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for assists per game (15.7-third/89th), bench scoring (30.2-second/36th), fastbreak points (15.3-first/31st), field-goal percentage (47.1-second/78th), field-goal percentage defense (41.0-fourth/46th), rebound margin (+7.2, second/27th), defensive boards per game (27.6-third/27th), offensive rebounds per tilt (13.95-third/12th), total rebounds per game (41.6-second/12th), scoring margin (+10.3-third/58th), 3-point shooting (36.0-second/75th), 3-point percentage defense (31.4-fifth/74th) and overall winning percentage (68.2-second/72nd). Sam Houston's lowest national ranking is blocks per game (2.9-252nd). Begg directs the high-octane offense with 3.8 assists per game (fifth CUSA) while Ilic (7.2 rpg-seventh CUSA) and Natt (7.1 rpg-eighth CUSA) key the efforts on the boards. Ilic is particularly impactful on the offensive boards (3.1 orpg-second CUSA/50th NCAA) while Natt adds 2.1 orpg (15th CUSA). Natt is also a wizard with his hands, producing 2.23 steals per game (first CUSA/26th NCAA). King can score anywhere on the court, including nailing 2.2 triples per tilt (eighth CUSA). Notable university alumni include retired Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart and inspired the movie, Lone Survivor, Dan Rather (famed national news anchor) and Charlie Wilson, member of US House of Representatives who was portrayed in the movie Charlie Wilson's War featuring Tom Hanks.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 11-3
UTEP is 11-3 all-time against Sam Houston, including a 2-1 mark against the Bearkats last year. The two programs split the regular season in 2024-25 before the Miners ousted Sam Houston, 79-65, in the opening round of the 2025 CUSA Championships (3/11/25). UTEP claimed the first eight matchups-all in El Paso- with the Bearkats before Sam Houston swept the series in the regular season in 2023-24. The Miners got their revenge in postseason play, knocking out No. 1 seed Sam Houston in the semifinals of the 2024 CUSA Championships. Prior to the Bearkats joining CUSA in 2023-24, UTEP hadn't locked up with them since an 87-68 Miners' victory in the championship contest of the 2015 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on Dec. 22, 2015.  Wednesday's contest is the lone scheduled tilt between the programs this season, but they have been pitted against one another in the past two CUSA Tournaments.
 
LAST GAME (AT UTEP 70, DELAWARE 55, 1/31/26)
Elijah Jones registered his first career double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds, with eight offensive) to pace a quartet of Miners in double figures, and the UTEP locked up Delaware defensively in a convincing 70-55 win at the Don Haskins Center on Jan. 31. UTEP faced an 11-point deficit (18-7) 11 minutes into the affair, but it would recover. The Miners struck back with a 16-2 run, including 13 straight at one point to pull ahead by three (23-20). They would never trail again. The 55 points allowed were the fewest in a league contest since a 67-51 win at Liberty (3/2/24). That contest against the Flames was the last time the Orange and Blue posted a margin of victory of at least 15 points against a CUSA opponent.
 
SMOTHERING DEFENSE
The Miners made things miserable for Delaware, which finished with the worst shooting percentage (26.5 percent) by a UTEP opponent in nine years. That season (2016-17) the Orange and Blue limited UTSA (1/21/17) to 24.1 percent (14-58) from the floor.
 
LOCKED THEM DOWN FROM 3-POINT RANGE
The Fightin' Blue Hens were an abysmal 8.7 percent (2-23) from 3-point range, the worst effort from distance against UTEP since Old Dominion (1/15/22) went 1-15 (6.7 percent) four years ago.
 
BIG SECOND HALF
UTEP outscored Delaware, 43-30, in the second half to turn a two-point lead (27-25) at the break into a comfortable 15-point victory (70-55). Playing a big role in that was the Miners opening the second stanza on a 14-2 run, including tallying the first 10 points of the frame. The 43 points after the break marked the second-most points in the second half vs. a DI foe this season, trailing a 44-point effort in a 76-66 win vs. North Dakota State (12/22). Overall, it is the third-highest output in a frame vs. DI competition on the campaign. The Miners went off for 47 first-half points in an eventual 83-77 triumph against FIU (1/22).
 
WELL DESERVED HONOR FROM CUSA
Elijah Jones, who nearly averaged a double-double in a pair of contests, was voted as the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the league office revealed on Feb. 2. Jones, who claimed a quartet of CUSA Freshman of the Week honors two years ago, has now hauled in his first career CUSA Player of the Week award. It also marks the initial league weekly honor of any kind this season for the Miners. He put up big numbers to help UTEP forge a 1-1 mark on the week, nearly averaging a double-double (20.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg) while adding 1.5 spg. Jones shot 40.6 percent from the floor, aided by drilling 45.5 percent from 3-point range.
 
GOT INTO THE OPEN COURT
UTEP smashed Delaware on fastbreak scoring, boasting a +20 (22-2) differential. It marked the biggest margin in the category vs. a DI opponent in 19 years. The Miners held a +28 cushion (31-3) against Marshall in an 88-64 win (1/10/07). They also had a +24 advantage (29-5) earlier that year in a 108-60 dismantling of Texas State (12/19/06).
 
TURNING TURNOVERS INTO POINTS
UTEP forced 14 turnovers by Delaware, converting them into 20 points. The Miners have now produced back-to-back games with at 20+ points off giveaways against DI competition for since also doing so last year against Kennesaw State (26, W, 73-71, 1/25/25) and at WKU (20, L, 78-74, 1/30/25).
 
ALL OVER THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
UTEP amassed 13 offensive rebounds, including eight alone by Elijah Jones, vs. Delaware. The effort ended a five-game stretch where the Miners finished with single digits in the category. The eight offensive rebounds from Jones matched the most by a UTEP player since Kevin Kalu also pulled down eight in a 79-65 win vs. Sam Houston (3/11/25) in the opening round of the 2025 CUSA Championships.
 
STEALS A PLENTY
UTEP registered 12 steals against Delaware, its most vs. CUSA opposition this year. It is also the seventh contest overall of the campaign with 10+ thefts. The effort continued a recent surge with 36 takeaways the past four games (9.0 spg). The surge has lifted the Miners to 8.0 spg (second CUSA/79th NCAA).
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
UTEP has made just 27 combined turnovers the past three games (9.0 tpg), finishing with 11 or fewer in each of those the contests. The last time the Miners had a stretch with those metrics of at least three tilts was a four-game surge late in league play last year.
 
ANOTHER DOUBLE-DIGIT RALLY
UTEP overcame an 11-point deficit (18-7, 9:10, 1H) to knock off Delaware by 15 points (70-55). It marked the fourth victory this year for the Miners when trailing by at least 10 points, the most since the 2009-10 CUSA squad (won CUSA regular season, at-large bid to NCAA tournament) also had four. UTEP previously rallied back from double figures at UD (down by 10, 25-15, 1H, 5:41, W, 70-69, 1/15), vs. Middle Tennessee (trailed by 13, 30-17, 1H, 8:22, W, 83-80, OT, 1/8) and against St. Thomas of Houston (down by 13, 41-28, 1:H, 00:36, W, 84-83, OT, 11/19).
 
DON'T TAKE HIS SCORING CONSISTENCY FOR GRANTED
Elijah Jones has reached double figures in six straight and 20 of 22 contests this year (eight and nine points in two others), and he only seems to be getting better. He produced his first career double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) last time out against Delaware. The effort helped Jones average 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in the week on the way to snagging his first career CUSA Player of the Week award. The surge has vaulted Jones up to within the top 10 of CUSA for scoring (14.6 ppg-ninth).
 
BACK-TO-BACK EFFORTS OF AT LEAST 80.0 PERCENT AT THE LINE
The Miners have drilled a combined 37-44 (84.1 percent) at the charity stripe the past two tilts, making 20-25 (80.0 percent) against Delaware and 17-19 (89.5 percent) vs. LA Tech (1/28). It marks the first time that UTEP has connected on at least 80.0 percent at the line (min. 10 FTA) in consecutive contests since a three-game stretch during head coach Joe Golding's first year (2021-22) with the Miners. That season the Orange and Blue were a combined 40-48 (83.8 percent) against Florida A&M (17-21, 81.0 percent, 11/24/21) NM State (12-15, 80.0 percent, 12/3/21) and at Kansas (11-12, 91.7 percent, 12/7/21).
 
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
Jamal West Jr.'s double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) vs. LA Tech (1/28) was the 10th of his career, with four (tied second 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. LA Hayes and Elijah Jones also have double-doubles this season.
 
DON'T LEAVE THEM OPEN
Kaseem Watson (37-96, 38.5 percent), Elijah Jones (34-92, 37.0 percent) and Caleb Blackwell (30-80, 37.5 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 30 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).
 
GIVE ELIJAH FIVE 20+ POINT GAMES
Elijah Jones went off for a career-high 25 points against LA Tech (1/28). It marked his team-leading fifth outburst of at least 20 points this year, with three of those showings coming in league play.  It's the most 20+ point games by a Miner since Tae Hardy (eight) in 2023-24.
 
KASEEM IS CLOSING QUICKLY
Not to be outdone, Kaseem Watson has piled up four 20+ point efforts this year, with all of them occurring in the past nine contests. He's accounting for 15.5 ppg during the streak, aided by six double-digit showings.
 
 
 
LOTS OF 20+ POINT SCORERS LATELY
The Miners have had a 20+ point scorer in six of the past nine contests. Kaseem Watson has led the way with four in the stretch, followed by Elijah Jones (three) and one each from Caleb Blackwell and Jamal West Jr. That is the best such stretch at the school since there was a 20+ point scorer in eight out of nine contests late in the 2021-22 season. That year it was courtesy of both Souley Boum (seven) and Jamal Bieniemy (two) during that sequence, with both reaching 20+ points in the same game once in stretch.
 
CASSIUS ON THE VERGE OF 1,000 CAREER POINTS AT THE NCAA LEVEL
Cassius Brooks is three points shy of reaching 1,000 career points at the NCAA level. He sports 997 points, with the majority of those (931) coming during his stellar two-year run with DII program Arkansas Tech.
 
WATCH OUT FOR JONES AND WEST JR. AT THE RIM
The duo of Elijah Jones (28 blocks, 1.27 bpg-seventh CUSA) and Jamal West Jr. (24 blocks, 1.09 bpg-11th CUSA) has accounted for 52 of UTEP's 79 rejections on the season. No one else on the team has more than seven swats. Jones already has his most rejections in his third year with the program (prior best 23, 2024-25). He is two shy of becoming the first UTEP player to record at least 30 blocked shots in a campaign since Tydus Verhoeven (32). in 2021-22.
 
JONES BLOCKING SHOT IN BUNCHES
Elijah Jones has been a shot-blocking machine of late. He has swatted 16 shots over the past eight games, including multiple blocks in six of those contests. The effort has surpassed his total (13) the first 14 contests of the campaign. Five of those early on were vs. DII WNMU (11/7). He is now sixth in CUSA (1.33 bpg). Jamal West Jr. has been more consistent all year, with at least one rejection in 17 contests
 
THEY CONNECT OFTEN
Jamal West Jr. (57.9 percent-second CUSA/41st NCAA) and Elijah Jones (49.6 percent-fifth CUSA) give the Miners two of the top five players in the league rankings for field-goal percentage.
 
GOTTA GET TO 70
The Miners put up 70 points against Delaware last time out to march to 8-1 on the season when tallying 70+ points.
 
WHAT A LEAP BY ELIJAH
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year, topping the team in scoring (14.6 ppg-ninth CUSA) and blocked shots (1.27-ninth CUSA). Jones is also second in rebounding (5.0 rpg), field-goal percentage (124-250, 49.6 percent-fifth CUSA) and 3-pointers made (34). Last year Jones averaged 3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg in 2024-25 and 3.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 2023-24.
 
WE CAN WIN THEM CLOSE
UTEP is 3-1 on the year in contests decided by three points or less, 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).
 
MR AND-1
Jamal West Jr. has posted a squad-leading 12 And-1s on the season. It shouldn't come as a surprise given that he's leads the team in both free throws made (62) and attempted (96). He was 5-6 against Delaware last time out.
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in seven of the past nine games and 14 of the past 18 contests. Watson is accounting for 13.6 ppg in the stretch, elevating his season scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.3 ppg.
 
THE TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 14.6 ppg-ninth CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 13.4 ppg-16th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.3 ppg-22nd CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 20 times followed by West Jr. (16) and Watson (15). Incredibly, in the two games Jones failed to hit double figures this year he had eight in one and nine in the other. Furthermore, 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 75.0 percent (144-192) 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 23 consecutive free throws and 28-29 (96.6 percent) in CUSA action. The last Miner previously to sink 23 straight free throws was Souley Boum (first four games in 2020-21). Boum ripped off 24 in a row in 2019-20 while Bryson Williams knocked down 28 straight (also in '19-20). The most-recent UTEP player to have a stretch of at least 30 straight was Miner Hall of Famer Brandon Wolfram ('99-00).
 
WEST JR. SURGING ON THE BOARDS
Jamal West Jr. has piled up 120 rebounds (8.0 rpg) over the past 15 games, a marked improvement from his first seven contests (4.4 rpg). The surge has elevated him to 6.9 rpg (10th CUSA), aided by 2.59 orpg (seventh 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 6-4 in the situation.
 
SCORING FROM LOTS OF PLAYERS
Eleven times this year, at least four UTEP players have reached double figures in scoring in the same game. Elijah Jones has been the most consistent with 20 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. (16) and Kaseem Watson (15) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (seven in 19 GP), KJ Thomas (three), LA Hayes (three) Tyreese Watson (three in seven GP) also have multiple games with 10+ points.
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Elijah Jones (14.6 ppg-ninth CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (13.4 ppg-16th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.3 ppg-22nd 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 Sam Houston averaging 8.0 spg (second CUSA/79th NCAA), aided by a total of 36 the past four tilts (9.0 spg). 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 61games with at least 10 steals under head coach Joe Golding, including doing seven times this year. 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 Sam Houston with the opposition committing 13.5 giveaways per game (second CUSA/79th NCAA), helped by forcing a total of 45 the past three tilts (15.0 tpg). 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. 2, those eight opponents have combined to go 116-65.
 
HEALTH CHECK
With two Miners (David Tubek and Tyreese Watson), sidelined to injuries vs. Delaware, UTEP has now lost 27 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 7-5 thus far at home (3-3 CUSA), giving them a shot still to secure 10+ wins in the Sun City for a sixth straight year (four home games left).
 
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 236-221 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 78-77 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 if UTEP can get he could tie or 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 returns home for the "Battle of I-10" against NM State at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. Fans who buy a ticket for UTEP's matchup with the Aggies will be able to get in free to the women's contest at 2 p.m. vs. Sam Houston. For further ticket information for the matchup with the Aggies, call (915) 747-UTEP. Jon Teicher (45th year) and Steve Yellen (23rd year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with Andy Morgan and former Miner assistant coach Bobby Braswell describing the action.
 

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