Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (8-15, 4-8 CUSA) will welcome I-10 rival NM State (11-11, 4-8 CUSA) to the Don Haskins Center for a showdown at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. The contest is part of a doubleheader. Fans who purchase a ticket for the showdown with the Aggies will be able to get in free to the game between UTEP women's basketball and Sam Houston at 2 p.m. MT earlier that day. For further ticket information for the matchup with the Aggies, call (915) 747-UTEP. The Miners were held off, 70-66, at Sam Houston last time out while the Aggies snapped a four-game skid with a 72-63 vanquishing of LA Tech. The Orange and Blue will play two of the next three tilts at home (7-5, 3-3 CUSA) before enduring three straight on the road, with a contest at the Pan-American Center kicking off the stretch. NM State's matchup in El Paso will be its third straight on the road (2-5, 2-4 CUSA) while continuing a sequence of four of five away from home. Saturday's matchup is the first of two meetings on the season between the programs, with the Miners making the return visit to Las Cruces on Feb. 21. It is a critical contest for both squads, as each enters the tilt at 4-8 in league play and tied for 10th in the league standings with eight contests remaining for the Miners and Aggies in the regular season. The top-10 finishers in the conference will qualify for the 2026 CUSA Championships, making Saturday's showdown, in addition to the matchup on Feb. 21, of the utmost importance. Both NM State (20.0 fpg-339th NCAA) and UTEP (18.7 ppg-275th NCAA) have been hit with lots of fouls, so there could be plenty of whistles in the game. 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.
 
GET TO KNOW NM STATE (11-11, 4-8 CUSA)
NM State bolted to an 8-3 start on the season, including holding off high-flying Sam Houston, 87-78, in its CUSA opener (12/21). The Aggies then lost eight of their next 10 tilts, but they got back into the win column while also snapping a four-game skid in a 72-63 road vanquishing of LA Tech (2/4) last time out. That victory allows NM State to sport a mark of 11-11 overall (4-8 CUSA) heading into Saturday's "Battle of I-10." Everything for the Aggies starts on the defensive end, as they allow only 70.0 points per game (fourth CUSA/76th NCAA), with foes shooting just 40.8 percent (fourth CUSA/43rd) from the floor. NM State is also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for bench scoring (29.7-second/42nd), offensive rebounds per game (12.4-sixth/70th), total rebounds per contest (37.2-sixth/99th), 3-point percentage defense (30.3-second/41st) and fewest turnovers committed per game (10.9-third/98th). The Aggies find themselves among the top four of the league in multiple categories, including assist-to-turnover ratio (1.23-fourth), fastbreak points per game (11.9-third) and free-throw percentage (72.5-third). The only statistic that NM State finds itself in the lower 300s of the country is most fouls per game (20.0-339th). Jemel Jones (16.3 ppg-seventh CUSA) leads the way offensively for NM State, but there are plenty of others to watch out for. Julie Mims (10.7 ppg) joins him in double figures while also snagging 8.4 rpg (second CUSA/53rd NCAA) to practically average a double-double for the year. He has, in fact, produced five this year (second CUSA/86th NCAA). Mims rebounds well both defensively (5.7 drpg-fourth CUSA/69th NCAA) and offensively (2.7 orpg-sixth CUSA/99th NCAA). Jae'Coby Osborne also snags at last 2.0 orpg (14th CUSA). Elijah Elliott (9.8 ppg), Jayland Randall (8.3 ppg) and Anthony Wrzeszcz (8.0 ppg) also get after it on offense, with Elliott and Randall doing the bulk of their work off the pine. Gabe Pickens quarterbacks the offense with 3.0 apg. NM State has a big rotation with 10 different players securing at least 10.0 mpg, including six garnering at least 19.0 mpg. 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, 123-106
NM State holds a 123-106 advantage in the all-time series, although the two sides have split the meetings the past three campaigns. Last year the Aggies handed UTEP an 85-57 setback (1/11) in front of sold-out crowd at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners avenged the loss with a 66-63 wire-to-wire victory (2/8) at the Pan-American Center, securing 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. The Miners are looking to claim back-to-back games against NM State, albeit over a two-season span, since the first time since winning consecutive contests spanning the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns. UTEP was victorious in the second matchup between the foes in '11-12 and the first against its rivals in '12-13.
 
LAST GAME (AT SAM HOUSTON 70, UTEP 66, 2/4/26)
Caleb Blackwell (career-high 22 points) and Jamal West Jr. (21 points) both had big scoring nights while UTEP defended with a vigor, but homestanding Sam Houston held off the hard-charging Miners, 70-66, at Johnson Coliseum on Feb. 4. UTEP kept the Bearkats to 34.4 percent (21-61) from the floor and 13 points below their seasonal average, aided by not allowing a field goal (0-7) over the final 5:43 of the game. The defensive effort helped the Miners turn a nine-point deficit (63-54) with just under six minutes left into a one-point edge (64-63, 1:27, 1H) in the waning minutes of action. The Bearkats pulled back in front by two (66-64) and managed to hold on, with their final seven points all coming at the charity stripe. West Jr. had a solid look at on a reverse layup to tie the tilt with eight seconds left, but it spun off the rim while refusing to go down. Following two tosses at the line, Blackwell once again cut it to two with four seconds on the clock, but Sam Houston iced the affair with a pair of free throws.
 
The JAMAL & CALEB SHOW
Caleb Blackwell (career-high 22 points and Jamal West Jr. (21 points) accounted for 65.1 percent of the Miners' points at Sam Houston State. Factor in the 13-point showing by Kaseem Watson, and that trio was responsible for 56 of the Miners' 66 points (84.8 percent)
 
CALEB LOVING THE ROAD LATELY
In his past three road tilts, Caleb Blackwell has gone off. He is averaging 19.0 ppg while making 20-41 attempts (48.8 percent), including 13-26 (50.0 percent) from 3-point range. Most recently, he lit up Sam Houston for a career-high 22 points.
 
DID A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT
UTEP shot a better percentage (40.0 to 34.4) and made more field goals (26 to 21) than Sam Houston, in addition to committing only six turnovers. The Miners also converted 12 Bearkat giveaways into 17 points.
 
TWO AREAS PROVED BIG
Sam Houston compensated for UTEP hitting more shots, at a better rate no less, through its effort on the glass and at the charity stripe. The Miners were outrebounded, 50-37, which was hindered by allowing 16 offensive rebounds. Another factor was a discrepancy in free throws. The Bearkats finished 21-27 at the line compared to UTEP's readout of 10-14, in part to their activity on the boards.
 
RIDICULOUS ROAD DISCREPANCY
UTEP opponents have attempted 111 more free throws than the Miners in their nine road contests this year. UTEP is 78-117 (66.7 percent) while the opposition is a whopping 159-228 (69.7 percent).
 
LOCKED IN ON DEFENSE
UTEP has kept consecutive opponents (Sam Houston, 34.4 percent, 2/4 and Delaware, 26.5 percent, 1/31) to 35.0 percent or worse from the floor for the first time in nine years. In 2016-17 they kept the first two foes (Louisiana College, 11/10/17 and Boise State, 35.0 percent, 11/16/17) in check. The 2013-14 season was the last time it occurred in consecutive contests vs. DI opposition (at North Texas, 25.8 percent, 3/2/14 and at UTSA, 31.8 percent, 3/6/14) in the final two games of the CUSA slate that year.
 
SMOTHERING D ON THREES
UTEP has limited its past two foes to a combined 9-46 (19.6 percent), with Sam Houston (2/4) going 7-23 (30.4 percent) and Delaware (1/31) finishing at a paltry 8.7 percent (2-23). It is the first time since a three-game stretch late last year (min. 10 3PA) that back-to-back foes connected on worse than 31.0 percent from 3-point range. That sequence entailed Jax State (2/22/25) going 7-23 (30.4 percent), WKU (2/27/25) finishing 2-10 (20.0 percent) and Middle Tennessee (3/1/25) making 21.6 percent (8-37.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
UTEP has made just 33 combined turnovers the past four games (8.3 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.
 
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 both assists (3.4-10th CUSA) and 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 7-8 (87.5 percent) at the free-throw line the past two tilts. It is an uptick in both accuracy and attempts from earlier in the year. Blackwell was a combined 14-23 (60.9 percent) over his first 17 showings on the season.
 
DON'T TAKE HIS SCORING CONSISTENCY FOR GRANTED
Elijah Jones has reached double figures in 20 of 23 contests this year (eight, nine and four points in three others). He was limited to 23 minutes on the court at Sam Houston, his third-lowest total in league play this year, while attempting only five shots. That played a big part of him finishing with four points.
 
STILL GETTING ON THE BOARDS
Elijah Jones has upped his rebounding of late, piling up 19 combined boards the past two tilts. He had 12 caroms while adding 15 points for his first career double-double vs. Delaware (1/31). Jones grabbed a team-high tying seven rebounds last time out. He has been a monster on the offensive glass in the stretch, with 11 of his 19 boards coming at that end.
 
STILL GETTING ON THE BOARDS
Kaseem Watson has produced four games in CUSA action with at least seven rebounds, including snagging seven last time out at Sam Houston. Five of his seven caroms against the Bearkats came on the defensive end.
 
LASER-LIKE FOCUS
Jamal West Jr. is a combined 55.2 percent (13-22) from the floor the past two tilts, including back-to-back games of at least 50 percent. He's also tightened things up at the charity stripe, making 14-18 (77.8 percent) in the last three contests. It is a noticeable improvement from his 11-16 showing (68.8 percent) in the three previous affairs.
 
FIFTH STRAIGHT STRONG EFFORT AT THE LINE
UTEP has connected on at least 71.0 percent from the free-throw line in five consecutive contests. The Miners are a combined 68-87 (78.2 percent) during the stretch. The last time UTEP made 71.0 percent in five straight games was a six-contest sequence early on in CUSA action in 2024-25.
 
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
Jamal West Jr.'s double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) vs. LA Tech (1/28) was the 16th of his career, with four (tied fourth 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 10contests. He's accounting for 14.7 ppg during the streak, aided by seven double-digit showings.
 
LOTS OF 20+ POINT SCORERS LATELY
The Miners have had a 20+ point scorer in seven of the past 10 contests. Kaseem Watson has led the way with four in the stretch, followed by Elijah Jones (three) and two 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 one point shy of reaching 1,000 career points at the NCAA level. He sports 999 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, 1.22 bpg-10th CUSA) and Jamal West Jr. (26 blocks, 1.13 bpg-11th CUSA) has accounted for 54 of UTEP's 82 rejections on the season. No one else on the team has more than eight 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
Even though he's failed to block in shot in the past three outings, Elijah Jones has swatted 15 shots over the past nine games. 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 18 contests.
 
THEY CONNECT OFTEN
Jamal West Jr. (57.6 percent-second CUSA/47th NCAA) and Elijah Jones (49.0 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 are 8-1 this season when tallying 70+ points, most recently doing so in the 70-55 vanquishing of Delaware (1/31).
 
WHAT A LEAP BY ELIJAH
Elijah Jones has stepped things up at both ends of the court this year, topping the team in scoring (14.1 ppg-13th CUSA) and blocked shots (1.22-10th CUSA). Jones is also second in rebounding (5.1 rpg), field-goal percentage (125-255, 49.9 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 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 (67) and attempted (104).
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in eight of the past 10 games and 15 of the past 19 contests. Watson is accounting for 13.5 ppg in the stretch, elevating his season scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.3 ppg. Furthermore, he is UTEP's leading scorer for CUSA play at 14.3 ppg, aided by drilling 38.9 (28-72) from distance and 28-29 (96.6 percent) at the charity stripe.
 
THIS TRIO BRINGS IT EVERY NIGHT
UTEP's top three scorers (Elijah Jones, 14.1 ppg-13th CUSA, Jamal West Jr., 13.7 ppg-15th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.3 ppg-23rd CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 20 times followed by West Jr. (17) and Watson (16). 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 74.8 percent (154-206) 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 126 rebounds (7.9 rpg) over the past 16 games, a marked improvement from his first seven contests (4.4 rpg). The surge has elevated him to 6.8 rpg (11th CUSA), aided by 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 6-5 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. As individuals, 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. (17) and Kaseem Watson (16) 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 (14.1 ppg-11th CUSA), Jamal West Jr. (13.7 ppg-15th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.3 ppg-23rd 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. NM State averaging 7.8 spg (second CUSA/91st 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 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 vs. NM State with the opposition committing 13.4 giveaways per game (second CUSA/82nd 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. 5, those eight opponents have combined to go 120-66.
 
HEALTH CHECK
With two Miners (David Tubek and Tyreese Watson), sidelined to injuries at Sam Houston, UTEP has now lost 29 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 if they can claim three of their final four 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 236-222 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 78-78 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 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 has another split week ahead, with a road tilt at Jax State at 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT on Wednesday before returning home to play host to league-leading and unbeaten in CUSA play Liberty for a special 12 p.m. tipoff on ESPN2 on Feb. 14. Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call for the matchup with the Gamecocks on The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso. It will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). For ticket specials for the tilt against the Flames, call (915) 747-UTEP.
 

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