Game Notes

OPENING TIP
The UTEP men's basketball team (11-19, 7-12 CUSA) will take aim at a season sweep of Jax State while also looking to send Cassius Brooks and Jamal West Jr. out in style on "Senior Day" at the Don Haskins Center at 1 p.m. MT Saturday. The Miners will be aiming for their second straight win after they after toppled Kennesaw State, 78-71, last time out on March 5. The Gamecocks have lost back-to-back contests and six of the last seven. The skid, coincidentally, started with UTEP's 69-64 road vanquishing of JSU on Feb. 11. The Miners kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the 2026 CUSA Championships (3/10-14) with the victory against the Owls, but the work isn't done yet. UTEP needs to defeat the Gamecocks and then have either FIU or I-10 rival NM State lose to punch its ticket to the league's pinnacle event. Jax State has already qualified for the CUSA Championships. It could finish as high as a tie for fourth with a victory against the Miners and some help or drop to as low as eighth with a setback against the Orange and Blue. The Miners stand 9-6 at home (5-4) CUSA, while JSU is 4-8 on the road (3-6 CUSA). They have secured 10+ home wins in six straight campaigns, but they need to best the Gamecocks for that streak to continue. UTEP is also aiming for consecutive victories against DI teams for the second time this season. The Miners previously did so with a home 91-88 OT triumph against NM State (2/7) and a 69-64 victory at Jax State (2/11). A win would move head coach Joe Golding into a tie for third place at the school for victories (Tony Barbee), while also securing the Miners' eighth triumph in league play (would be most since '21-22). UTEP is in search of its first win during the day (0-9) and second on a Saturday (1-8). (Jon Teicher (45th year) will be on the call on "The Home of UTEP Basketball" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners' App. 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 JAX STATE (14-16, 9-10 CUSA)
Jax State cruised to three straight victories to begin the season before running into some adversity. It lost the next four and six of the ensuing seven contests. The Gamecocks regrouped by peeling off three in a row to help power an eventual 9-4 stretch. The surge had JSU rolling at 13-10 overall, including 8-4 in CUSA action. UTEP then went into Pete Mathews Coliseum to best the Gamecocks, 69-64. That marked the first of four straight losses for JSU and a stretch of falling in six of seven. JSU managed an 80-70 home vanquishing of Delaware (2/26) to stop that four-game skid, but it has dropped back-to-back since. Most recently, the Gamecocks went down swinging in a 77-75 OT setback at NM State (3/5). That dropoff puts JSU at 14-16 overall, including 9-10 in CUSA action. The Gamecocks can finish as high as a tie for fourth with a victory against the Miners plus some help. At the other end of the spectrum, if UTEP downs JSU, it could fall drop down to as low as eighth place. The Gamecocks lock teams up, holding opponents to only 41.0 percent from the floor (third CUSA/35th NCAA). That helps them give up only 68.6 points per game (second CUSA/50th NCAA). The are also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for free throws made (16.3-fifth/93rd) and attempted (23.8-fifth/51st) per game, rebounding margin (+3.4-fourth/91st), defensive rebounds/game (25.8-fourth/78th), total rebounds/contest (36.9-seventh/91st), 3-point percentage (35.8-fourth/83rd) and 3-point percentage defense (31.3-third/47th). The lone category it is in the 300's nationally is free-throw percentage (68.6-10th/301st). CUSA leading scorer Mostapha El Moutaouakkil keys the offense (19.3 ppg-46th NCAA), with AC Bryant (12.0 ppg-23rd NCAA) and Jacoby Hill (10.0 ppg) also in double figures for scoring. Emondrek Erkins-Ford (8.4 ppg) is another player to watch offensively. El Moutaouakkil is the top rebounder (7.1 rpg-ninth CUSA), aided by five double-doubles (eighth CUSA). Jaye Nash runs the offense effectively with 4.1 assists per game (fourth CUSA) while Iaroslav Niagu (1.3 bpg-seventh CUSA) defends the rim. A big part of El Moutaouakkil's game involves getting to the line, as the tops CUSA in both free throws made (170-22nd NCAA) and attempted (257-third NCAA). Bryant is a sharpshooter with 2.9 3-pointers per game (third CUSA/52nd NCAA), drilling 39.7 percent (second CUSA/48th NCAA). He is 83 (third CUSA/64th NCAA) of 209 (third CUSA/88th NCAA) from beyond-the-arc. Notable alumni include Ashley Martin (became the first woman to play and score in an NCAA Division I American football game) and Cary Guffey (star of the 1977 Steven Spielberg film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind").
 
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP LEADS, 4-2
UTEP is 4-2 against Jax State, including a 69-64 road victory (2/11) less than a month ago. The Miners are aiming to sweep the Gamecocks after JSU claimed both meetings last season. All five matchups between the programs since the Gamecocks joined CUSA have been decided by single digits, with three being eight-point differentials, another a seven-point margin and the one this season by five. The only other meeting occurred 30 years ago, when the Orange and Blue derailed Jax State, 76-53, in the Sun City on Dec. 18, 1995.
 
LAST GAME (AT UTEP 78, KENNESAW STATE 71, 3/5/26)
Jamal West Jr. exploded for a season-high tying 28 points to pace a quartet of Miners in double figures as UTEP defeated Kennesaw State, 78-71, on March 5. The surged to a 10-point (35-25) halftime lead on the Owls. After a 19-9 run to start the second half allowed KSU to pull even at 44, UTEP roared back in front with a game-altering 15-2 surge. When the dust had settled, the Orange and Blue led by 13 (59-46, 8:39, 2H), and KSU never got closer than six the rest of the way.
 
SHUT THEM DOWN
UTEP limited Kennesaw State to 71 points, 13 shy of its scoring average (84.2) upon entering the contest. That was aided by keeping the Owls to only 25 first-half points. It was the fewest points in the opening frame by a Miner foe since UTEP also held Delaware to 25 in the initial 20 minutes during an eventual 70-55 home vanquishing (W, 70-55, 1/31).
 
THAT'S HOW TO GUARD
Kennesaw State shot only 33.8 percent (22-65) from the floor, including just 13.0 percent (3-23) from beyond-the-arc. It marked the second-worst effort by a UTEP opponent this year, both of which came in a 70-55 win against Delaware (1/31). The Fightin' Blue Hens were 26.5 percent (13-49) overall in the game, including 8.7 percent (2-23) from 3-point range.
 
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO REBOUND
With Kennesaw State missing more than 40 shots from the floor (22-65), there were ample opportunities for rebounds. The Owls had the second-most offensive boards (18) against UTEP his season, but the Miners pulled down 32 defensive boards. That is the most in a regulation contest by UTEP vs. DI opposition since the Orange and Blue had 39 in an 80-54 drubbing vs. Western Illinois (3/19/22). In terms of CUSA regulation games, it was the highest sum since UTEP snagged 34 in a 63-60 win at LA Tech (2/17/22).
 
CONTROLLED THE CONTEST
UTEP led for more than 35 minutes against Kennesaw State, including being up by as many as 14 in the second half. The Miners never trailed by more than three points in the tilt, marking the third time in CUSA play that they did not face a double-digit deficit.
 
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS WERE BIG
UTEP finished with only nine turnovers while forcing 13 by Kennesaw State, helping it hold a noticeable advantage (18-8) in points off turnovers. It is marked the first game since a +12 cushion (17-5, at Sam Houston, 2/4) that the Orange and Blue won the category by 10+ points.
 
CONSISTENT SCORING
The Miners tallied at least 35 points in both the first (35) and second half (43) against Kennesaw State. It marked the third time this season against DI competition that UTEP produced 35+ points in each stanza, and it has won all three contests. The Orange and Blue previously did so against Middle Tennessee (37/36/10 OT, W, 83-80, 1/8) and vs. FIU (47/36, W, 83-77, 1/22).
 
OVERCAME FOULS GALORE
UTEP was tagged for a season-high tying 27 fouls, matching the total it was called for at Utah State (11/15). It marked the most fouls against the Miners in a CUSA contest since UTEP was also whistled for 27 fouls at LA Tech (W, 63-60, 2/17/22). The last time the Miners had been called for that many in a home contest was vs Rice (27, 2/23/19) but that was a double OT affair. As far as a game at the Sun City that ended in regulation, it was the most fouls against the Miners since 2016-17 (vs. Northwestern State, 12/3/16).
 
BLACKWELL ON THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS
Caleb Blackwell came up with four total rebounds, including a pair at the offensive end, in the win vs. Kennesaw State. Blackwell had four total rebounds of his first 26 games of the year, with two in nonconference play and two at LA Tech (12/29) in the CUSA opener.
 
LOOKING FOR MORE "SENIOR DAY SUCCESS"
UTEP stands 3-1 on "Senior Day" under head coach Joe Golding, including 3-0 in regulation. The lone setback in the situation as last year in OT to Middle Tennessee (L, 76-75, OT, 3/1/25).
 
ATTACK MODE
Jamal West Jr. has gone into attack mode of late. He has taken at least 10 free throws in back-to-back games, three of the last four and four of the past six. It's the first time in his DI collegiate career (138 total contests played) that West Jr. has attempted 10+ free throws in consecutive contests. He's the first Miner with 10+ FTA since Souley Boum did so in three separate games in 2021-22.  He was 6-13 at WKU (2/28) before drilling 14 (season high) of 16 (second-most attempts this year) for a readout of 87.5 percent last time out against Kennesaw State. He previously had 10+ attempts against NM State (12-20, 2/7) and at NM State (8-10, 2/21).
 
FREE THROWS A PLENTY
Thanks in large part to Jamal West Jr., the Miners have attempted 25+ free throws in back-to-back contests. UTEP was 19-29 (65.5 percent) at WKU (2/28) and 22-30 (73.3 percent) vs. Kennesaw State. It's the first time since last year that the Miners had 25+ FTA in consecutive contests vs. DI competition (15-29, at Jax State, 2/22/25, 33-43, vs. WKU, 2/27).
 
HAYES WITH THE BOOST FROM THE BENCH
LA Hayes came off the bench and provided a big spark the Miners against Kennesaw State. He matched his career highs for both field goals made (five) and attempted (10) on the way to tallying a career-best tying 13 points. All 13 points came in the second half, including two big triples to stem off rally tries by the visitors.
 
LA GETTING TO THE BOARDS TOO
For the first time of his DI career (including Kent State) LA Hayes has pulled down multiple rebounds in four consecutive contests. He had four caroms last time out, his most since a seven-board effort against WKU (1/10).
 
THE BENCH BUNCH
Thanks largely to LA Hayes's 13 points, UTEP's reserves contributed 18 points against Kennesaw State. It marked the Miners' third-highest total in CUSA action this season, trailing only prior efforts against FIU (22, W, 83-77, 1/22) and at LA Tech, 21, L, 75-63, 12/28). 
 
BLACKWELL IS CRUISING
Caleb Blackwell has produced double figures in scoring in eight of the past nine contests (14.2 ppg in stretch. He has hit multiple 3-pointers in seven of the tilts during the hot streak. The push elevated his scoring average to 10.6 ppg, including 11.4 ppg in CUSA play.
 
PASSING PLENTY TOO
Caleb Blackwell has been credited with at least three assists in seven of the last eight games (3.6 apg), including two with five or more. Blackwell has now registered 79 assists compared to 45 giveaways this season for an assist-to-turnover ratio of +1.76, which barely trails KJ Thomas (+1.77) for the team lead.
 
KASEEM IS COOKING
Kaseem Watson has reached double figures in scoring in 10 of 11 (14.3 ppg), 14 of 17 (14.6 ppg) and 21 of the past 26 contests (13.8 ppg). The effort has vaulted his scoring average from 6.8 ppg (through four tilts) to 12.9 ppg (20th CUSA). The surge has also moved him in as the second-leading scorer (14.4) in CUSA contests for the Miners.
 
SEEING TRIPLE
Kaseem Watson has nailed multiple 3-pointers in seven straight games and 19 times total this season (15 CUSA play). Watson is a combined 20-47 (42.6 percent) from distance during the seven-contest surge.  
 
THREE'S A PLENTY
Kaseem Watson has drilled at least three triples in three consecutive contests for the first time of his DI career (including prior stops). He is a combined 10-20 (50.0 percent) in the past three tilts.
 
900+ POINTS AND COUNTING
Kaseem Watson enters the game vs. Jax State with 933 career points at the DI level. He has accounted for 386 points as a Miner. 
 
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
Jamal West Jr. has scored in 72 consecutive contests while Kaseem Watson now stands at 61 in a row.
 
DIALING IT IN FROM DISTANCE
The Miners have surpassed 40 percent from 3-point range in three of the past six contests. UTEP has nailed at least 40.0 percent from distance nine times this year, seven of which have come during league play. That's the most such efforts in conference action since 2021-22 (10).
 
MAKING 3-POINTERS IN BUNCHES
The Miners have banged home at least eight triples in seven straight and 12 of the past 14 games. The seven in a row is the longest since at least 1999-2000. There have been 19 such efforts (most since at least '99-00), with15 in CUSA play (also most since '99-00). UTEP was 8-21 (38.3 percent) from distance last time out against Kennesaw State.
 
BLOCK PARTY FOR WEST JR. AND JONES
Jamal West Jr. sports 40 (fourth CUSA) on the year, followed by 35 (eighth CUSA) by Elijah Jones. It's the first time in 25 years ('00-01) that multiple Miners had 35+ blocks in a season. Brian Stewart (48) keyed the charge, followed by Leonard Owens (35).
 
LOTS OF BLOCKS FOR A UTEP SENIOR
Jamal West Jr.'s 40 blocked shots on the year put him fifth on the Miners' single-season leaders for seniors. He had a pair of rejections last time out against Kennesaw State to move past Brian Stewart (39, 2001-02). He is one blocked shot shy of tying Dave Feitl (41, '85-86) for fourth and two of surpassing him. West Jr.'s readout of 1.31 bpg would place him fourth all-time among Miner seniors.
 
SURPASSED 200 STEALS ON THE SEASON
For the fifth time in as many years under head coach Joe Golding, UTEP has tallied 200+ steals. After recording nine against Kennesaw State, the Miners head into the regular-season finale at 227 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 vs. Kennesaw State with 110 rejections, the most since posting 121 swats during head coach Joe Golding's first season (2021-22) on the sidelines.
 
200+ TRIPLES AGAIN
For the third time in five seasons under head coach Joe Golding, UTEP has drilled 200+ 3-pointers (215). That equals the amount of such seasons (2015-16, 2017-18, 2019-20) in the prior 11 campaigns to Golding's arrival.
 
THREE MINERS WITH AT LEAST 5.0 RPG
Jamal West Jr. (6.5 rpg-14th CUSA), Elijah Jones (5.5 rpg) and Kaseem Watson (5.0 rpg) are all recording at least 5.0 rpg. The last time the Orange and Blue had a trio of players finish with at least 5.0 rpg in a season was in 2018-19 with Efe Odigie (10.1 rpg), Paul Thomas (5.2 rpg) and Jordan Lathom (5.0 rpg).
 
WATCH OUT FROM 3-POINT LAND
Kaseem Watson has nailed a 3-pointer in 17 straight contests, including knocking down multiple triples 14 times in the stretch. Overall, Watson has drilled a team-best 58-148 (39.2 percent) from beyond-the-arc this year, with the bulk of that work coming in CUSA play. He is 48-119 (40.3 percent) in league action.
 
THOMAS ON A STEALING SURGE
KJ Thomas has recorded a steal in 10 of the past 12 games, including five with multiple thefts. He has compiled 17 total takeaways in the stretch, twice reaching his career high of three (at Jax State, 2/11, vs. Missouri State, 1/24). the uptick has elevated him to 1.2 spg, putting him just behind Caleb Blackwell (1.3 spg)
 
WE CLOSE THINGS OUT
UTEP is 7-0 on the year when leading with five minutes to play in regulation.
 
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, one vs. Middle Tennessee and one vs. NM State). The other came vs. St. Thomas (Houston) in nonconference play. It is the most such come-from-behind triumphs since at least 2004-05.
 
WE LIKE SCORING FIRST
While basketball is a 40-minute game, the Miners are 7-5 on the year when scoring first and 4-14 when the opposition does so.
 
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 (3.1-11th CUSA) while standing second for steals (1.2). If he can be the leader in both categories (among qualified players), he would become the first Miner to do so since 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 18-23 (78.2 percent) at the free-throw line the past eight 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 24 of 30 contests this year. He has tallied 15+ points in 14 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.
 
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). Jones did not have a double-double in his first 81 appearances as a Miner before doing so twice in the past eight tilts.
 
DON'T LEAVE THEM OPEN
Kaseem Watson (58-148, 39.2 percent), Elijah Jones (48-124, 38.7 percent) and Caleb Blackwell (46-128, 35.9 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 45 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. (22 at WKU, 2/28, 28 vs. Kennesaw State, 3/5, 21 at Sam Houston, 2/4 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 21 separate showings with 20+ points this year. Jamal West Jr. leads the way with eight such outings. Elijah Jones and Kaseem Watson follow with five each while Caleb Blackwell has done so three times this season. 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.
 
WEST JR. PILING THEM UP LATELY
Jamal West Jr. has tallied a team-leading eight 20+ point efforts this year, the most since Tae Hardy also had eight in 2023-24. He has topped that figure in back-to-back games, three of the past four and five of the past eight contests. The last Miner to tally 20+ points in three straight league tilts was Souley Boum (20, at North Texas, 2/7/22, 32, vs. Marshall, 2/13/22, 28 at LA Tech, 2/17/22)
 
CASSIUS 1,000+ CAREER POINTS AT THE NCAA LEVEL
Cassius Brooks enters the matchup vs. Jax State at 1,011 career points at the NCAA level. The majority of those came during his stellar two-year run with DII program Arkansas Tech (933 points from 2023-25).
 
WATCH OUT FOR JONES AND WEST JR. AT THE RIM
The duo of Jamal West Jr. (40 blocks, 1.33 bpg-fourth CUSA) and Elijah Jones (35 blocks, 1.17 bpg-ninth CUSA) has accounted for 75 of UTEP's 110 rejections on the season. They are the first pair of Miner teammates since Brian Stewart (48) and Leonard Owens (35) in 2000-01 to have at least 35 blocked shots in a season. It is also the sixth occasion (2021-22, 2014-15, 2008-09, 2000-01, 1993-94) dating to 1990 that two Miners had 30+ blocked shots in a campaign.
 
THEY CONNECT OFTEN
Jamal West Jr. (55.2 percent-second CUSA/60th NCAA) and Elijah Jones (48.3 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 10-1 this season when tallying 70+ points, most recently doing so with the 91-88 OT triumph vs. NM State (2/7). UTEP is 1-18 when falling shy of that figure, with the lone 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. He is second on the team for scoring (13.3-18th CUSA), blocked shots (1.17-ninth CUSA), field-goal percentage (48.3-sixth CUSA) and 3-pointers made (45). 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 (113-eighth CUSA) and attempted (171-fifth CUSA). He's been especially aggressive in CUSA play. He is 84-128 (65.6 percent) in 18 games (6.7 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 (Jamal West Jr., 14.3 ppg-13th CUSA, Elijah Jones, 13.3 ppg-18th CUSA and Kaseem Watson, 12.9 ppg-20th CUSA) bring it offensively every single night. Jones has recorded double figures in scoring 24 times followed by Watson (22) and West Jr. (22). 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 73.3 percent (266-363) from the free-throw line in CUSA play. The Miners have nailed at least 70.0 percent in five of the past six games and 13 times total in league action. It is a stark improvement from nonconference action when the Orange and Blue were just 64.5 percent (147-228) at the stripe.
 
WEST JR. ON THE BOARDS
Jamal West Jr. has secured a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game (15th CUSA). He has been a menace on the offensive boards (2.30 orpg-10th CUSA) while also leaning up the defensive glass (4.20 drpg-15th 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 9-9 in the situation.
 
SCORING ACROSS THE BOARD
Fifteen times this year (10-5 overall), including six occasions in CUSA play (6-1), 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 24 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. (22) and Kaseem Watson (22) have buoyed his efforts. Caleb Blackwell (14 in 27 GP), LA Hayes (five), KJ Thomas (four), Tyreese Watson (three in seven GP) also have multiple games with 10+ points.
 
GETTING OFFENSIVE
Jamal West Jr. (14.3 ppg-13th CUSA), Elijah Jones (13.3 ppg-18th CUSA) and Kaseem Watson (12.9 ppg-20th 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. Jax State averaging 7.6 spg (third CUSA/105th NCAA), which was helped by snagging nine last time out against Kennesaw State. 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 10 times this year (8-2). That overall figure under Golding surpasses the total number of such efforts (60) in the prior 15 seasons combined prior to his arrival (started for 2021-22 season).
 
TURNING TEAMS OVER IS WHAT WE'VE DONE
UTEP enters the game vs. Jax State with the opposition committing 12.6 giveaways per game (second CUSA/105th NCAA). The Miners led CUSA and have 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 March 5, those eight opponents have combined to go 158-87. All eight have won at least 15 contests, with three at 20+ victories and three others at 19 triumphs.
 
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 vs. Kennesaw State, UTEP has now lost 43 man-games to injury after having only three such contests a year ago. It's the most such man-games lost to injury since at least 2020-21.
 
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 9-6 at home (5-4 CUSA). A win against Jax State would secure their seventh straight season with 10+ home wins.
 
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 239-226 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, including 81-82 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 two wins to surpass Tony Barbee (82-52, 2006-10, third place). 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 await its fate for the 2026 Conference USA Championships (3/10-14), depending upon the outcome of its game and several others around the league on Saturday.
 

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