EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP men's basketball team is taking its talents south of the border as it continues preparations for the 2026-27 season. The new-look Miners will play two games in Juárez, Mexico, during the first week of August.
 
UTEP is set to take on Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ) on Monday, Aug. 3, and the Indios de Juárez pro team on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Both games will tip off at 7 p.m. at the Gimnasio Universitario UACJ, and admission is free.
 
NCAA Division I basketball teams are allowed to participate in an international foreign tour annually instead of the previous once-every-four-years limit.
 
"Our guys are excited about getting into a competitive setting after two months of taking it at one another in practice," UTEP head coach Joe Golding said. "We'd like to thank our friends at UACJ for providing us with this opportunity. This will be a tremendous team-building experience for our brand-new team."
 
The Miners have made a habit of engaging in foreign relations under Golding's watch.  They hosted an open practice at UACJ in October of 2024 and played an exhibition contest at Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (UACH) later that month.
 
The Miners brought in nine impact transfers – 6-10 forward Reid Cason (East Carolina), 6-8 forward Augusto Cassia (Ole Miss), 6-6 guard/forward Ryan Jackson Jr. (William & Mary), 6-7 forward Mikey Kelvin II (FIU), 6-5 guard Cam McDaniels (John A. Logan College), 6-5 guard Reese Miller (William & Mary), 6-7 guard Leif Moeller (Evansville), 6-11 forward Janusz Ratowski (Stetson) and 6-3 guard Jace Whiting (East Carolina). UTEP also has four additions from the prep ranks. 6-5 four-star guard Donovan Criss, 6-11 three-star center Delano Tarpley and 6-6 three-star forward Isaiah Ward led San Antonio's William J. Brennan High School to a runner-up finish at the 2026 state tournament while 6-7 three-star guard Kaleb Jackson starred with Kingdom Collegiate Academy.
 
UTEP Basketball season tickets are on sale now by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.  
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For complete coverage of UTEP men's basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPMBB (Twitter), @utepmbb (Instagram) and on Facebook @UTEPMensBasketball  or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at www.UTEPMiners.com