The UTEP men’s basketball team plays third ranked Arizona on Friday, but they could not afford to look past tonight’s opponent and they didn’t. The Miners dominated Southeastern Louisiana University to a final score of 80-62 in front of over 6,000 fans.
The Lions arrived at the Don Haskins with an unimpressive 2-7 record and looking for their first road win of the season. Still, it was a team that lead at Gonzaga, then ranked ninth, before eventually succumbing in the second half and also played tough at Oklahoma, then ranked No. 19. UTEP head coach Tim Floyd was well aware of the challenge and the dangers of overlooking the opponent.
“We had a lot of respect for their coach’s approach to their team, how they play.” Floyd said. “I thought in a game like that, it’s really easy to come out and not be mature and not play hard.”
The visiting Lions scored first off a jumper from forward Onochie Ochie, but would not get on the board again until close to 10 minutes after. Leading 19-8, and after 8 unanswered points by the visitors that would bring them within three, the Miners closed out the half on a 12-4 run to head to the locker room with a 31-20 lead.
The Miner defense was suffocating at times holding SLU to 33.3% shooting and just 12.5% from beyond the arc in the first half.
“I thought it was pretty good,” Floyd said about tonight’s defense.
After defense set the tone in the first half, the Miner offense exploded in the second scoring 49 points in the final 20 minutes of play. Led by Vince Hunter’s career-high 26 points on an efficient 11-of-13 shooting, the Miners finished with three players scoring at least 15 points, including junior guard Earvin Morris’ 17. UTEP shot 67.9% from the field in the second half along with 50% from three-point land.
“Our shot selection in the last two games has improved,” Floyd said. “We’ve scored it better the last two games because we’re being a little more selective and taking better shots.”
UTEP out-rebounded the Lions 36-31. The Miners also recorded 21 assists, including a combined 10 between big men Cedric Lang and Matt Willms, compared to SLU’s 8.
“I loved the way Matt Willms and Cedrick Lang passed the ball,” Floyd said.
Perhaps the most important number on the stat sheet tonight though was in the turnover category. After turning the ball over a season-high 22 times last Monday, the Miners had just four going into the half and 10 when the final buzzer rang.
“Coach Floyd got into us on that,” Hunter said. “We’re definitely not beating nobody with that (22 turnovers) so we’re getting better on that.”
Now, after improving to 6-3 and maintaining its undefeated record at home, UTEP turns its attention to Friday when they will host the number three ranked team in the nation. Arizona will come in to the Don Haskins Center as the highest ranked team ever to play here in El Paso. It is a game that fans, coaching staff and players have had in mind for quite some time now.
“It’s a game that’s meaningful for our fans and players, a game that we have recruited toward, knowing we would play these guys one time,” Floyd said. “I think it’s a game in which we will be challenged in every way we can possibly be challenged.”
The game will be the second of a four-game stretch in just seven days and will be televised to national audience on FOX Sports 1. A sold-out crowd is expected for a type of game El Paso has not witnessed in a long time.
“In the ‘80s, this was the way it was,” Floyd said. “It’s what I hoped for and envisioned when I came back here, that we would play in games that were relevant nationally.We’re glad that we have an opportunity to play them on our home floor.”
Luis Gonzalez may be reached at [email protected]
