The UTEP men’s basketball team overcame a slow start and notched its seventh win in a row with a 69-62 victory over UTSA tonight at the Don Haskins Center. With the win, the Miners remain in second place in Conference USA, but now only a half a game behind leaders Louisiana Tech who lost earlier today at Old Dominion.
“It was a good win for us against a really well coached, energetic, talented team,” said Miner head coach Tim Floyd.
It took a while for UTEP to get going tonight in front of the more than 10,000 fans that were in the building. For the first eight minutes of play it seemed like the Miners could not buy a shot, while everything the visiting Roadrunners threw up was going in.
With just under eight minutes of play UTSA had already scored 24 points and led by 12. That’s when the Miners turned up the heat on defense. Over eight minutes would go by before the Roadrunners put another point on the board.
“We played exceedingly hard during that stretch and I thought our crowd really helped us in that comeback,” Floyd said.
Down by double digits, the Miners started getting stops and making shots. With a little over five minutes to go in the half, sophomore forward Vince Hunter missed a shot at the rim, but junior center Hooper Vint was there to clean up. Vint slammed the Hunter miss with two hands and the Miners had fought their way back into the game which was now tied at 24.
Both teams would trade scores to end the half and go into the break tied at 30.
“They came out with a lot of energy and were hitting every shot,” said UTEP senior guard Julian Washburn. “I’m glad we were able to gain our composure, come back and make a run.”
The Miners scored five quick points to start the second half and the Miners never trailed again. Still, the Roadrunners never allowed UTEP any cushion on the scoreboard and the Miners had to fight to the final whistle to earn the win.
Going into the final three minutes of the game with the Miners ahead by three after two unanswered Roadrunner buckets, senior guard C.J. Cooper hit back-to-back three point shots that seemingly put the game away for UTEP. UTSA once again answered, making a three of their own and keeping them within striking distance, down 64-58 with 1:43 remaining.
Like they’ve done lately, the Miners closed the game out from the free throw line, scoring 5 of 6 attempts inside a minute to play and deny UTSA’s comeback hopes. UTEP shot 75 percent from the charity stripe on the night to just 41.7 percent for the Roadrunners.
“They didn’t make some free-throws they like to have back and we all know that story,” Floyd said. “You feel for them, but I don’t feel too bad for them, because I’ve been on the other end of it.”
The Miners were led offensively by junior guard Earvin Morris’ 18 points and was joined by three other Miners in double figures—Cooper scored 16 while Washburn and Hunter each had 10.
Both Hunter and Washburn flirted with a double-double, with Hunter having eight rebounds and Washburn adding eight rebounds himself and six assists to the cause.
After their longest conference home stretch of the year, the Miners will go back on the road next week to face Louisiana Tech, in a crucial matchup that may very well decide the top spot in Conference USA, and Southern Miss on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
The Miners have the best road record in Conference USA and they are focused on continuing to give their fans something to cheer about.
“I thought the crowd was terrific. I thought they helped us when we were down, they inspired us,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we’ll have a couple of sellouts when we come back.”
Luis Gonzalez may be reached at [email protected].
