The UTEP Miners mens’ basketball team (14-9, 7-4 Conference USA) had its winning streak snapped in the loss against the University of North Texas (17-4, 10-1 C-USA) Feb. 7 at the UNT Coliseum. The Miners in this contest had a season-high of 19 turnovers, which resulted in points for the Mean Green in this 66-58 loss.
“Turnovers were the difference in the game, but I want to say that I’m just so proud of our guys,” UTEP Head Coach Joe Golding said. “It was just tremendous fight. We came into a hostile environment and played the league-leading team and we had some chances there. We played hard. I’m really proud of the fight.”
In the start of the first half, the Miners raced out to a 5-0 lead after a bucket from junior guard Jamal Bieniemy. However, the Mean Green were able to reel off a couple of big baskets to make the score7-4.
Bieniemy and junior guard Souley Boum provided most of the points scored in the first half for the Miners.
The Miners and the Mean Green were neck-and-neck majority of the first half. At the 8:50 mark, UTEP took a 19-16 lead after a 3-pointer from freshman forward Jamari Sibley. UNT senior guard Mardrez McBride quickly answered Sibley’s basket with a 3-pointer to tie the contest, 19-19.
North Texas broke the tie and managed to take a 24-19 lead, after made free throws from freshman guard Aaron Scott.
At the 4:12 mark, Boum scored a jumper to put the score at 23-24. Then, senior forward Alfred Hollins made a lay-up to give the Miners a 25-24 lead in this contest.
Right before the end of the half, North Texas was able to score a couple of buckets to tie the game 27-27.
At halftime the game was tied at 27. The Miners were able to go toe-to-toe with the best team in the conference and recent winners of the first round of the NCAA tournament.
In the start of the second half, North Texas took a 29-27 lead after a made bucket from sophomore forward Abou Ousmane.
North Texas ballooned its lead to 39-33 after free-throws were made by sophomore guard Rubin Jones.
Towards the half point at the 11:22 mark, Bieniemy sank two free throws after getting fouled to cut the Mean Green’s lead to 40-44.
Right towards the end of the game, the Miners still kept it at a single deficit number. But the Miners just could not muster enough offense, and fell in this contest 58-66.
Leading scorers in this game were Boum with 20 points and four rebounds, followed with Bieniemy with 17 points and two rebounds. And finally Hollins scoring seven points and grabbing five rebounds in this contest.
The UTEP men’s basketball team can be seen back in action in their next game against Marshall University at 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Don Haskins Center.
Stats provided with the help of UTEP Athletics.
Daniel Alec Lopez is a reporter and can be reached at [email protected].
