UTEP senior guard Earvin Morris was selected the Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday, and the Miners picked up votes in both top-25 national polls.
UTEP, off to a 6-0 start for the first time in 15 years, received three votes in the Associated Press Poll and one in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Morris was named MVP of the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic after leading UTEP to the championship with a 99-90, double overtime victory over Colorado State. He scored 22 of his 28 points after halftime as the Miners rallied from a 47-30 deficit at the break.
He made 10-of-17 shots and 7-of-8 free throws in 40 minutes while adding four rebounds and a blocked shot.
Morris’ three pointer with 23 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 73 and sent it into overtime. He scored 15 points in the second half and seven in the overtime periods.
Morris scored eight of his 12 points in the second half against Southern Illinois, including a layup with 42 seconds left that pushed a one-point lead to three. The Miners beat the Salukis 71-66.
Earlier in the week, Morris scored 12 points with six rebounds and four assists in a 72-54 win over Florida A&M. Morris averaged 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.3 spg for the week with a .559 (19-for-34) field goal percentage, .300 (3-for-10) three-point field goal percentage and .733 (11-for-15) free throw percentage.
UTEP will play at I-10 rival NM State on Wednesday before hosting UT Arlington on Saturday. Both games are at 7 p.m.
Author: UTEP Athletics
