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Katarina Zec tallied a season-high tying 19 points to pace a quartet of Miners in double figures but high-flying LA Tech toppled UTEP, 74-64, at the Don Haskins Center Thursday.

“I thought we did a lot of the things we wanted to do, but we just went through a run there (in the third quarter) where we didn’t hit the easy shots when we had them,” UTEP head coach Kevin Baker said. “It just really affected the whole complexion of the rest of the game. I’m disappointed that we lost, but in terms of what we were trying to do out there we did it.”

Kierra Anthony overcame foul problems to pour in 30 points in 28 minutes to lead the way for the Lady Techsters (14-11, 6-6 C-USA). The injury-riddled Miners (6-19, 3-9 C-USA) dressed only seven players for the sixth straight contest, and finished with five after two fouled out in the final minute.

UTEP easily controlled the boards (39-25) and shot a solid 44.4 percent (25-54), but LA Tech was even better on offense by nailing 48.1 percent (26-54) while also converting 21 UTEP giveaways into 18 points.

Ariana Taylor (13 points), Jordan Alexander (13 points) and Zuzanna Puc (10 points) joined Zec in double figures for scoring. Puc flirted with a double-double with nine boards while Alexander also got after it on glass by pulling down seven caroms. Alexander also dished out a team best and career-high tying five assists.

Grayson Bright (14 points), Brianna Harris (10 points) and Raizel Guinto (10 points) buoyed the efforts of Anthony, but she did the heavy lifting. It was especially apparent late, when Anthony scored 14 of her team’s 16 points in the fourth quarter to nearly match UTEP’s team output (15 points) in the frame.

UTEP came out firing, jumping out to a 11-5 advantage just three minutes into the game. Taylor was instrumental in the stretch, nailing a couple of triples. LA Tech countered with a 5-0 run to cut the Miner lead to one (11-10) midway through the frame. It was back-and-forth the rest of the quarter, with a late lay-up from Zec off a feed by Alexander giving the Miners a 23-22 advantage through 10 minutes of action.

Turnovers and some misfires hurt the Orange and Blue in the opening parts of the second quarter, which allowed the Lady Techsters to peel off eight straight points to start the frame.

The deficit remained seven (37-30) with 3:31 to play in the half before UTEP, taking advantage of both Anthony and Amber Dixon being stuck on the bench with foul trouble, did well go narrow the gap. The Miners pitched a shutout the rest of the period while getting a jumper from Alexander and a triple by Zec to whittle the margin down to two (37-35) heading into halftime.

The Orange and Blue continued to hang around, trailing by just three (46-43) halfway through the third quarter. LA Tech found another level, though, ripping off 10 straight points over the next two minutes to suddenly vault ahead by 13. UTEP misfired on a shot and committed two turnovers in the stretch, which included a rare four-point play for the visitors.

The Miners tried to regroup, whittling the deficit down to nine (58-49) heading to the fourth quarter but the damage had been done. UTEP continued to battle as the half wore on, but could get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

UTEP will continue its three-game homestand when it locks up against Southern Miss in the pink “Play4Kay” game for breast cancer awareness at 1 p.m. MT Saturday. Ticket prices are $3 for youth and $5 for adults, and are available by calling 747-5234.

The Miners will then wrap up the stay in El Paso by challenging UTSA (1 p.m., Feb. 23). Admission is free for the celebration with “National Girls and Women in Sports Day” against the Roadrunners.

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The Sun Bowl Association hosts the 57th Annual WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, Friday and Saturday, December 21-22 at the Don Haskins Center.

The tournament opens with East Tennessee State facing Wyoming at 5 p.m. (MT) followed by a matchup between Norfolk State and UTEP at 7 p.m. (MT).

“We are excited to continue all the Sun Bowl festivities with our annual basketball tournament,” said Bernie Olivas, Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association.  “It’s always great to host teams from around the country and we hope the community continues to treat the visiting teams with the great hospitality El Paso is known for.”

ETSU (8-4) is looking to recover after a loss against Illinois, falling 73-55, Dec 15. Junior Tray Boyd leads the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) while Junior Jeromy Rodriguez is the team’s top rebounder (11.9 rpg). The Buccaneers bring in 7-footer Lucas N’Guessan, an Oklahoma State transfer who made his first appearance against Illinois.

Wyoming (3-7) suffered an overtime loss to the Denver Pioneers in Laramie 90-87. Senior Justin James is the leading scorer (24.5 ppg) and rebounder (9.8 rpg). Both Hunter Thompson (RFr.) and Jake Hendricks (Jr.) are coming off a career-high game in points scored 15 and 27 respectively.

Norfolk State (4-8) comes in after an 80-49 loss to last year’s Final Four Cinderella story Loyola-Chicago. Redshirt Junior Nic Thomas is the top scorer (14.9 ppg) and Redshirt Senior Jordan Butler leads in rebounds (5.4 rpg). The Spartans are 0-5 on the road and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

UTEP (4-5) won their last game against UC Riverside at home 68-56. Sophomore Evan Gilyard leads in scoring (18 ppg) while Freshman Efe Odigie is the leading rebounder (9.0 rpg). Odigie put up 24 points against the Highlanders.

The Miners fell to North Dakota State in last year’s Championship game 63-51.

Friday, Dec. 21

5 p.m. (MT) – ETSU vs. Wyoming

7 p.m. (MT) – Norfolk State vs. UTEP

Saturday, Dec. 22

5 p.m. (MT) – Consolation Game

7 p.m. (MT) – Championship Game

In their 217th meeting and second this season, rivals UTEP and NM State will tangle tonight at 7 p.m. in the Don Haskins Center as the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Battle of I-10 resumes.

“It’s a significant rivalry based on proximity. You can throw the records out and you’re going to get each other’s best game,” first-year UTEP head coach Rodney Terry said. “We understand what’s on the line in terms of the rivalry. I think it’s great that we have that kind of out-of-conference opponent early in the year where it means something on both ends. We’re going to compete as hard as we can.”

Wednesday night’s game is an ‘Orange Out’ and the first 5,000 fans will receive an orange pom-pom.

“We have a lot of respect for [NM State’s] program and what they’ve been able to do,” Terry said. “They have good players who put a lot of pressure on you defensively. In transition, they put a lot of pressure on you in terms of scoring early. You need to stop the ball with [A.J.] Harris and do a great job with him defensively. He can score for himself and he can also find guys that can score as well. Pick-and-roll defense is really big for us. We have to do a good job with our coverage. And the rebounding battle will be huge, we know they did a nice job rebounding against us [in Las Cruces]. They’re a good team and a great challenge for us in nonconference play.”

Single-game tickets, starting at $8, are available by calling (915) 747-5234. Fans can listen live on KOFX 92.3 with ‘The Voice of the Miners’ Jon Teicher and Steve Yellen. The Spanish broadcast can be heard on ESPN Deportes 1650AM with Omar Ropele and Abel Rodriguez. The Miners and Aggies can also be seen on the CUSA.TV live stream.

“We played at some really good environment earlier in the season and when I took this job I knew that [the Don Haskins Center] will be one of the toughest places to play as well. And we need to create that,” Terry said. “It doesn’t happen overnight. We know we need to put a good product on the floor for the Miner fans, one that will do really well on the floor and play with some grit and effort that this community will support. I’d like to think we’ll build some goodwill to where this community will come and get behind the kids who will do it the right way on and off the court. We’re trying to build a winner on and off the court with kids the community will feel good about and will want to come and support win or lose.”

The Miners (2-3) are coming off a loss at New Mexico (84-78) in which they had a five-point lead at the half on Nov. 24. The Lobos hit 8-of-11 from three-point range during the second half to pull away for the victory.

Sophomore Evan Gilyard, who was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Nov. 26, scored 22 points to lead the squad and connected on 5-of-9 from downtown. It was Gilyard’s fourth time leading the team in scoring, while it was also his fourth 20-plus point performance of the young season.

Efe Odigie, who was named the C-USA Freshman of the Week on November 26, came up a rebound short of his third consecutive double-double. Odigie scored 11 points and went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe with under three minutes left in the game to keep the Miners in the contest.

A pair of UTEP freshmen hit double figures in points for the first time during their careers. Nigel Hawkins scored 12 points and led the team with two steals. Jordan Lathon connected on a pair of three-point buckets, scoring 10 points and leading the team with four assists. Paul Thomas scored a season-high 16 points before fouling out and Kaosi Ezeagu came off the bench to score six points and tally five rebounds.

Gilyard is the third-leading scorer in C-USA and ranks 43rd nationally at 20.8 points per game, while Odigie leads the league in rebounds per contest (10.2) and ranks 23rd nationally. As a team, UTEP ranks second in C-USA in three-point shooting percentage (.376) and fifth in defensive rebounds per game (27.6).

NM State (3-1) is coming off a split since hosting UTEP on Nov. 9. The Aggies fell to Saint Mary’s (Calif.), 73-58, on Nov. 14 in Las Cruces, while outscoring New Mexico, 98-94, on Nov. 17 in The Pit. Aggies 5-9 guard A.J. Harris led his team with 31 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from downtown in 30 minutes of action against UNM. Terrell Brown chipped in with 20 points. Mohamed Thiam led the team in rebounds (nine) against the Lobos.

NM State is led by Harris’s 14.8 point per game, while Brown is averaging 12.8 points per contest. Eli Chuha paces the squad in rebounds per game (6.0).

The Aggies lead the all-time series 113-103, while the Miners have lost the last eight contests. UTEP’s last win came on Nov. 22, 2014, a 77-76 triumph in the Don Haskins Center.

Earlier this year, NM State defeated UTEP, 96-69, on November 9 at the Pan American Center.

UTEP used a big second half, while getting solid production from its freshmen to open the 2018-19 campaign with a 90-63 victory over UT Permian Basin on Tuesday night at the Don Haskins Center.

“There’s a lot of teaching going on right now, whether we’re in the locker room or on the floor. It’s a great time for our guys to continue to learn and get better in all aspects. Every minute that you’re on the floor, its matters,” first-year UTEP Head Coach Rodney Terry said. “I was pleased with our effort in the second half and I didn’t think we had the same intensity and effort defensively in the first half. I’m getting my guys to know how important it is to not want to coach effort, you want to coach execution.”

Freshmen Efe Odigie, Jordan Lathon and Kaosi Ezeagu all executed in their first game as Miners.

Odigie poured in 23 points in his debut, matching the most ever by a UTEP freshman in a season opener (Gary Brewster scored 23 points on Nov. 24, 1972). Odigie also gathered nine rebounds. Lathon (six points, four assists) led the team with 10 rebounds in his debut, as it was the most by a UTEP freshman in a season opener since Terry White had 12 on Nov. 24, 1978, and Ezeagu scored 10 points, ripped down nine boards and blocked a pair of shots.

The Miners opened the contest with a 12-3 run, but would head into the locker room only up 38-34 after the Falcons’ Jamani Glover hit a jumper with under 20 seconds remaining in the half.

However, UTEP would respond and outscore its opponent 52-29 during the next 20 minutes.

Evan Gilyard hit 5-of-7 three-pointers during a 16-point second half, as the sophomore led the Miners with 24 points. Odigie chipped in with 14 points during the second half while Ezeagu tallied seven second-half points.

Gilles Dekoninck, a transfer from Fresno State, impressed in his UTEP debut as the sophomore connected on a pair of three-point baskets on his way to a 14-point performance in 29 minutes of action off the bench. Sophomore Kobe Magee played all 40 minutes, while tying for the team lead in assists (five) with Gilyard.

During the first five minutes of the second half, the Falcons answered on pretty much every UTEP. After a made three-pointer by the Falcons’ DeMarco Jackson to make the score 51-46, Lathon connected on a jumper that started a 23-9 run that put the Miners up 74-55 and never looked back.

During the contest with very few big bodies on the bench, Terry switched out Odigie (19 minutes) and Ezeagu (17 minutes) multiple times during the contest.

“Both of those guys are developing and early in their careers, they’re getting the opportunity to play significant minutes and at the level we want to play on both ends of the floor,” Terry said.

Despite fouling out, senior Paul Thomas scored 10 points, blocked a shot, recorded two assists and three boards.

“Paul is our most experienced guy that we have playing for us this year,” Terry said. “We need him on the floor defensively and offensively, and he’s got to learn how to play and stay out of foul trouble. We need him out on floor and we need his leadership.”

As a team, the Miners dished out 19 dimes, blocked six shots and made 11 three-pointers. Freshmen guards Brandon Averitt and Jakobe Dill (blocked shot) also saw action on the floor.

The 90 points scored was the most ever by a UTEP team during its head coaches’ debut. Doc Sadler’s squad opened his UTEP coaching career with 83 points on Nov. 21, 2004, while Billy Gillispie’s team put up 75 points on Nov. 23, 2002.

“I have a lot of respect for their program and respect for their coach,” Terry said. “He gets those guys to play hard, play the right way; they play like junkyard dogs and they’re tough. We’re going to get out there and match their energy and compete at a very high level. We’re excited about the opportunity for us to try to continue to get better against a program that has been established and has had an opportunity to be in postseason play, which we’re striving to get to.”

The Miners will get their first test of the season on Friday night in Las Cruces when they face NM State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in the Pan American Center.

Photos by Johnny Yturales – El Paso Herald Post

The Harlem Globetrotters will give their Sun City fans a chance to get closer than ever to the action and team’s stars with their brand-new Fan Powered World Tour, which is set to come to the Don Haskins Center in El Paso on Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m.

At each Globetrotters game, there will be over 20 opportunities before, during and after each event where fans will get a chance to directly interact with the team’s stars – that’s a 30-percent increase over any previous Globetrotters game.

The Harlem Globetrotters roster showcases some of the most thrilling athletes in the world, including Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Hammer Harrison, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard, Firefly Fisher and Cheese Chisholm – plus female stars TNT Lister, Torch George and Hoops Green.

Prior to every performance, fans can secure a ticket to Magic Pass, the Globetrotters’ exclusive pregame event.

Magic Pass gives fans unprecedented access to the stars of the team, an opportunity to learn tricks, shoot hoops and take pictures on the court. After each game, fans can participate in a free autograph session.

An additional exciting new element fans can look forward to this year is a new interactive mobile app with exclusive features, including an augmented reality (AR) basketball toss game and one-of-a-kind image filters that can be shared on social media.

Also back by popular demand, fans will also get a chance to see the Flying Globies, an amazing acrobatic trampoline dunk team that will defy gravity during breaks in the game action.

Tickets start at $28.00 and are now available online, the Don Haskins Center box office or by phone at 800-745-3000. For more information visit harlemglobetrotters.com.