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By JEFF LATZKE

AP Sports Writer

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Kelvin Lewis scored 28 points and Houston surged past No. 25 UTEP down the stretch to claim its first NCAA tournament berth in 18 years with an 81-73 victory in the Conference USA tournament title game that snapped the Miners’ 16-game winning streak.

National scoring leader Aubrey Coleman struggled through a 4-for-20 shooting performance for the seventh-seeded Cougars (19-15), but came up with a critical steal and fast-break layup in the final minute as they won their fourth game in as many days.

Houston trailed by nine with 8 minutes to play, but came roaring back against the top-seeded Miners (26-6), who were riding their longest winning streak since their “Glory Road” run to the national title in 1966.

Randy Culpepper scored 20 points and Derrick Caracter added 18 for UTEP.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

NOTE: The Miners will return to El PasoSaturday nighton a Southwest Airlines flight, arriving at 8:20pm.

And on Sunday, during the NCAA selection show, the Miners will have a watching party at the Don Haskins Center at 3pm. Admission is free.