UTEP Reclaims First Place in C-USA With 76-64 Win Over Houston

EL PASO, TEXAS — Randy Culpepper snapped out of a shooting slump by pouring in 33 points, going 12-for-12 from the line, as UTEP extended its homecourt winning streak to 15 games with a 76-64 victory over Houston on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center.

Culpepper, who had eclipsed 20 points just once in his previous seven games, had an efficient offensive night, hitting 9-of-13 shots and 3-of-5 three pointers. His first made free throw of the night was the 400th of his career.

It marked the ninth 30-point game of his career, and his first against Houston.

The Miners (20-6, 8-3 C-USA) completed their first season sweep of the Cougars (12-13, 4-8 C-USA) since joining Conference USA while moving back into first place in the league standings after Memphis was toppled at Rice, 67-52, earlier in the evening.

The UTEP-Houston series has been closely contested over the years, and the Cougars stayed within striking distance up until the final five minutes. The Miners scored 14 of the game’s final 21 points after Maurice McNeil’s layup pulled the Cougars to within five points (62-57) with 5:53 remaining.

UTEP did not trail after scoring the game’s first four points, marking the fourth time this season that the Miners have led wire-to-wire and the first time in a C-USA game.

The Miners appeared sluggish early, but closed the first half with a mini 9-4 run to take a 36-28 lead into the locker room. UTEP opened a 13-point lead (48-35) in the first five minutes of the second half before the Cougars battled back. But they could never get closer than five points.

Claude Britten scored 14 points for the Miners, who have held nine straight conference opponents under 70 points for the first time since the 1989-90 season. Jeremy Williams collected nine points and Julyan Stone had another solid all-around game with four points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He also registered the 200th steal of his career, making him the ninth Conference USA player to achieve the milestone.

The Miners went 24-for-26 at the line, making their first 12 attempts and their last 12 sandwiched around a couple of misses by Gabriel McCulley.

Alandise Harris led Houston with 18 points.

UTEP will host UCF on Monday at 11 a.m. in the makeup of a game originally scheduled to be played on Feb. 2. Tickets are $9 and a special President’s Day concession package of a hot dog, popcorn and soft drink will be aviailable for $5.