Murray St. ends UTEP’s season in NIT’s 1st round

Jarvis Williams had 25 points and 14 rebounds and Murray State beat Texas-El Paso 81-66 on Tuesday night in the first round of the NIT.

Murray State (28-5), excluded from the 68-team NCAA Tournament field after losing in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship, made its eighth appearance in the NIT — its first since 2011.

T.J. Sapp added 21 points for Murray State and Jonathan Fairell grabbed 10 rebounds. Cameron Payne neared a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Racers won their 15th game in a row at home.

The Miners (22-11) were trying to win an opening round game for the seventh time and first since 2006. They shot 8 of 27 (29.6 percent) from the field in the second half.

C.J. Cooper led UTEP with 16 points, while Vince Hunter added 11, and Earvin Morris and Omega Harris finished with 10 each.

It was the Miners’ first appearance in the NIT in four years.