March 22, 1992: Historic day for UTEP and NMSU basketball

There have been many great days in UTEP and NMSU basketball history.

UTEP, then Texas Western, winning the national championship in 1966 certainly qualifies as a good day.

NMSU under Lou Henson making the Final Four in 1970 was another good one.

But 25 years ago today, both programs reached the Sweet 16 on the same day – March 22, 1992.

Don Haskins and UTEP, a number nine seed, defeated top-seeded Kansas, 66-60, to claim their spot in the Sweeet 16 that day.

Meanwhile, the 12th-seeded Aggies knocked off 13-seed Southwestern Louisiana (now known as Louisiana-Lafayette) to book their spot in the final 16.

Both teams would meet their ends in the next round (UTEP falling to Cincinnati and NMSU dropping a decision to UCLA), but it’s nonetheless a day that lives on in local lore.