UTEP Men Travel to UNLV
THE TIP-OFF The UTEP Miners (2-4) face their toughest test to date on Wednesday, when they take on the UNLV Rebels (9-2) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on The Mtn. Network. UTEP notched its second win of the season on Sunday, a 73-69 conquest of I-10 rival NM State. The Miners are 0-2 on the road with losses to NM State (89-73) on Nov. 19 and Oregon (64-59) on Nov. 29. UNLV brings a perfect 6-0 home mark at the Thomas & Mack Center into the game. The Rebels are 8-0 in their home city this season, including a 90-80 upset of top-ranked North Carolina at Orleans Arena on Nov. 26. The Rebels have won seven of their eight games in Las Vegas by double digit points, the exception being a 71-67 victory over Nevada on Nov. 14.
UTEP AT A GLANCE The Miners are starting fresh this season with nine newcomers, including a Division I transfer (junior guard Jacques Streeter), a junior college transfer (junior forward Malcolm Moore) and seven freshmen. UTEP returns just three letterwinners and one starter (senior forward Gabriel McCulley) from last year?s unit that finished 25-10 overall and tied for second place in Conference USA with an 11-5 mark. The Miners lost 82.5 percent of their scoring and 70.6 percent of their rebounding production from the 2010-11 squad, which had eight seniors.
SCOUTING UNLV The Rebels rated among the national leaders in assists per game (eighth, 18.5), assist/turnover ratio (15th, 1.42), scoring offense (25th, 80.1 ppg), scoring margin (34th, +13.4 ppg) and three-point field goals per game (41st, 8.2) through the games of Dec. 11. Individually, sophomore forward Mike Moser was first in the country in rebounding (12.4 avg.) and 11th in double-doubles (five). Moser (14.7 ppg) and senior swingman Chace Stanback (15.2 ppg) are both UCLA transfers. Senior guard Oscar Bellfield (11.2 ppg) and junior guard Justin Hawkins (10.6 ppg) also have double-figure scoring averages. The Rebels are shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the line. UNLV?s rebound margin is +5.8 per game, and the Rebels are forcing an average of 15.5 turnovers per outing. Dave Rice is in his first season as UNLV?s head coach. The former Rebel was on the BYU staff from 2005-11, during which time the Cougars beat the Miners twice (83-77 in El Paso during the 2009-10 season, 89-68 in Provo last year).
THE SERIES UNLV leads the series 8-3, including 4-1 in Las Vegas. UTEP is 0-3 all-time in the Thomas & Mack Center, including losses to UNLV on Feb. 14, 1998 (69-63) and Dec. 1, 2007 (84-71). The Miners also lost to SMU (65-64) in a WAC Tournament play-in game at the venue on March 2, 1999. That was the legendary Don Haskins? last game as coach of the Miners. Overall UNLV has won six of the last seven matchups between the teams, including four straight. Four players on this year?s rosters were on the floor the last time the Miners met UNLV on Nov. 24, 2008 in El Paso. Oscar Bellfield (10 points), Brice Massamba (0 points) and Kendall Wallace (six points) played for the Rebels and Gabriel McCulley collected 10 points, three rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two steals in 21 minutes for the Miners. McCulley also played in the Dec. 1, 2007 matchup at the Thomas & Mack Center and supplied three points, five boards and a block in 14 minutes. UTEP?s Tim Floyd is facing the Rebels for the first time in his head coaching career.
THE LAST MEETING Wink Adams scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half as UNLV overcame a three-point deficit at the midway point in an 80-67 win over UTEP on Nov. 24, 2008 in El Paso. The Runnin? Rebels outscored the Miners 45-29 in the second half after trailing 38-35 at the break. The Miners got off to a great start, twice building 13-point leads, the last at 32-19 on a layup by Randy Culpepper. However, UNLV outscored the Miners 16-6 to close out the half, and was in control after taking a 40-38 lead early in the second period on a three pointer by Joe Darger. It was the Runnin? Rebels? first lead since it was 8-7. The Miners closed the gap to one point three times after that, the last at 53-52 on a Claude Britten dunk with 11:48 to play. Oscar Bellfield answered with a three pointer to extend UNLV?s lead to 56-52, and the Miners couldn?t get closer than three points the rest of the way. Tre?Von Willis added 17 points for the Runnin? Rebels, Ren Rougeau had 11 and Bellfield chipped in with 10. Stefon Jackson scored 20 points for the Miners, but he was 0-for-6 from the field in the second half. Culpepper added 11 points, but he also struggled in the second half, hitting just one of nine shots. UNLV shot 51 percent to UTEP?s 40.4 percent. The Miners hit just 31.8 percent of their shots in the second half and finished 16-for-27 from the line to the Runnin? Rebels? 20-of-26.
UTEP?S LAST GAME Gabriel McCulley posted career-highs for points (18), rebounds (13), assists (seven) and steals (three) in his second game back to the UTEP lineup, as the Miners evened this year?s edition of the SONIC Battle of I-10 Rivalry Series with a 73-69 win over NM State on Sunday. UTEP surprised the Aggies by bolting to a 24-6 lead in the opening minutes. At one point UTEP scored 18 consecutive points, including nine from Michael Perez, who finished with 19. The Aggies continued to salt away at the lead, climbing to within seven points (45-38) at the half. Trailing 56-50 with nearly 14 minutes to play, NMSU mounted a 10-3 run to take its first lead of the game, 60-59, on a pair of free throws by Daniel Mullings with 10 minutes remaining. NMSU extended the lead to 65-60 on a dunk by Tshilidzi Nephawe with seven minutes left as the Miners endured a lengthy dry spell that produced one field goal in nearly eight minutes. But Cedrick Lang?s bucket with 4:30 to go ended the cold streak and jump-started an 11-2 spurt that put the Miners ahead 71-67 with under two minutes on the clock. With his team down 72-69 in the final half-minute, the Aggies? Wendell McKines missed a three pointer and Perez closed it out by hitting one of two free throws. The Miners neutralized NMSU?s top two scorers, as McKines (18.1 ppg coming in) and Christian Kabongo (16.1 ppg) combined for 13 points on 4-for-17 shooting. Hernst Laroche was 4-for-4 from three-point range and led the Aggies with 16 points. UTEP shot 50 percent – including 56.7 percent in the opening 20 minutes – but the big story was the Miners turning the tables on the bigger and stronger Aggies on the boards. After being battered on the glass in an 89-73 loss at Las Cruces on Nov. 19, UTEP outrebounded NMSU 39-30 the second time around. McKines posted 11 boards, with all coming on the defensive end after he collected seven offensive rebounds in the initial matchup between the teams. The Miners also enjoyed a 20-10 edge in second chance points. Perez and Washburn (16 points) both established career-highs for points.
UTEP IN THE C-USA STATISTICS (Through games of Dec. 11)
Category Stat Rank Scoring offense 59.3 11 Scoring defense 64.8 10 Scoring margin -5.5 12 Free throw % 60.0 12 Field goal % 43.7 5 Field goal % defense 44.6 12 3-point field goal % 32.2 8 3-point field goal % defense 43.7 12 3-pointers per game 4.7 10 Rebound margin +0.7 9 Blocked shots 4.5 7 Assists 14.0 5 Steals 4.8 10 Turnover margin -2.0 11 Assist/turnover ratio 0.9 5
Individual Category Stat Rank J. Bohannon Blocked shots 1.2 12 C. Lang Blocked shots 1.2 13 C. Lang Rebounding 5.3 t20 J. Streeter Assists 4.5 2 J. Streeter Assist/turnover ratio 1.6 8 J. Washburn Minutes 33.2 10 J. Washburn Steals 1.5 t9
MINERS PULL ONE OUT OF THE FIRE Sunday?s 73-69 win over NM State made UTEP 1-12 under coach Tim Floyd when trailing with five minutes to play. The last time the Miners won a game in such a situation was on March 6, 2010 versus UAB in the Haskins Center, a game they trailed 45-44 at the 5:00 mark before rallying for a 52-50 victory.
MINERS GET CAREER HIGHS FROM THREE PLAYERS Sophomore guard Michael Perez (19 points), senior forward Gabriel McCulley (18) and freshman swingman Julian Washburn (16) all established career-highs in scoring in combining for 53 of the Miners? 73 points against NM State. The last time UTEP had three players with 16 points or more in a game was on Jan. 9, 2010 versus BYU (Derrick Caracter & Jeremy Williams 17 points, Christian Polk 16 points).
UTEP RACKS UP 21 ASSISTS The Miners? 21 assists against NM State were a season-high and marked the fourth-top total of the Tim Floyd era. UTEP collected 23 dimes versus Western New Mexico & UAB, and 22 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff last season. Interestingly, all 21 of UTEP?s assists versus NMSU came from four starters — Gabriel McCulley, Michael Perez, Jacques Streeter and Julian Washburn.
McCULLEY CAN DISH IT OUT TOO Perhaps lost in senior forward Gabriel McCulley?s first career double-double (in his 108th college game) versus NM State was the fact that he recorded seven assists, eclipsing his previous personal best of four versus James Madison on Dec. 29, 2008. McCulley also ended Jacques Streeter?s run of five straight games leading the team in assists to start the season. A guard had led UTEP in assists in the previous 17 games. The last time a Miner forward had seven assists or more was on March 14, 2006 against Lipscomb, when Jason Williams put together the only triple-double in school history (17 points/11 rebounds/10 assists).
THE McCULLEY FACTOR There?s no question about it, UTEP has been a significantly better team with Gabriel McCulley adding experience and toughness over the last two games than it was in the first four without him. Here?s a look at the key statistical differences.
Category Without McCulley With McCulley Scoring offense 56.0 ppg 66.0 ppg Field goal% .405 .495 3-point field goal% .313 .348 Rebounds/game 30.8 35.0 Rebound margin -1.7 +5.5 Off. rebound diff. -6 +8 Turnovers/game 15.8 13.0 Points in the paint avg. 18.5 30.0 Points in the paint diff. -20 +18 Second chance pts. avg. 8.8 15.0 Second chance pts. diff. -7 +13
PEREZ FINDS CONFIDENCE In the first 32 games of his collegiate career, sophomore guard Michael Perez averaged 1.8 points, shooting 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field and 34 percent (10-for-29) from three-point range. Over the last two games, Perez has shown why he led all Arizona 4A and 5A schools in scoring as a high school senior (29.9 ppg). He has erupted for 37 points in the last two contests, leading the Miners in scoring against both Oregon (18 points) and NM State (19). During that span Perez has made 14-of-25 field goals (.560), 4-of-7 three pointers (.571) and 5-of-9 free throws (.556). He scored nine of UTEP?s 13 points during a stretch of 5:27 late in the second half at Oregon, and nine points during the Miners? 18-0 run early in the NMSU game.
WASHBURN TABBED C-USA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK Julian Washburn garnered Conference USA Freshman of the Week accolades on Monday after scoring in double figures for the second time this season against NM State. Washburn put 16 points on the board versus the Aggies after tallying 14 points against UC Riverside on Nov. 13. Washburn is averaging 10.3 ppg for a UTEP team with one double-figure scorer for the first time since the 1982-83 season. Washburn could become only the third freshman to lead the Miners in scoring, joining Earl Fuller in 1977-78 (10.5 ppg) and Giovanni St. Amant in 2002-03 (13.6 ppg). He is the second Miner to be named C-USA Freshman of the Week, joining John Bohannon who was honored on Dec. 13, 2010.
MINERS HAVE HAD THEIR MOMENTS ON THE ROAD Despite an 0-2 record, UTEP has played surprisingly well on the road for a team with seven freshmen. The Miners tied their season high for points at NM State on Nov. 19 (73), and led for most of the first half against the I-10 rival Aggies. UTEP shot 49.1 percent from the floor at Oregon, its second-best marksmanship in a road game under coach Tim Floyd. The game against the Ducks went down to the wire, as the Miners trailed 60-59 with 34 seconds to go before ultimately succumbing 64-59.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE UTEP had more assists (21) than turnovers (13) for the first time this season versus NM State on Sunday. The Miners improved to 20-5 under coach Tim Floyd when having a positive assist/turnover ratio. Going into the game, the Miners had had only two players with a positive assist/turnover ratio for the season (D?Von Campbell & Jacques Streeter), and now they have four (add Gabriel McCulley & Michael Perez to the list).
MINERS HOLDING THEIR OWN ON THE BOARDS This 2011-12 UTEP team may not be particularly big on height or girth, but it has been pretty effective on the glass. The Miners have a rebound margin of +0.7 on the year and have outboarded the opposition in four of six games. UTEP secured a double-digit rebounding advantage in its first two games of the season for the first time since 1983-84, and won the battle of the boards in each of its last two games versus Oregon (31-29) and NM State (39-30). The latter result was particularly impressive considering that the Miners were clobbered by NMSU on the glass, 42-27, in the initial matchup between the schools on Nov. 19 in Las Cruces. The Aggies were limited to seven offensive rebounds in the rematch after collecting 21 in round one of the I-10 rivalry.
MINERS HAVE RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS IN RESERVE UTEP?s bench has produced 20 points or more in four of six games this season. Compare that number to the 2010-11 season, in which the Miners received 20+ points from their reserves just six times in 35 outings. Michael Perez (23 points) and freshman center Hooper Vint (23 points) have been the top scorers off the pine for a UTEP team that is getting 19.3 ppg from its reserves in 2011-12.
SIX GAMES, FIVE LINEUPS Coach Tim Floyd has been searching for a winning combination, utilizing five different starting lineups in the first six games. Freshman forward Julian Washburn is the only Miner to start all six games, and nine players have made starts. UTEP?s season high for points by starters came on Sunday against NM State (62).
DEFENSE GIVING MINERS A CHANCE ON THE ROAD UTEP has put itself in position to win several road games under coach Tim Floyd by holding the opposition in check offensively. Including a 64-59 loss at Oregon on Nov. 29, the Miners have yielded fewer than 70 points in eight of their last 10 games away from El Paso. The exception was an 83-76 setback at East Carolina last year, in which the Miners were whistled for 27 fouls and the Pirates went to the line 45 times.
CLAMPING DOWN UTEP?s defensive gameplan under coach Tim Floyd involves getting the other team?s top offensive players out of sync. Here?s a look at the job UTEP has done defending teams? top scorers this year.
Opp. Leading Scorer Vs. UTEP UTSA Melvin Johnson III (14.9 ppg)* 9 pts (4-9 FG) UC Riverside Phil Martin (22.0 ppg) 6 pts (3-11 FG) @NM State Wendell McKines (16.0 ppg) 23 pts (5-13 FG) SFA Antonio Bostic (16.0 ppg) 18 pts (7-11 FG) @Oregon Garrett Sim (14.0 ppg) 2 pts (0-6 FG) NM State Wendell McKines (18.1 ppg) 4 pts (1-7 FG)
* Scoring average from 2010-11 season
STREETER ASSIST COUNT ADDING UP After leading the Big West Conference in assist/turnover ratio in back-to-back seasons (2008-10), junior guard Jacques Streeter is continuing his career with the Miners. He has led the Miners in assists in five of six games, giving him 316 dimes in 69 college contests. Streeter has shot well from three-point range this season (7-for-12), but is 3-for-18 on his two-point tries.
STARTING OVER UTEP has the fifth-most inexperienced team in the country in terms of returning point production.
SCHOOLS THAT RETURN LESS THAN 20 PERCENT OF THEIR POINTS St. John?s 3.7 percent (85-of-2,313) Towson 5.3 percent (109-of-2,053) Boston College 10.8 percent (263-of-2,440) Texas 17 percent (459-of-2,701) UTEP 17.5 percent (433-of-2,470) Fairleigh Dickinson 17.8 percent (333-of-1,866) Wofford 19.98 percent (500-of-2,502)
MINERS SIGN THREE Coach Tim Floyd announced the signings of forwards Twymond Howard (Pearl, Miss./Pearl HS) & Chris Washburn Jr. (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie HS) and guard Dustin Watts (Seattle, Wash./O?Dea HS) to national letters of intent in November. The trio of high school stars will join the Miners for the 2012-13 season. Howard is rated a four-star recruit, the no. 14 small forward in the country and the no. 69 player nationally by Rivals.com. The brother of current Miner freshman Julian Washburn and son of former NBA player Chris Washburn, Washburn is rated a four-star prospect and the no. 23 center in the country by Scout.com. Watts garnered All-State and All-League honors as a junior, leading O?Dea High to a 25-4 record.
McCULLEY IS LONE SENIOR Forward Gabriel McCulley is the only senior on the 2011-12 team. McCulley redshirted the 2009-10 season and is in his fifth year in the UTEP program. He has played in 108 games for the Miners, scoring in double figures 11 times. McCulley is the only player on this year?s roster with a degree in hand. He graduated from UTEP with a degree in Criminal Justice in December of 2010 and is pursuing his Masters in Leadership Studies.
FLOYD ERA CONTINUES Tim Floyd is in his second season as UTEP?s head coach after directing the Miners to 25 wins in his initial year at the helm of the program. Overall Floyd is 355-194 in his 18th year as a collegiate head coach with stops at Idaho (1986-88), New Orleans (1988-94), Iowa State (1994-98), USC (2005-09) and UTEP. Floyd?s teams have made 12 postseason tournament appearances, including eight trips to the NCAAs and four visits to the NIT. In 549 collegiate games, Floyd?s teams have allowed less than 70 points 368 times, less than 60 points 190 times and less than 50 points 53 times. Floyd?s teams are 165-25 when allowing fewer than 60 points, and 51-2 when yielding fewer than 50 points.
NOTING UTEP?S ILLUSTRIOUS BASKETBALL HISTORY The Miners have won seven undisputed conference regular season titles in their basketball history, including in 1941 (Border Conference), 1957 (Border Conference), 1970 (Western Athletic Conference), 1984 (WAC), 1985 (WAC), 1987 (WAC) and 2010 (Conference USA). Overall UTEP has won 12 conference championships, including five that it shared with other teams in 1959 (Border Conference), 1983 (WAC), 1986 (WAC), 1992 (WAC) and 2004 (WAC). To this day, UTEP is the only Division I school in the state of Texas to win a national championship in men?s basketball with the storied 1966 title. UTEP has made 29 postseason tournament appearances, including 17 trips to the NCAAs.
Source: UTEP Athletics
