Men’s Basketball: UTEP loses C-USA opener at UTSA

The UTEP men’s basketball team was unable to overcome a dreadful start on the road at UTSA to open Conference USA league action Thursday night.

UTSA jumped out to a 13-0 lead about four minutes into the game and would go on to beat the Miners by a final of 75-60.

The Miners rallied in the first half with an Evan Gilyard three-pointer making it a 17-11 game. But UTSA seemed to answer every UTEP rally with one of their own.

It was a nine-point game at the break, but the Roadrunners seized control early in the second half with a quick 8-0 run to open up a 17-point lead.

UTEP fell to 5-7 overall while UTSA improved to 7-7 on the year.

Sophomore Keaton Wallace paced the Roadrunners with 23 points to go along with eight rebounds.

Meanwhile, UTEP freshman Efe Odigie continues to be a double-double machine. He racked up 19 points and 16 rebounds in the loss with five of those boards coming on the offensive glass.

Freshman guard Nigel Hawkins also had a strong game for the Miners with 21 points and nine rebounds.

However, UTEP was doomed by a 2-17 performance from beyond the arc along with 18 turnovers.

The two teams will meet again at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.