UTEP falls to Louisiana Tech, 21-17 in Conference USA opener
RUSTON, Louisiana -- UTEP football had piqued fans interest after a 3-1 start, but now they fall to 3-2 after losing their conference opener Saturday night.
The Miners, to their best start since 2010, tried to prove their mettle in a dogfight at reigning C-USA West champions Louisiana Tech, but fell 21-17.
Louisiana Tech marched 75 yards down the field on their opening drive, and capped it off with a 15-yard TD run by Israel Tucker.
But UTEP's defense held firm until midway through the second quarter, when QB Gavin Hardison connected with DeVaughn Cooper on a 33-yard touchdown strike to tie it up.
The Bulldogs grabbed the lead under two minutes in the first half on a 14-yard TD run by tailback Justin Henderson. The scoring drive was kept alive after UTEP was whistled for a pass interference on 3rd and 5 with the Bulldogs on their own 33-yard line.
UTEP trailed the Bulldogs 14-7 at halftime in Ruston.
In the second half, Tucker bulled into the end zone from the 1 that stretched the Bulldogs’ lead to 21-10 with about 12 minutes remaining in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Duron Lowe ran untouched 100 yards into the end zone for UTEP.
The Miners forced a punt on fourth-and-8 with about six minutes left in the game, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave the ball back to the Bulldogs, who then ran the clock down to 32 seconds.
UTEP fumbled the ball on its own 14-yard line three plays later for the 21-17 loss.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
