One-on-one with UTEP’s Joe Golding; Miners set to host FIU & #24 FAU

EL PASO, Texas - Fresh off a thrilling come-from-behind road win at Charlotte, the UTEP men’s basketball team (10-8, 3-4 C-USA) will open a two-game homestand by playing host to FIU (8-10, 2-5 C-USA) at 7 p.m. MT Thursday.

It is the first of two matchups on the season between the programs, with UTEP heading to the Eastern Time Zone for a Feb. 23 tilt.

The Miners are coming off a 60-58 victory at Charlotte on Jan. 16, a game in which they trailed by as many as 13 points in the opening frame.

It continued a recent trend in which six of the past seven games have gone down to the final possession of regulation, with two going to OT.

The Panthers have lost three straight, including being clipped by second-place North Texas, 64-57, at home on Jan. 16.

UTEP is a stout 9-2 at the Don Haskins Center on the season while FIU is winless (0-6) on the road thus far, with an average margin of defeat of 17.7 points in those contests.

UTEP is looking to get back to .500 in league play and secure its third win in the past four contests after a 1-3 start to C-USA action.

A victory would be the 600th all time for the Miners in the Don Haskins Center, which opened for the final five home games of the 1976-77 season. Tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP. 

Following Thursday's game against FIU, the Miners will then play host to Florida Atlantic University on Saturday.

The FAU Owls are currently ranked 24th in the country, and are in sole possession of first place in Conference USA, a perfect 7-0 in conference play.

Tipoff for Saturday's game against FAU is at 7 p.m. from the Don Haskins Center.

UTEP head coach Joe Golding spoke with ABC-7 in a exclusive one-on-one interview previewing both matchups.