2003-04 UTEP NCAA Tournament team returning to the Don Haskins Center Saturday

(Courtesy: UTEP Athletics)

EL PASO, Texas - One of the most beloved teams in UTEP basketball history, the 2003-04 NCAA Tournament squad will be returning to the Don Haskins Center for a 20-year reunion on Saturday.

The ’03-04 Miners will be signing autographs at 6 pm on Saturday in the Haskins Center concourse, prior to UTEP’s game versus Liberty. The ’03-04 team will also be honored at halftime of Saturday’s game.

Members of the 2003-04 team that are scheduled to attend on Saturday include:

·         Joe Devance

·         Omar Duran

·         Thomas Gehrke

·         Josh Gutierrez

·         JD Hampton III

·         Darius Mattear

·         Brent Murphy

·         Juan Rivas

·         Filiberto Rivera

·         Roy Smallwood

·         Omar Thomas

·         John Tofi

·         Jason Williams

Led by coach Billy Gillispie, the 2003-04 Miners tied the NCAA record for turnaround, finishing 24-8 following a 6-24 season. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they dropped a narrow (86-83) contest to ACC Tournament champ Maryland in the first round.

UTEP opened the season by upsetting the Harlem Globetrotters, 89-88, in an exhibition game that ended the Globetrotters’ 288-game win streak. 

The Miners’ success continued as they tied for first place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 13-5 mark and reached the championship game of the WAC Tournament. 

Rivera, Thomas and Williams were all named to the All-WAC Tournament team. Rivera was first team All-WAC and Thomas was second team during the regular season, while Gillispie was appointed the WAC Coach of the Year.

Tickets for Saturday’s game start at just $9.15 and are available by calling (915) 747-UTEP or by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com.   

Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club.

Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!