UTEP men’s basketball finalizes 2026-27 schedule & announces nationally-televised Mountain West games
EL PASO, Texas - Tipping off the season at the Field of 68 24-Hour Marathon (Nov. 2), spending the week of Thanksgiving in Mexico for the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 24-25), hosting the 65th Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 20-21) and navigating 18 conference games in the first season as members of the Mountain West highlight the 2026-27 UTEP men’s basketball schedule, which was revealed by head coach Joe Golding Tuesday.
Furthermore, there will be eight nationally-televised league contests (four home, four road) that will be across platforms such as FS1, the CW and CBS Sports Network.
The Miners will play 17 of their 31 games inside the venerable GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center, which will feature a new court design and an upgraded fan experience to make UTEP’s inaugural campaign in the Mountain West even more special.
It is a demanding slate, with up to 13 matchups against teams that won 20+ games a year ago.
There are also as many as seven games vs. squads that played postseason hoops (three NCAA, four NIT) in 2025-26.
The season begins with a bang, with the Miners locking up with Horizon League semifinalist and 20-game winner Northern Kentucky (Nov. 2) in Sioux Falls, S.D., as part of the prestigious Field of 68 24-Hour Marathon.
The event will feature matchups between 16 prominent mid-major programs.
The Miners’ home opener, for what will be their 50th full season in GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center, pits them against UIW (Nov. 8).
I-10 rival NM State (Nov. 12) and Florida A&M (Nov. 15) will follow. Contests against Summit League runner-up North Dakota (Dec. 5) and UTPB (Dec. 16) will serve as the beginning of seven straight in the Sun City for UTEP.
The sequence will stretch into league action. NCAA Tournament team and 24-game winner Howard, NIT participant and 24-contest victor Kent State and Summit League semifinalist Omaha help comprise the field for the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. The Miners cap nonconference play vs. NM Highlands (Dec. 29).
UTEP’s first true road game pits it against NM State (Nov. 19) at the Pan-American Center. The Miners then head to tropical Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, for the Cancun Challenge.
They will face 21-tilt winner College of Charleston (Nov. 24) and then either Eastern Michigan or NCAA Tournament team and 21-game victor Kennesaw State (Nov. 25). UTEP’s final road test prior to MW action will be at Big 12 member Colorado (Dec. 1).
The Miners ring in the New Year and play their first game as members of the Mountain West against longtime rival NIT semifinalist and 26-contest winner New Mexico (Jan. 2) at GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center.
Other league home tilts include Wyoming (Jan. 5), NIT quarterfinalist and 24-game victor Nevada (Jan. 12), UC Davis (Jan. 23), San Jose State (Jan. 30), 20-contest winner Grand Canyon (Feb. 9), NIT second-round member UNLV (Feb. 17), NCAA Tournament squad and 24-game winner Hawai’i (Feb. 27) and Air Force (March 6).
The home match against the Lobos (FS1), the Wolf Pack (CW), the Lopes (CBSSN) and the Rebels (CBSSN) will be broadcast nationwide.
UTEP will lock up at Air Force (Jan. 9) for its initial conference road contest. Other league games in hostile territory include playing at UNLV (Jan. 15), at Wyoming (Jan. 19), at Nevada (Jan. 26), at Hawai’i (Feb. 6), at UC Davis (Feb. 13), at New Mexico (Feb. 20), at Grand Canyon (Feb. 23) and at San Jose State (March 2).
The road contests at the Rebels (CBSSN), at the Wolf Pack (CBSSN), at the Lobos (CBSSN) and at GCU (CW) will be carried throughout the country.
One additional game could be added at an away or neutral site.
The Miners have a completely-revamped 15-man roster compiled by Golding and staff. UTEP has plenty of size (five players listed at 6-10 or more) and a quality backcourt too.
There are proven players from the high major, mid major and international levels, in addition to some highly-touted high school recruits.
DI transfers include 6-10 forward Reid Cason (East Carolina), 6-8 forward Augusto Cassia (Ole Miss), 6-6 guard/forward Ryan Jackson Jr. (William & Mary), 6-8 forward Mikey Kelvin III (FIU), 6-5 guard Reese Miller (William & Mary), 6-7 guard Leif Moeller (Evansville), 6-11 forward Janusz Ratowski (Stetson) and 6-3 guard Jace Whiting (Weber State). Second-team All-American 6-5 guard Cam McDaniels (John A. Logan College) is coming out of the JUCO ranks while 6-8 forward Ivan Perasovic (Croatia) and 6-10 forward Youssouf Traore (Mali) venture from international action. There are four additions from the prep ranks, including a trio (6-5 four-star guard Donovan Criss, 6-11 three-star center Delano Tarpley and 6-6 three-star forward Isaiah Ward) that led San Antonio’s William J. Brennan HS to runner-up honors at the 2026 state tournament. The Miners also inked 6-7 three-star guard Kaleb Jackson (Kingdom Collegiate).
UTEP Basketball season tickets are on sale now by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
2026-27 UTEP Men’s Basketball Schedule
| Date | Day | Opponent | Time | Location |
| Nov. 2 | Monday | vs. Northern Kentucky+ | 12 p.m. | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| Nov. 8 | Sunday | UIW | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Nov. 12 | Thursday | NM State | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Nov. 15 | Sunday | Florida A&M | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Nov. 19 | Thursday | at NM State | TBA | Las Cruces, N.M. |
| Nov. 24 | Tuesday | College of Charleston% | 6:30 p.m. MT | Puerto Aventuras, Mexico |
| Nov. 25 | Wednesday | Eastern Michigan/Kennesaw State% | TBA | Puerto Aventuras, Mexico |
| Dec. 1 | Tuesday | at Colorado | TBA | Boulder, Colo. |
| Dec. 5 | Saturday | North Dakota% | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Dec. 16 | Wednesday | UTPB | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Dec. 20 | Sunday | Kent State vs. Omaha$ | 5 p.m. | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Dec. 20 | Sunday | Howard$ | 7 p.m. | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Dec. 21 | Monday | Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2$ | 5 p.m. | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Dec. 21 | Monday | Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2$ | 7 p.m. | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Dec. 29 | Tuesday | NM Highlands | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Jan. 2 | Saturday | New Mexico* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Jan. 5 | Tuesday | Wyoming* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Jan. 9 | Saturday | at Air Force* | TBA | USAF Academy, Colo. |
| Jan. 12 | Tuesday | Nevada* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Jan. 15 | Friday | at UNLV* | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Jan. 19 | Tuesday | at Wyoming* | TBA | Laramie, Wyo. |
| Jan. 23 | Saturday | UC Davis* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Jan. 26 | Tuesday | at Nevada* | TBA | Reno, Nev. |
| Jan. 30 | Saturday | San Jose State* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Feb. 6 | Saturday | at Hawai’i* | TBA | Honolulu, Hawai’i |
| Feb. 9 | Tuesday | Grand Canyon* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Feb. 13 | Saturday | at UC Davis* | TBA | Davis, Calif. |
| Feb. 17 | Wednesday | UNLV* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| Feb. 20 | Saturday | at New Mexico* | TBA | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Feb. 23 | Tuesday | at Grand Canyon* | TBA | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Feb. 27 | Saturday | Hawai’i* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| March 2 | Tuesday | at San Jose State* | TBA | San Jose, Calif. |
| March 6 | Saturday | Air Force* | TBA | GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center |
| March 10-13 | Multiple | Mountain West Championships | TBA | Las Vegas, Nev. |
Home Games in Bold
+ Field of 68 24-Hour Opening Marathon
% Cancun Challenge
$ WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational
* Mountain West game
