HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (KVIA) — Trailing by 12 (54-42) with 10:33 to play within the contest, the UTEP males’s basketball crew rattled off a game-closing 24-3 surge to rally previous Liberty, 66-57, inside Propst Enviornment on the Von Braun Middle within the quarterfinals of the Convention USA Championships Thursday.
It marks the largest comeback for the Miners on the CUSA Event since becoming a member of the league in 2005-06. They beforehand rallied again from eight factors on three completely different events in an eventual 67-62 OT victory towards Houston on March 7, 2012. Moreover, it’s the largest rally this 12 months for the Orange and Blue. UTEP fought again from seven-point deficits to win towards each Wyoming (Dec. 21) and Cal (Nov. 20)
The fifth-seeded Miners (17-15), winners of 4 in a row, march into the semifinals of the league’s pinnacle occasion for the primary time since 2017 the place they are going to problem top-seed and CUSA regular-season champion Sam Houston (21-11) at 10:30 a.m. MT/11:30 a.m. CT Friday. The Bearkats are pink scorching, having gained eight straight. That included blasting No. 9 seed FIU, 78-59, within the quarterfinals for the CUSA Event on March 13.
The sport shall be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports activities Community. It should additionally air on “The House of UTEP Basketball” 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners App with Jon Teicher (forty third 12 months) and Steve Yellen(twenty first 12 months) on the decision.
UTEP’s protection locked up Liberty late, holding it to 3 factors over the ultimate 10:33 on 1-9 taking pictures. The Miners additionally harassed the Flames into committing six of their 15 turnovers within the contest throughout that sequence to assist gasoline the rally. Total, Liberty completed at 44.0 p.c (22-50) from the ground, together with 45.0 p.c (9-20) on 3-point tosses. The Flames, nonetheless, have been simply 2-7 from distance over the ultimate 20 minutes.
Zid Powell (13 factors), 2024 CUSA Freshman of the 12 months David Terrell Jr. (12 factors), All-CUSA Second-Group honoree Tae Hardy (11 factors) and Derick Hamilton (10 factors) all reached double figures in scoring to cleared the path offensively for UTEP. Powell additionally paced the crew in rebounds (seven) and assists (4) to turn out to be the primary Miner to guide the crew in factors, boards and helpers since Shamar Givance did so at FIU on Feb. 23, 2023.
Camper Jr. added seven factors whereas Kevin Kalu (5 factors, three boards) and Otis Frazier III (4 factors, 5 rebounds) made impacts as nicely. Calvin Solomon supplied high quality minutes off the bench with two factors, three rebounds and a pair of steals on the best way to a +14 within the contest, which trailed solely Terrell Jr.’s (+19) within the class. Total, UTEP recorded 11 steals within the contest to safe its twenty first recreation this 12 months with 10 or extra thefts.
The Miners linked on 47.9 p.c (23-48) from the ground, regardless of ending 1-9 (11.1) from beyond-the-arc. They compensated for it by profitable the boards (33-26) and connecting on 19-22 on the charity stripe for a season-high readout of 86.4 p.c on the line.
Liberty was led by Kaden Metheny’s 20 factors, aided by six triples. Kyle Rode (10 factors) and Joseph Venzant (10 factors) additionally reached double digits for the Flames.
“It was a back-and-forth recreation. They made a run within the second half to go up 12, and we made an adjustment to go small,” UTEP head coach Joe Golding mentioned. “Our guys purchased in. We received some steals and turnovers shortly, received the lead down to 6 (as a part of the 24-3 run). I’m simply actually happy with our guys for dealing with adversity. I’m happy with the toughness. This crew has been resilient all 12 months. They’ve been powerful all 12 months. I’m simply actually, actually proud that they have been capable of present that tonight.”
Camper Jr. received the Miners on the board first by burying a triple earlier than the Flames answered with a 9-0 run that was wrapped across the media break. Camper Jr. ended the surge with a lay-up after he beat the protection down the courtroom and Hardy discovered him on their lonesome. That was adopted by a straightforward rating from Kalu on a contact cross from Solomon. Two Hamilton free threes put the ending touches on a mini 6-0 push as UTEP pulled even, 9-9 (12:35, 1H).
After an old style 3-point play from Liberty, consecutive baskets by Hamilton put the Orange and Blue again in entrance by one (13-12, 10:51, 1H). The primary bucket got here after he outworked the defenders to snag an offensive board and return up with it.
UTEP attacked the ring on the following couple of possessions, leading to free throws by Terrell Jr. and Powell to stretch the differential to 5 (17-12, 7:54, 1H) and make the Miner run eight straight. Out of the media break, a lob from Powell discovered Frazier III arrange the alley-oop and cap a 10-0 surge.
The Flames lastly received issues going on the different finish of the courtroom, heating up from distance because of Metheny. Liberty’s subsequent 4 baskets got here from beyond-the-arc, permitting it to tug again in entrance by one. On the following possession, Hardy light away for the rating over a taller defender. It began a mini 6-0 push, which Terrell Jr. ended with a transition lay-up. The Flames struck again with two extra triples, however UTEP nonetheless carried a lead (31-30) into the locker room.
Liberty bolted out with a 9-3 sequence to begin the second stanza, placing the Miners down 5 (39-34,17:25, 2H) and forcing Golding to name timeout. The Miners arrange Hardy on the block to again down the smaller guard out of the break. He was fouled and hit each free throws to cease the mini run and make it a one-possession affair (39-36, 16:46, 2H). Powell banked house a shot to chop the deficit to at least one earlier than Liberty scored on its subsequent two journeys to reinstate a five-point benefit (43-38, 15:16, 2H).
The Flames finally nudged it to 12 (54-42, 10:33, 2H), however the Miners would management the competition from that time on. It was a 10-point deficit (55-45, 9:24, 2H) earlier than UTEP peeled off six straight factors. Powell began issues with a nifty tip-in off a miss. The Miners then compelled consecutive turnovers, which led to transition lay-ups for Terrell Jr. to whittle the Flames’ lead all the way down to 4 (54-50, 7:17, 2H) on the media break.
After UTEP compelled one other turnover, Hardy was fouled. He hit 1-2, bringing the Miners inside three (54-51,6:28, 2H). A sensational spin transfer from Hardy on the following journey prolonged the run to 11-0 and made it a one-point recreation (54-53, 5:28, 2H). Liberty received a lay-up to briefly cease the run and return up by three, however Terrell Jr. answered instantly with a driving lay-up that held on the rim earlier than dropping via.
Solomon used good positioning to take a cost and supply one other cease on Liberty’s subsequent offensive possession. The Miners lastly pulled forward for the primary time because it was 34-33 after two free throws by Powell. The Orange and Blue then received a turnaround rating within the put up by Camper Jr., permitting them to be up by three (59-56) with just below two minutes to play.
The Miners got here up with one other key cease and have been rewarded the ball after a evaluate. Powell was fouled immediately, and he nailed each to maneuver the differential to 5 (61-56, 34 seconds). UTEP fouled as Liberty raced up the courtroom, however the Flames hit simply 1-2 to keep up a four-point cushion (61-57, 29 seconds). Powell break up a pair of free throws earlier than forcing a turnover by Liberty to get possession again with 23 ticks on the clock.
Horton III, who had taken 12 free throws all 12 months, hit a pair after a foul to stretch to result in seven and seal Liberty’s destiny. A strong slam by Solomon as time was winding down put the icing on the cake.
UTEP will now have the very fast turnaround, with the Miners vying to knock off the No. 1 seed Sam Houston. The Bearkats claimed each contests throughout the common season. They held off a late rally try to slide previous UTEP, 60-56, on Jan. 27. UTEP was clipped by Sam Houston, 65-54, on Feb. 24, but it surely has gained 4 straight since.