UTEP vs. FIU: Three Questions Before Tipoff
Both contests have a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Haskins Center.
Who: UTEP (8-10, 4-8 C-USA) vs. Florida International (9-12, 2-10 C-USA)
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. MT
Where: Don Haskins Center, El Paso
Watch: ESPN+
Ruben R Ramirez
What about the elephant in the room?
As ABC-7 s Erik Elken reported on Thursday, UTEP head coach Rodney Terry received a one-year contract extension that will pin him as the Miners head coach until the 2023-24 season. This was uncovered after our news partners were seeking clarification on the salary reductions this year by UTEP s two highest paid coaches Terry and football coach Dana Dimel. Both Terry ($200,000) and Dimel ($71,000) will take a combined $271,000 salary reduction this year as a result of budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turns out the extension moved forward in October, yet Director of Athletics Jim Senter never released anything to the public.
Florida International (9-12, 2-10) vs. UTEP (8-10, 4-8) Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: UTEP looks for its fourth straight win over Florida.
The Miners needed a split against a quality team but fell short of the feat, as UAB dominated the slumping road team on Saturday (75-60) to sweep the series.
Though the game was in the balance at the 14:07 mark where UAB led 44-43, the Blazers broke away on a 16-6 run and never looked back, winning this game by 15. UAB has won seven straight home games (13-1 home record) while the Miners have now dropped five consecutive road contests.
The Miners offensive start was much better than their poor effort on Friday. They bettered their 15% 3-point shooting night on Friday by hitting 7-of-12 in the first half, including a perfect 3-of-3 first half performance from 3-point range by Kristian Sjolund.
In what was largely a defensive battle, UAB held onto a lead for the entire game and downed UTEP on Friday night, 63-51. The Miners have now lost four consecutive road games and they are currently 2-7 away from the Haskins Center.
The Blazers dominated their road foes inside the paint, winning the rebounding margin 43-32 while scoring 42 points in the paint. UTEP continued to fall in their shooting woes, hitting just 34% from the floor (15% 3-point FG). UAB has now won six straight home games and boasts a 12-1 record at Bartow Arena.
Senior forward Bryson Williams (19 points, eight rebounds) and junior guard Souley Boum (22 points) combined for all but 10 of UTEP s total points scored. No other Miner scored more than five points.
UTEP vs. UAB: 3 Things You Should Know for the Series
Following a series split against UTSA, the Miners will look to face one of its toughest tasks yet in C-USA as they travel to face UAB on Friday and Saturday.
Friday s game tips off at 5:30 p.m., while Saturday s game is set for 3 p.m. in Bartow Arena.
Who: UTEP (8-8, 4-6 C-USA) at UAB (14-2, 7-1 C-USA)
When: Friday, 5:30 p.m. MT
Where: Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Ala.
Watch: ESPN+
Attacking the zone
UAB boasts an extremely tough defense, alternating between different zone setups and throwing in the press as well. They enter the series with the best record in the league, having won four straight games.