Can UTEP Miners Maintain Momentum After Edging Out Cougars?
The University of Texas at El Paso Miners secured a hard-fought victory over the Chicago State Cougars with a final score of 74-69. The Miners now boast an impressive record, while the Cougars are left to reflect on what might have been. The game, held at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, saw both teams locked in a battle that featured 15 lead changes and was tied nine times.
The UTEP Miners showcased their defensive capabilities by amassing 15 steals and blocking two shots. This defensive pressure contributed to the Cougars turning over the ball 27 times, which proved costly for them. On offense, UTEP capitalized on these turnovers by scoring 18 points off them and added another 12 from fast breaks. Their shooting was also noteworthy; they made seven out of twelve three-point attempts, translating to an impressive three-point percentage of 58 percent.
UTEP's offensive rebounds were limited to five but they managed to convert these into eight second-chance points. Their overall field goal percentage stood at a solid 52 percent with successful execution inside the paint where they scored 32 points. Free throws were another area where UTEP had an advantage; although their free throw percentage was lower than that of Chicago State at only around two-thirds success rate (65 percent), they still managed to make more free throws than their opponents.
On the other side, despite losing, Chicago State put up significant numbers as well. They shot efficiently from two-point range with a high success rate of nearly three-fifths (59 percent) and maintained strong field goal shooting across the board with an overall percentage of around half (56 percent). From beyond the arc, they hit almost half their attempts (46 percent). However, it wasn't enough to overcome their turnover woes or match UTEP's scoring bursts throughout the game.
As for individual performances from both sides – while specific player statistics are not provided – it is clear that team efforts dictated this closely contested matchup where every possession mattered.
Looking ahead for fans of The University of Texas at El Paso Miners: The team will be traveling to face off against Florida International Panthers at Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami on January 13th at approximately six o'clock in the evening Eastern Time Zone. This upcoming game will be available for viewing on ESPN+, ensuring fans won't miss any action as UTEP looks forward to continuing its winning ways on foreign grounds.