UTEP Miners Outpaced by Panthers in High-Scoring Affair

The UTEP Miners faced a challenging contest against the Florida International Panthers, concluding with a score of 83-62. The Miners now stand with an overall record of 0-1, while the Panthers advance to 1-0.

The game, held at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, saw the home team put up a valiant effort but ultimately fall short against their opponents. The UTEP Miners opened strong, matching the Panthers point-for-point in the first quarter at 17 each. However, as play progressed, they struggled to keep pace with Florida International's offensive surge.

The Panthers demonstrated remarkable shooting accuracy throughout the game with a field goal percentage of fifty-three and were particularly lethal from beyond the arc where they shot fifty-two percent. Their scoring was also bolstered by twenty-six points off turnovers and twenty-eight points in paint.

In contrast, despite commendable efforts on defense that resulted in twelve steals and two blocks for UTEP, offensive production lagged behind their counterparts. The Miners shot forty percent from field goals and twenty-one percent from three-point range which contributed to their inability to close down on Florida International's lead.

One notable aspect for UTEP was their free throw performance where they capitalized on seventy-seven percent of their opportunities compared to seventy-one percent by FIU. Additionally, fast break plays were an area where UTEP excelled slightly over FIU with thirteen fast break points versus nine for FIU.

Despite these efforts by UTEP players who fought tirelessly until the last buzzer sounded – exemplified by outscoring FIU off turnovers (20) – it wasn't enough to secure victory this time around.

Looking ahead after this tough loss at home, fans can catch the next action-packed game when The University of Texas at El Paso Miners travel to face Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Murphy Athletic Center in Murfreesboro on January 18th at 5:00 PM Central Time. This upcoming match will be broadcasted live for supporters eager to see how their team will bounce back after today's setback.