EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP men’s basketball team will make history by playing a game in Mexico for the first time. The Miners will face Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (UACH) in an exhibition contest on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 pm in the 9,000-seat Gimnasio Universitario Manuel Bernardo Aguirre. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
NCAA rules mandate that preseason exhibition games be contested on the campuses of member institutions. A waiver was approved by the NCAA, enabling the Miners to play a game in Chihuahua in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the founding of UACH. The strategic partnership between UTEP and UACH was also taken into consideration, including hybrid courses, shared research initiatives, and shared programming.
“The upcoming game between UTEP and UACH will be another great chapter in UTEP’s history of friendship with universities in Chihuahua,” UTEP President Heather Wilson said. “Chihuahua es una bella ciudad y esperamos un gran partido contra nuestros amigos de la UACH. ¡Vamos Mineros!”
“It is a historic decision by the NCAA and a historic opportunity for our basketball team,” UTEP head coach Joe Golding said. “To not only have the opportunity to play a game in Chihuahua, but at the famed Gimnasio Universitario Manuel Bernardo Aguirre — the home of the Dorados de Chihuahua pro team — is a tremendous blessing. We look forward to an enriching cultural experience, the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the storied past of Mexican basketball, and a tremendous game!”
“It gives the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH) great pleasure to welcome the UTEP Miners,” UACH President Luis Alfonso Rivera said. “We extend our warmest welcome to Chihuahua, a city known not only for its rich history and culture, but also as the cathedral of basketball in Mexico. The upcoming match between UTEP and UACH will be more than just a basketball game; it is an opportunity to strengthen ties and make history. Welcome UTEP!”
“I thank the NCAA for granting this waiver, and the administration at UACH for making this unprecedented event possible,” UTEP Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Senter said. “I also applaud coach Golding and the basketball staff for embracing the UTEP mission and taking the Miners to Mexico twice during the month of October in the spirit of international competition. It promises to be a very special and unforgettable experience for everyone.”
“UTEP has been strengthening its relationships with universities in Mexico and Chihuahua. This event is a great milestone and truly highlights the extensive collaboration between UTEP and the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (UACH),” UTEP Assistant Vice President for International Relations Arturo Barrio said. “This year, UACH is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and we are thankful that UTEP will participate in this significant celebration for our region. Congratulations to everyone involved in our athletic department and our basketball team who made this possible.”
The Miners posted 18 wins last season, making a spectacular run to the championship game of the Conference USA Tournament. All eight returning scholarship players are in the fold for the 2024-25 campaign, including three starters. UTEP men’s basketball season tickets are on sale now by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
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