EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The UTEP men’s basketball team were edged out by Middle Tennessee in its final home game of the season in overtime, 76-75, on Saturday, March 1.
Trailing 4-0 to open the game, UTEP would take the lead on a Elijah Jones jumper 6 minutes into the game and maintain a gain over its opponent until the final minute of regular time. A 3-pointer by MTSU’s Jlynn Counter with 1:25 to go in the game would tie the game at 66, forcing overtime.
Late in the extra period, UTEP led 75-74 with 20 seconds on the clock. The Blue Raider’s Kamari Land would finish off the glass with 5 seconds to go to seal the one-point victory for MTSU.
UTEP finished shooting 42% from the field and 22% from the 3-point line. The Blue Raiders mirrored similar numbers with 38% from the floor and 22% at a distance.
The Miners were paced by Kevin Kalu with a career-high 26 points and nine rebounds. Ahamad Bynum finished with double figures, collecting 16 points and five rebounds, followed by Otis Frazier III with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
UTEP lost to MTSU on Senior Day where the Miners honored Kalu, Frazier III and Baylor Hebb in a pregame ceremony. This was the Miners’ fourth straight loss.
The team will look to get back into the win column in its final road trip of the season starting with Sam Houston on Thursday, March 6.
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