EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – UTEP was able to respond to its 28-point loss it suffered against New Mexico State just a month ago, coming out on top with the win over its I-10 rivals in the second edition of the series Saturday night.
Miners were able to walk with the narrow 66-63 win over the Aggies at the Pan American Center. The two programs split the Battle of I-10 series in the regular season with one a piece, each taking the victory on its opponents home court.
Getting its first bucket :42 seconds into the competition, the Miners would never trail for the remaining 39:18 minutes of game time. Just seven minutes into play UTEP would put NMSU into a nine-point hole which the Aggies would never fully be able to climb out of.
Miners early push would be led by Otis Frazier the III collecting eight points during that point in time, closing out the day with 16. The forward was only second to that of Devon Barnes who recorded a team high 18, the guards second best performance this year.
Giving up 31.6% from the 3-point line last time around the Miners were able to hold the Aggies to just 23.3% in game two of the series – a huge blow for NM State and its strongest aspect of the game. Another area UTEP was able to improve upon this time around was off the glass outrebounding NMSU, 36-34.
Top scorers for NMSU would include Emmanuel Tshimanga, the first time this season the big man would knockdown double-digit points at 13. Christian Cook would be the only other player to exceed single-digits on the night with 13. Meaning that this would be just the second time in the past 10 game Peter Filipovity would not be amongst the teams key contributors.
Filipovity was held to a season three points and two boards, both season lows for the forward.
UTEP will improve to a 6-4 Conference USA record sitting in 4th in its conference, while NMSU will drop to 5-5 finding themselves three spots below in 7th.
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