ALBUQUERQUE — UTEP’s visit to New Mexico was a men’s charity basketball game for a great cause, with proceeds going to the UNM Children’s Hospital.
But exhibition or not, the longtime rivals, who had played 147 times prior (the Lobos had 78 wins, UTEP 69), were playing to win and nothing was going to be easy for the winner.
In a physical, hard-played game, the Lobos managed to hold off a late charge by UTEP to win, 74-70, in front of 10,359 fans at the famous Pit.
The Miners, who lost in last year’s Conference USA Tournament title game and who returned nine letterwinners joined by a strong recruiting class, wanted a strong showing against a good UNM team. The Lobos were an NCAA Tournament team last season and were picked to finish second in the Mountain West in the league’s preseason poll.
The positives for UTEP
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The aggressive Miners defense forced 25 turnovers.
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Senior Otis Frazier III scored all 21 of his points in the second half and made 8 of 14 shots and 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
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The Miners were down 11-0 to start the game and 66-52 with five minutes left but both times rallied to get back into the game. The Miners pulled within 72-70 on a Devon Barnes layup, but the Lobos held on for the win.
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Eleven players scored for UTEP. Post player Derick Hamilton scored 10 points on five of seven shooting and both Barnes and David Terrell, Jr. had four assists each.
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Freshman guard KJ Thomas played well in 15 minutes off the bench with four points, an assist and zero turnovers.
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The Miners defended the 3-point line well as the Lobos were just 5 of 23.
What the Miners need to get better at
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UTEP was just 7 of 24 from 3-point range and as the season goes on, that percentage will need to get better.
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The Miners were outrebounded 56-30 and gave up 19 offensive rebounds.
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The Miners committed 27 fouls and were outscored 27-11 at the free throw line.
What UTEP coach Joe Golding said
“It was a great atmosphere. We played a really good team. We got punched in the face to start the game and got punched again in the second half but came back and fought hard,” Golding said.
“We had lots of positives we can build on. Our defense forced 25 turnovers. We have things we need to work on but this was a step forward for us.”
What UTEP players Otis Frazier III and Derick Hamilton said
“This was a big game for us. We showed a great deal of effort and toughness to get back into the game,” Frazier III said. “Our defense is part of culture, we played hard and we’ll grow from this.”
Added Hamilton: “We did a lot of good things. My teammates did a good job of finding me and helping me get opportunities to score.”
The past and future
The two teams were rivals for many years in the WAC before New Mexico left for the Mountain West and UTEP eventually joined Conference USA. But recently, with all the conference realignment, the Lobos and Miners will be league rivals again in two years.
Lobos coach praises game, UTEP
New Mexico coach Richard Pitino, whose team was led by Donovan Dent’s 19 points, said Monday’s was great for both programs to get ready for the regular season. He was impressed with the Miners’ aggressiveness on defense and was happy to get in a game against a Division 1 team, which could challenge for a league championship for the second straight year.
“Both teams got better, no doubt about it, way better,” Pitino said. “There’s no disrespect to playing a D-III, but you know, those were two Division I teams battling it out. They’re not afraid to be aggressive (and) turn us over.
“So turnovers were a lot to do with our carelessness as well as just their unrelenting commitment to being aggressive and trying to turn us over as best they can.”
Up next
The Miners open the regular season Nov. 4 vs. Sul Ross at the Don Haskins Center. New Mexico is at home next Monday vs. Nicholls State.
More: UTEP Hoops News ‘More than a basketball game’: UTEP visits Mexico’s cathedral of basketball
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP’s defense forces 25 turnovers in close loss at New Mexico
