UTEP Holds Off KSU

After leading 41-37 at the half, a pair of Simeon Cottle free throws put KSU up 54-47. But a 9-0 run put UTEP back in front 56-54.

Andre Weir tied the game on the next play at the 9:42 mark, but back-to-back baskets would give the Miners the lead for good, but KSU stayed within two possessions the rest of the way. Down 70-65, Jamil Miller scored on a layup while Braedan Lue, who finished with 14 points, added a dunk to make it a one-point game with 1:23 to play.

Both teams traded baskets on the next two possessions, and with UTEP holding a 72-71 lead, the Miners grabbed an offensive rebound and hit one of two at the line with 13 seconds left. KSU came down with one more chance but the Cottle, who led all scorers with 19 points including four 3-pointers, was forced to rush a 3-point attempt that would not fall.

UTEP won the game at the free-throw line, connecting on 10-of-12 for 83.3%. The Owls made just 8-of-12, including missing a pair of crucial free throws late in the contest.

KSU held an early 10-5 lead before the Miners reeled off 16 of the game's next 19 points. They took their largest lead of the game, 27-18, on a pair of free throws with 6:52 to play.

The Owls then found their offense, scoring 23 points over the final 6:34 of the half. A 3-pointer Cottle, his third in a 3-minute span, followed by a Jamil Miller three-point play put the Owls up 37-30 with 1:55 on the clock Weir scored at the buzzer for a 41-37 edge going into halftime.

 Miller finished with 12 points and six rebounds, and Weir added 10. Otis Frazier led UTEP with 17 points, while Kevin Kalu finished with 14.