El Paso Paper

[50's PONY]

Sports Friday, January 30, 2004
UTEP men's basketball: UTEP 88 -- SMU 62
Miners romp UTEP takes control early in rout of SMU Mustangs

Bill Knight
El Paso Times

Photos by Mark Lambie / El Paso Times
UTEP's Jason Williams drove around SMU's Patrick Simpson during the Miners' 88-62 win over the Mustangs.


The Burrito Bomber was back in the Don Haskins Center on Thursday night after a one-game suspension.


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Next up

Who: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at UTEP Miners in a men's WAC basketball game.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Don Haskins Center.

Tickets: $6, $12, $15, $18.

On radio: KROD-AM (600) in English; KSVE-AM (1150) in Spanish.

Information: 747-5234.


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The score glared down from all the scoreboards in the Don Haskins Center: UTEP 12, SMU 12.

Then, presto, it was UTEP 36, SMU 16; and then, presto, it was fun and games and giggles for the Miners and their 10,276 fans Thursday night. When the fun skidded to a halt, it was UTEP 88, SMU 62.

"We made some shots, we got some defensive rebounds -- which is something we always struggle with," Miner sophomore Jason Williams said. "So we were able to get out and run and Fili (Filiberto Rivera) hit the open man."

And the Miners moved to 14-4 on the season, 5-3 in an ever-tightening Western Athletic Conference race. SMU coach Mike Dement, who saw his team dip to 8-10 overall and 2-6 in the WAC after such a good start, still was talking to his team in the locker room more than 30 minutes after the game.

"We came out really energized, as we usually do," UTEP coach Billy Gillispie said. "We got our hands on some loose balls and we executed very, very well on offense. I would rather we be a little more consistent on defense, but this was a good win for us."

UTEP mixed in a smattering of zone with its usual man-to-man and, despite a lapse here and there, made it difficult for the Mustangs to find any easy looks.

Williams had a King Kong game, scoring 23 points, pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds and dishing out a game-high six assists. Omar Thomas had his usual slashing attacks at the basket and scored 22 points. John Tofi also had a fine night, scoring 13 points, grabbing seven rebounds and handing out a trio of assists.

"Every game we try to protect our home court," Thomas said. "We had a great week of practice, good mental preparation and just came out and played."

UTEP led this one 48-31 at the intermission and, though outrebounded, had a special stat -- 13 assists, just three turnovers; and seven steals to none for the Mustangs.


Bill Knight may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6171.


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