UTEP Handles Nevada Big Men

[50's PONY]

http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/s ... 1472.shtml
Sports Thursday, January 13, 2005
UTEP 83 -- Nevada 80 (OT)
Miners take nailbiter
UTEP edges Nevada in OT

Bill Knight
El Paso Times

Scott Sady / Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal
Nevada's Mo Charlo (2) and Chad Bell battled to get the rebound against UTEP on Wednesday in Reno, Nev. The Miners edged the Wolfpack 83-80 in overtime.


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RENO, Nev. -- Drama dripped from every inch of the Lawlor Center as UTEP and Nevada dueled to a finish. It was never obvious -- never, never clear -- who would finish this game with smiles.

In the end, as minutes turned to seconds and seconds rapidly slipped off the Lawlor Center scoreboard clock, UTEP simply found a way -- or ways.

Senior Filiberto Rivera hit a closely guarded clutch 3 pointer to send this ulcer-causing, nerve-racking game into overtime. Then senior Omar Thomas made acrobatic move on top of acrobatic move to carry the Miners during that overtime.

And, finally, junior Miguel Ayala stepped to the free throw line with just 25.1 seconds remaining in overtime. The crowd of 8,839 roared, the ESPN2 TV cameras watched and Ayala ignored it all. Swish. Swish.

UTEP won this highly entertaining contest 83-80.

The Miners extended their win streak to 10, improved their overall record to 14-2 and, most importantly, kept their Western Athletic Conference mark spotless at 4-0.

Nevada, seeing its seven game win streak skid to a halt, is now 11-4 overall and 4-1 in the WAC.

Thomas was again all-world, finishing with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Rivera had 23 points, six assists. John Tofi had 12 points, nine rebounds.

It was a game of streaks, then a game of drama.

UTEP sped away to a whopping 24 point lead in the first half. Nevada roared back to take a seven point lead at 54-47. UTEP came back to tie everything at 54-54. Then it was a duel, a dramatic duel.

The Wolf Pack looked as if they were going to close things out in regulation, owning a 70-67 lead. The Miners were trying to set up Ayala for a trifecta, but it did not work. No matter. Rivera went up, defender in his face, and buried the tying 3 pointer with three seconds remaining.

Grinning, Rivera said, "Honestly, I thought it was going in because I was feeling it tonight. Thank God it went in."

Nevada's standout Nick Fazekas saw it differently: "We just wanted to go out there and defend and Rivera ended up making a pretty lucky shot. It might have been better to foul him. But we let him shootthe three and he got lucky."

Sadler, who has seen Rivera make miracles on a regular basis, explained the play: "We were trying to run a play called inside fade. We wanted to set Miguel up, but Gio (St. Amant) felt he couldn't get the pass to Miguel. Fili just made a tough shot."

Rivera got them to overtime, then Thomas took over. He finished with those 28 points, pulling the Miners along behind him. Then it came to Ayala.

The junior college transfer made both free throws, giving UTEP its 83-80 lead. Nevada pushed the ball into the front court, called time out with 21.8 seconds left. The Wolf Pack was trying to get the ball to Fazekas, but the UTEP defense (especially John Tofi, who was guarding Fazekas) denied. The ball went bouncing out of bounds with 9.1 seconds and the Wolf Pack had one more try -- or, really, two more.

Fazekas got free for a long three, but the ball skipped off the front rim. Seth Taylor threw up a desperate try from the corner. No.

"When they went on a run at the end of the first half and most of the

early second half, we stayed confident," said Tofi, who played the final five minutes of regulation and all five minutes of overtime with four fouls. "Coach never put any pressure on us. He never said we have to have this stop. He said for us to stay confident, go out and have fun and play defense."

The Miners did that, rallied and scored this dramatic victory.

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


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[Hoop Fan]

I'm starting to agree with those calling Fazekas a whiner. Calling Uteps winning shot lucky in the press is pretty weak.

[LA_Mustang]

Gillispie left UTEP in pretty good shape. They will win the WAC.

BTW, did you see that A&M beat UT last night....and they were led by two DISD products, including sophomore Acie Law with 24pts.

[Pony_Fan]

I'm starting to agree with those calling Fazekas a whiner. Calling Uteps winning shot lucky in the press is pretty weak.

I agree. He is pretty darn good but is a total P*ssy. Reminda me of a little Bradley...but better of course.

[ALEX LIFESON]

I watched that game, something like 19 lead changes in the second half. what a game, and lot's of fun!