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And then there was one ... one game that can set UTEP up for the best of possible scenarios in the Conference USA Tournament, one game that could tumble the Miners into the worst of conference tournament scenarios, the four games in four nights scenario.

UTEP and SMU will duel today, a 1 p.m. MST showdown in Dallas, in colorful old Moody Coliseum.

If UTEP wins, the Miners can do no worse than a tie for second. If SMU wins and Memphis and Southern Miss both lose, the Mustangs could slip in for that coveted fourth spot. The top four finishers in the regular season get a first-round bye in next week's Conference USA Tournament in the Don Haskins Center.