The UTSA Roadrunners and the UTEP Miners square off in the 2011-12 season opener for both squads Friday night in the Don. UTEP leads the all time series with UTSA 4-0, including 3-0 here in El Paso. The Miners also have an overall mark of 29-2 against Southland Conference opponents, including a 24-1 record here in El Paso. The two schools last faced each other in the 1998-99 season, and the Miners prevailed 78-61.
UTSA returns 4 of 5 starters from a team that went 20-14, and participated in the NCAA tournament last season. Only missing from the Roadrunners' starting line up is leading scorer Devin Gibson who exhausted his eligibility. The Miners return 3 players from last year's 25 win team, only two of which are healthy. Ten new faces don the Miner Orange, including 8 freshman. Its a matchup of youth vs. experience. Should be a fun one.