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The UTEP Miners (11-8, 4-2 CUSA) will take on the Tulane Green Wave (14-7, 2-4 CUSA) tonight at the Don Haskins Center. This is the second match up between the two schools this season. The Miners will face Rice on February 6th at the Don Haskins Center.
This will be 12th meeting overall and the second this season vs. Tulane. The Miners are 8-3 all time vs. Tulane and have won seven of the last ten games. UTEP defeated Tulane by a final of 66-57 back on January 9th 2013 for their first win of the CUSA season. Konner Tucker scored 14 points and Julian Washburn had 12 points.
Since their last match up, Tulane has gone 2-3 in conference play. Both of Tulane's wins came at home against Tulsa and Rice. Two of their three of their losses were away against SMU, Memphis and the UCF game was at home. The most recent match up for the Green Wave was against UCF. Tulane lost by a final of 58 to 50. Josh Davis scored 18 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 6 blocks. The only other Tulane player in double figures was Ricky Tarrant who had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.
Tulane is currently ranked 228th in the nation in points per game at 65.4. The Green Wave are currently ranked 121st in rebounds per game at 36.3 and 316th in the nation in assists at 10.4 per game. Tulane shoots 40.7 percent from the field which ranks them 290th in the nation.
The Miners are coming off a disappointing overtime loss to UAB on Wednesday by a final of 78-72. The Miners at one point in the game had a 15 point lead only to see it diminish in the final seconds. UTEP started out flat in the overtime period and that lead to the Miners loss. The big key to the Miners loss was horrible free throw shooting. Making those shots would have been the difference between a win and a loss. The Miners had three players in double figures against the Blazers. McKenzie Moore led the way with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Konner Tucker had 16 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Julian Washburn had 12 points and 5 rebounds.
The Miners are currently ranked 260th in the nation in scoring at 63.9 points per game. UTEP ranks 299th in the nation in rebounding (31.7) and 181st in assists (12.7) per game. The Miners are currently ranked 104th in the nation in field goal percentage at 44.8 percent per game.
Statistical Leaders:
UTEP Miners:
Points- Julian Washburn (12.2), Konner Tucker (12.0), John Bohannon (10.7)
Rebounds- John Bohannon (6.5), McKenzie Moore (5.0), Cedrick Lang (4.5)
Assists: Jacques Streeter (5.0), Julian Washburn (1.7), Konner Tucker (1.6)
Tulane Green Wave:
Points- Josh Davis (17.5), Ricky Tarrant (15.4), Jordan Callahan (10.8)
Rebounds- Josh Davis (10.2), Trevante Drye (6.1), Kendall Timmons (4.5)
Assists- Ricky Tarrant (2.8), Josh Davis (2.1), Kendall Timmons (2.0)
Final thoughts: The truth is that after that loss to UAB on Wednesday, we might have punched our ticket to an NIT invitation. While we still have a little over a month left in the regular season, history has shown us that bad losses at any time can prove to be resume killers. Yes UTEP has an awesome SOS but when it comes to the easy games, we need to win them. UTEP need the city and the fans behind them tonight to win this game. They need the spark of a sixth man on the court. UTEP has only lost once at home this season and i believe that we can win out at home. Keys to victory tonight: Make the easy baskets and free throws.
Prediction: Miners 71, Green Wave 65