After several games of looking like they were getting closer to turning a corner, the UTEP men’s basketball team took a step back in its Conference USA opener, falling behind Louisiana Tech by 20 points in the first half before eventually losing 75-63.
UTEP did close the first half on a 13-3 run to get within 10 points at intermission and got as close as six points early in the second half, but couldn’t overcome a 37% shooting night and 18-5 deficit in points off turnovers.
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More: CUSA men’s basktball standings
Kaseem Watson is a junior forward for the UTEP basketball team
After UTEP cut a 35-15 deficit to 47-41, Louisiana Tech scored the next eight points to take a 14-point lead and saw it home.
The Miners fell to 4-8 overall and 0-1 in CUSA, while Louisiana Tech improved to 8-4, 1-1.
Quoting coach Joe Golding
“It’s not rocket science,” coach Joe Golding said. “When you want to win on the road, you’ve got to rebound, take care of the basketball and then you’ve got to execute. You can’t go on the road and score 63 points.
“We could never close the gap to get enough pressure on them. The start didn’t help us at all. When you dig yourself a hole like that on the road, you’re not going to have a lot of success on the road. Credit to our guys for fighting and getting it back to 10 and then to six a couple of times there in the second half. Ultimately, we couldn’t get it done.”
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How it happened
Kaseem Watson led the Miners with 16 points and Elijah Jones added 11 before fouling out. UTEP outfouled Louisiana Tech 22-15, and La. Tech made 20-of-34 free throws to the Miners’; 13-of-16.
UTEP actually won the boards, typically its weakest area, 41-34 and won second-chance points 18-5, but couldn’t consistently score enough to get all the way back in a game where the Miners last lead was 5-4. UTEP only forced nine turnovers and managed just five points off those.
More: Analysis: Is the UTEP men’s basketball team about to turn a corner?
Up next
UTEP continues its conference-opening road trip when it travels to Missouri State. The Friday, Jan. 2 tip will be at 6 p.m. MT and stream on ESPN+.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP men drop Conference USA opener to Louisiana Tech.