UTEP basketball: Clutch

It was a fortunate UTEP win over Houston Saturday, 57-52,  but by no means was it lucky. Call it an earned win. And think back when UTEP did something like this on the road.

It's difficult for a road team to play a close game all through the first and second half, then be dominant in the end, "The final seconds," you know. Home team and all. Atmosphere and all. The past three or four seasons, and all.

Enter a true leader: Julyan Stone, point guard/assist leader/rebounder, was 0-1 shooting all night. Clutch time: He hit a corner  shot at the "tick-tick" of the clock. It gave UTEP a 4-point UTEP lead (ticking down now),  and the win. He has low shooting pecentates in field goals and free throws. But he is a "Tim Hardaway" team leader, too. So, he made the shot that had to be made.

This was a back-and-forth scoring game all evening. UTEP was not at its best,  but the Miners held on. Homestanding Houston was not at its best (was on a 3-game conference winning streak), but the Coogs held on.

Clutch!

A big positive for UTEP basketball.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Adrian]

The 2 true legit teams of the conference won tonight: UTEP & Memphis. Hard earned victory; hopefully by the Miners and Tigers face off, it's for the regular season crown.

[James]

Hey Joe, I agree with everything except your closing comments about the Miners not being at their best. The Houston Chronicle squarely laid the blame at the feet of the UofH players for this loss. The Miners were at their best when they needed to be! As time ran down! True signs of championship material! Don't sell the guy's short!Your Right when you say that the guy's earned this one. They saved their best for when it counted and that's all it took to earn a W. Congratulations! GO ORANGE! GO MINERS!

[madmangunner]

Um...maybe the teams were'nt at their best because they actually were at their best defensively?

[Chanel J12]

Adversity toughens him as well as wounding him.I'm a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions