UTEP basketball recap: UTEP Upends Houston, 79-71

Miners' Jackson leads way with 21-point, 17-rebound effort

CUSA Fans UTEP Correspondent Robert Robles brings you a recap of the basketball game between UTEP and Houston.

The Miners ended their three-game losing streak with a 79-71 victory over the Houston Cougars on Saturday night in the Don Haskins Center. The Miners improve to 13-10 (5-4) on the season, while Houston dropped to 11-10 (5-3).

UTEP’s Stefon Jackson earned co-conference Player of the Week with Memphis’ Joey Dorsey after scoring 21 points and pulling down 17 rebounds.

The Miners started four guards, but still outrebounded the Cougars 46-42. UTEP’s defense suffocated the Cougars, holding them to only 31 percent from the floor—including a 9-of-30 effort from beyond the arc. The Miners shot better, finishing 45 percent (25-of-55) from the field.

The Miners got off to a bit of a slow start, as the Cougars took a five-point lead with 14 minutes left in the first half. However, Coach Barbee made some adjustments and his team led by eight at the break.

Coming out of the locker room, the Miners went on a 7-2 run to take a 13-point lead only four minutes into the half. The story, however, was the defense UTEP played. It limited Houston to only 29 percent (10-of-34) in the second half.

The game was filled with a plenty of clock stoppages, as the teams were whistled for a combined 53 fouls. This foul trouble would eventually take a toll on Tom Penders’ Cougars when two of their starters fouled out and another two reached four.

UTEP placed three players in double figures. Steven Jackson’s double double performance of 21 points and 17 rebounds led the way. Darren Clarke came off the bench with 13 points while Marvin Kilgore finished with 10.

Houston was led by Dion Dowell, who totaled 21 points and 4 rebounds. Oliver Lafayette just missed a double double, finishing with 12 points and 9 rebounds.

The Miners travel to New Orleans on Wednesday and will attempt to keep the momentum going by getting a win against Tulane. Second-year head coach Dave Dickerson has assembled an extremely efficient defensive team, which plays hard and smart. With a win, UTEP will improve to 6-4 in CUSA, which may be good enough for second place in the conference depending on the outcomes of multiple games this week.