UTEP basketball preview: UTEP vs. UC Riverside

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this fall to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA sports coverage. Today, our new UTEP Correspondent Robert Robles brings you a preview of the basketball game between UTEP and UC Riverside.

Reeling off of a disappointing loss to Cal Poly, University of California at Riverside is looking to bounce back in a season that may already be getting out of hand, seeing as how the Highlanders are now 3-10. The Highlanders go to El Paso reeking redemption, whether they are able to get it or not is another story altogether.

For UTEP, the Miners walk into Tuesday’s game in the Don Haskins center with the 25th ranked scorer in the nation, that monumental player being Stefon Jackson, a sophomore from Philadelphia. Jackson is currently averaging 20.2 points per game. With the lack of a post game, Jackson and company walk into this game expecting to score points…and score them often.

The Miners have a young and promising Forward coming off of an injury that has prevented him from playing the first 10 games, Dale Vanwright. Having played only 67 minutes of game time up to this point, he has accumulated 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.

After UTEP put a spanking on Toledo, winning 92-71, expect for the Miners newfound offense to score a considerable amount of points. Freshman Malik Alvin and Junior Guard Marvin Kilgore have good chemistry with the team and can play considerable defense. With sharpshooters such as Darren Clarke and Dale Vanwright, look for the Miners to rout the Highlanders.

UTEP 91 - UC Riverside 70