UTEP Adds Another NAIA Program to Non-Conference Schedule

The UTEP men's basketball squad is hosting another NAIA school as part of wrapping up their non-conference slate, with Our Lady of the Lake coming to the Haskins Center on Monday, Dec. 28.

UTEP (3-2) will wrap up non-conference play taking on two NAIA schools, with Benedictine University at Mesa coming to El Paso on Sunday, Dec. 20. Head coach Rodney Terry talked about the difficulties scheduling other programs to come to the city due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Our Lady of the Lake (1-1) is coming off a regular season 61-58 victory against Texas State on Dec. 12. They fell to Incarnate Word (84-72) in their opening game, while facing other Division I opponents like Rice (L, 103-64) and New Mexico (104-65). Similar to Sul Ross State, Our Lady of the Lake brings in several freshmen El Pasoans, including Colby Borak (Franklin), Elijah Davis (Pebble Hills) and Diego Torres (Socorro).

Even though the Miners have only two NAIA schools scheduled for the remainder of their non-conference slate, it would be beneficial for the team to set at least one more road non-conference game against a quality opponent like their recent three-game road stretch (Saint Mary's, Arizona and Arizona State).

C-USA action gets underway on Jan. 1 as the Miners play a road back-to-back series against Southern Miss.