Despite the loss in the championship round of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, the Miners showed growth in a tough 47-46 loss to Kent State on Thursday night.
Through a back-and-forth championship game, UTEP was able to prevail over UC Irvine, 67-61, winning the 58th Annual WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for the first time in five years.
Through 50 minutes of basketball, which featured two overtimes, the Miners dominated the first 23 minutes, but the Owls awoke and fought back from a 20-point deficit, outlasting the Miners 85-81 in double overtime.