The men’s matchup tips off at 4:00 with the Countdown to Tip-off Show, followed by a 4:30 local start between UTEP (9th seed) and Western Kentucky (8th seed).
On Saturday, the Miners will have a chance for their best win of the year as they face off against 24th ranked Florida Atlantic in a C-USA showdown that tips off at 7 p.m.
At a crossroads in their season, the Miners have to hope they can snap their three-game losing streak on the road against a tough LA Tech team on Saturday.
Despite the fresh roster, Golding is still setting the bar high for this group, with the understanding that it might take time in the early part of the season.
Coming off the first 20-win season for the program since the 2014-15 season, 2nd-year head coach Joe Golding has certainly created some buzz around the city.
Point guard Shamar Givance, who led Evansville with 13.7 points and nearly four assists per game last season, is the latest new addition for the UTEP Miners.