UTEP defense

As the UTEP men's basketball team readies for the start of conference play, defense will be the key for Miners head coach Joe Golding and his team's success.

A poor start mixed with a rough defensive outing led to No. 16 UTSA blasting UTEP, 44-23, in a late Saturday night matchup at the Sun Bowl.

It's almost time for the kickoff of UTEP-UTSA, one of the most highly anticipated home games that the Miner program has seen in years.

For the first time since 2015, UTEP is competitively relevant again in football. It's been seven years since the program made a bowl game. On Saturday, the Miners (5-1, 2-0 C-USA) have a chance to punch their bowl eligibility ticket if they get past a tough LA Tech squad (2-3, 1-0 C-USA). ...

UTEP football defeated Southern Miss (26-14) on the road for the first time since 2012.

The Miners will enter Saturday's road C-USA opener against Southern Miss, vying for a 5-1 start for the first time in 11 years.

In the second season of a complete program rebuild, Dimel made it clear that the team will preserve a number of players as redshirts this season. Per the NCAA redshirt rules, players are allowed to play in four games without losing a season of eligibility.

Following UTEP's 52-26 loss to North Texas, question marks still hovered over the Miners' inconsistent defense that has allowed an average of 42 points in their last three games.

The UTEP defense took a step forward this week, holding their own against Texas Tech through the first half and showing signs of progress in their 38-3 loss.

The Miners got away with a slim 36-34 season-opening win against Houston Baptist and start the year with a 1-0 record after their first home win in 1,008 days.