UTEP Men’s Basketball Wraps Up Costa Rica Trip with Win

A lot of UTEP basketball fans were ready to push the panic button after consecutive exhibition losses to Canada's McGill University in Costa Rica. However, the Miners finished the three-game trip with a 78-73 win over British Columbia University earlier today. Trey Wade led UTEP with 16 points, while Isiah Osborne and Matt Willms each added 12 for the Miners. After the win, head coach Tim Floyd summed up his team's trip to Costa Rica.

Coach Floyd summing up today's game and a very productive Costa Rica trip. #WeAreMiners #BTISummer pic.twitter.com/FaCpL4fLu8

— UTEPMBB (@UTEP_MBB) August 18, 2017

Evan Gilyard did not play in any of the games and the freshman point guard appears to be headed for an MRI on his ailing shoulder.

Fellow freshman Tirus Smith lost two teeth in the first half of today's game against BCU and he did not return. Other takeaways from the trip:

• Guards Isiah Osborne and Trey Wade both received the green light to shoot the ball in these three games. Both appear to be big contributors to the Miners this season.
• True freshman Kobe McGee benefited from Gilyard's absence and impressed with his ball handling, distribution, and shooting ability.
• Willms, Kelvin Jones, Tirus Smith, and Joey St. Pierre will give UTEP a formidable front court.

The team will receive a much-deserved off day tomorrow and then return to El Paso Sunday afternoon. They will be able to resume practice in October.