UTEP rolls to 4th straight win, beating Howard 69-56
EL PASO, Texas -- Keith Frazier, Omega Harris and Tirus Smith combined for 57 points to lead UTEP to its fourth straight win, a 69-56 thumping of Howard in the Sun Bowl Invitational on Thursday night.
UTEP (5-6) will play North Dakota State, which scorched UNC Wilmington 100-63 in the opening game, for the championship on Friday. UTEP last won the tournament in 2014.
The Miners opened on a 24-7 run before Howard rallied to close to 37-30 at the break. Harris opened the second half drilling two 3-pointers and scoring the first 10 points to start an 18-9 run that led to a 55-39 advantage midway of the period as the Miners cruised to victory.
Frazier finished with 23 points, hitting four from distance, with eight rebounds. Harris was 7 of 14 from the floor for 17 points with four assists and Smith finished with a career-high 17 points. He has scored 32 in the last two games.
RJ Cole led Howard (2-12) with 17 points.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Brad Ferrie
- Ryan McDaniel
- Mike O'Neill
2023-24 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk State | 11-3 | - | 24-11 |
| North Carolina Central | 9-5 | 2 | 18-13 |
| Howard | 9-5 | 2 | 18-17 |
| South Carolina State | 9-5 | 2 | 14-18 |
| Morgan State | 7-7 | 4 | 11-20 |
| Delaware State | 6-8 | 5 | 15-19 |
| Maryland-Eastern Shore | 4-10 | 7 | 9-20 |
| Coppin State | 1-13 | 10 | 2-27 |
2023-24 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston | 13-3 | - | 21-12 |
| Louisiana Tech | 12-4 | 1 | 22-10 |
| Western Kentucky | 8-8 | 5 | 22-12 |
| Liberty | 7-9 | 6 | 18-14 |
| UTEP | 7-9 | 6 | 18-16 |
| Middle Tennessee | 7-9 | 6 | 14-19 |
| New Mexico State | 7-9 | 6 | 13-19 |
| Jacksonville State | 6-10 | 7 | 14-18 |
| Florida International | 5-11 | 8 | 11-22 |
Men's College Basketball News
