Gilyard, Odigie combine for 47, UTEP wins 1st game for Terry

Nov 7, 2018, 06:21 am

EL PASO, Texas -- Evan Gilyard and Efe Odigie combined to score 47 points as UTEP defeated Division II Texas Permian Basin 90-63 Tuesday night, starting new coach Rodney Terry's tenure with a first-game win.

Gilyard scored 24 points and was 6-for-9 from behind the 3-point arc, Odigie scored 23 on 7-for-11 shooting with nine rebounds. Gilles Dekoninck added 14 points while Kaosi Ezeagu and Paul Thomas scored 10 each.

The Miners shot 53 percent (27-51) for the game and made 11 of 23 3-pointers, holding Texas Permian Basin to 30-percent shooting (21-for-69) and only 3 of 15 from distance.

Kyree Elder led the Falcons with 20 points while Jacob Ledoux tossed in 12.

A Dekoninck jumper in the paint broke a 28-28 tie late in the first half. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Gilyard and a Thomas dunk sparked an 8-0 run to create a 51-40 lead 3-1/2 minutes into the second half.