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
2024-25 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk State | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
| Howard | 0-0 | - | 3-2 |
| South Carolina State | 0-0 | - | 3-3 |
| Morgan State | 0-0 | - | 3-4 |
| Delaware State | 0-0 | - | 2-3 |
| Maryland Eastern Shore | 0-0 | - | 2-5 |
| North Carolina Central | 0-0 | - | 1-6 |
| Coppin State | 0-0 | - | 0-7 |
2024-25 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Tech | 0-0 | - | 4-0 |
| Liberty | 0-0 | - | 5-1 |
| Middle Tennessee | 0-0 | - | 5-1 |
| Kennesaw State | 0-0 | - | 4-1 |
| New Mexico State | 0-0 | - | 3-1 |
| UTEP | 0-0 | - | 3-1 |
| Jacksonville State | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
| Sam Houston | 0-0 | - | 3-2 |
| Western Kentucky | 0-0 | - | 3-2 |
| Florida International | 0-0 | - | 1-4 |
Men's College Basketball News
