The UTEP Miners (8-4, 1-0 C-USA) pay a visit to Birmingham Alabama and Bartow Arena on Thursday to play the UAB Blazers (10-2, 1-0 C-USA) in a Conference-USA game. UTEP was defeated by Kent State 47-46 in its most recent game last Thursday at the Sun Bowl Invitational. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Miners. UAB defeated the Charlotte 49ers 76-68 last Thursday with Jordan Walker scoring 25 points for the Blazers. UAB has won each of its last three. UTEP does not have any players listed on his injury report, while Ladarrius Brewer is questionable Thursday for UAB.
The UTEP Miners are allowing an average of 65.8 points per game, while holding opponents to a field goal shooting percentage of 40.9% and a three-point shooting percentage of 29.8%, which are 94th and 60th respectively. UTEP is averaging 35.4 rebounds per game and allowing an average of 31.8 rebounds per contest. The leading rebounder for UTEP is Ze’Rik Onyema with an average of 5.1 boards per game. Shamar Givance is the leader in steals with an average of 1.7 per game and Jamari Sibley is the leader in blocked shots with an average of 0.8 swats per contests.
UTEP is scoring an average of 70.3 points per game, while shooting 46.4% overall and 26.9% from three-point land. Tae Hardy is the leading scorer for UTEP with an average of 12.8 points per game and is shooting 41.1% overall and 25.9% from beyond the line. Ma rio McKinney Jr is the second-leading scorer with an average of 10.4 points per game, while shooting 48.6% overall and 30.0% from long range Givance is the leader in assists with an average of 3.8 dishes per contest. UTEP is averaging far too many turnovers at a rate of 15.8 per game.