UTEP completes Florida road sweep, beats FIU 90-76

After surrendering a 14-point lead in their first matchup with Florida International, the Miners used a double-overtime buzzer beater from Dominic Artis to beat FIU at the Haskins Center Jan. 12 -- ending UTEP’s 12-game losing streak.

Fast forward 44 days, and the Miners entered FIU Arena on a four-game winning streak having won 10 of 12 since that buzzer-beating thriller.

Matt Willms led UTEP in points (23) and rebounds (nine), and the Miners beat FIU 90-76 to make it five straight wins -- completing the Florida road sweep for a third consecutive year.

UTEP shot a brilliant 67.3 percent from the field (35-of-52) -- including 72 percent in the 2nd half (18-of-25) -- with high-percentage, methodical attacks at and to the basket. Followed by Willms’ 23, Dominic Artis scored 21 (seven assists), Omega Harris put up 19, Paul Thomas added 15 (six rebounds, five assists), and Trey Touchet had 12.

In a game the Miners led for 37:28 of the 40 minutes, UTEP shot 86.7 percent from the free-throw line (13-of-15), outrebounded FIU 30-18, and dished 24 assists to the Panthers’ 10.

Following three ties (6-6, 8-8, 10-10) and two lead changes within 5:33 of play, a layup from Omega Harris with under 14 minutes on clock propelled the first of UTEP’s time-controlling leads.

While the Panthers pulled within one point on three different occasions through the next 6:32, the Miners’ zeroed-in shooting prevented FIU’s senior night from seeing another tie or lead change.

After FIU cut its deficit to one (25-24) for the third time with 7:22 in the 1st half, UTEP responded with a 16-4 run through the next 6:35 that gave them a half-high, 13-point lead (41-28) before going into the break up 11 (41-30).

The Miners opened the 2nd half outscoring FIU 7-2 through the first 1:30 -- extending their lead to 16 -- but a subsequent 9-0 run by Panthers in the ensuing 2:26 encouraged their hopes of mimicking the schools’ first matchup, UTEP leading 48-41.

The Panthers got within seven points on two more occasions through the next 5:51 (50-43, 58-51), but seven stayed the closest FIU could get again.

With 10:13 to play and UTEP leading 58-51, the Miners outscored the Panthers 21-9 through the ensuing 6:50 en route to their a game-high lead of 17 (77-60) that they held two more times (80-63, 90-73).

UTEP remains tied with Old Dominion for third place in Conference USA. The Miners and Monarchs will meet March 2 at the Haskins Center.