After three games of the Scotty Walden era in El Paso, the Miners are still in search of an elusive first win.

Despite holding up against defending C-USA champion Liberty for much of the evening Saturday, UTEP ultimately succumbed, and fell 28-10 to the Flames when the final horn sounded. Liberty tailback Billy Lucas racked up 104 yards and three rushing touchdowns to accentuate the victory, and quarterback Kaidon Salter was an efficient 15-of-19 for 228 yards and a touchdown through the air.

UTEP went into the locker room at halftime facing a 14-3 deficit, but struck back in the third quarter behind a 60-yard touchdown bomb from Skyler Locklear to Kenny Odom. The score remained 14-10 until late in the third quarter, when Lucas found the end zone from 2 yards out for his third and final TD of the evening. Salter iced the win with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Tyson Mobley.

Locklear had his ups and downs for the Miners, going 26-of-44 for 244 yards with one TD and two interceptions. He added 20 yards on 13 carries. The two picks came on back-to-back drives early in the game, and although the UTEP defense did its part to keep the contest close, the Miners simply couldn't convert opportunities into points on offense. One week after misfiring on two crucial field goal attempts in an overtime loss to Southern Utah, kicker Buzz Flabiano missed yet again on a 42-yard try in the second quarter, which came after a 12-play, 51-yard drive. On the Miners' opening possession of the second half, backup quarterback Shay Smith lost a fumble on a short-yardage play. And to add insult to injury, a 14-play, 71-yard drive in the fourth quarter died in the red zone, as Locklear threw incomplete on fourth-and-3 from the Liberty 13-yard line.

Kam Thomas paced the Miners with eight catches for 68 yards. Jevon Jackson led the ground attack with 67 yards on 15 carries, and defensively, Kory Chapman and Xavier Smith both posted double-digit tackles (Chapman had 11, while Smith logged 10).

UTEP will visit Colorado State next Saturday as they look to get in the win column.

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