It wasn't without a hiccup here and there, but UTEP got in the win column on a balmy Wednesday evening in El Paso.

Behind an opportunistic defense, a pair of Jevon Jackson touchdowns and three field goals from Buzz Flabiano, the Miners upset Florida International 30-21 for the first win of the Scotty Walden era. After opening Walden's first season with six consecutive losses, UTEP (1-6) finally put a stop to the skid against the Panthers (2-5), who entered the contest as a seven-point favorite.

After a back-and-forth affair for the first 45 minutes of action, the Miners put up the game's final 10 points and held FIU scoreless in the fourth quarter. Jackson punched in a 1-yard TD run to give UTEP its decisive lead with 11:29 to play. After an Amier Boyd-Matthews interception, Flabiano iced the game with his third field goal of the contest, a 39-yarder with 2:30 to play. Dillion Williams then picked off Panthers third-string QB Haden Carlson, and the Miners got to assume the victory formation for the first time all year.

The Panthers opened the scoring with a short TD drive after blocking an Adam Jacklin punt, as starting quarterback Keyone Jenkins slung a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dean Patterson. UTEP answered with a 27-yard field goal from Flabiano, and Skyler Locklear's second-quarter touchdown run put the Miners up 10-7. By that time, Jenkins had succumbed to a shoulder injury and exited the game, giving way to backup Amari Jones. Jones connected with Eric Rivers for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 6:17 left in the first half, catapulting the Panthers back into the lead. But Locklear led another UTEP scoring drive to close out the first half, capping it with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jackson in the final seconds.

The game slowed down in the second half, and Flabiano's 44-yarder at the 10:00 mark of the third quarter gave UTEP its only points of the period. Miner safety Lantz Russell picked off Jones in the final minute of the third quarter, but Locklear tossed an interception of his own on the ensuing play, and FIU wasted no time cashing in. Bobby Salla returned the pick inside the 10-yard line, and Panthers running back Kejon Owens scampered 8 yards to put FIU back on top.

But the Orange Swarm defense tightened down when it mattered, and defensive end Mo Westmoreland knocked Jones out of the game with a bone-crushing hit midway through the fourth quarter. FIU had no choice but to turn to Carlson, and his second pass attempt resulted in the interception by Boyd-Matthews. In all, the Miners picked off four passes on the night, as linebacker Dorian Hopkins had gotten the party started with a first-quarter INT.

"It feels amazing," Walden told the CBS Sports Network television crew after the win. "I feel like we just won a national championship; I don't care what nobody says. I can't even describe to you how stinkin' proud I am of [this team]... These boys are gonna be happy tonight. Our coaches are gonna be happy tonight. I'm so proud of this university... I'm just so grateful to be a Miner and so happy for these kids right now."

Locklear turned in a modest 14-of-23, 161-yard performance, accounting for two touchdowns and the singular UTEP turnover. Jackson enjoyed the most productive game of his season, rushing for 148 yards and a TD on 26 carries. Amongst the receivers, Kenny Odom led the way with four catches for 95 yards. But the night belonged to the Orange Swarm, which racked up eight tackles for loss and the four interceptions.

"We've been saying it, that these turnovers are going to come in bunches, and finally it came to fruition," remarked Walden. "I'm so proud of our defense, so proud of [defensive coordinator JJ] Clark. So proud of our football team."

UTEP will look to keep the momentum rolling next Tuesday night on the road, as the Miners visit Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT.