EL PASO, Texas — In a thrilling matchup, Taelon Peter came off the bench to rack up 23 points, leading Liberty to a 76-69 victory over UTEP on Saturday night.

Peter also contributed with 10 rebounds for the Flames, who improved their record to 21-5 overall and 9-4 in Conference USA. Owen Aquino added 13 points along with 10 rebounds, while Kaden Metheny showcased his shooting skills, finishing with 13 points after hitting 4 of 9 from the field, including 3 out of 5 from beyond the arc.

On the other side, the Miners, who now hold a record of 17-8 and 7-5 in conference play, saw Otis Frazier III lead with 16 points and two blocks. David Terrell Jr. contributed significantly as well, posting 10 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Corey Camper Jr. also added to UTEP’s total with 10 points and two steals.

The first half saw Zander Yates score eight points as Liberty entered halftime with a slight deficit, trailing 35-32. However, Peter’s impactful performance in the second half, where he scored 17 points, proved to be pivotal in securing a victory for Liberty by a margin of seven points.

Looking ahead, Liberty will return to their home court to face Florida International next Saturday, while UTEP is set to travel to Kennesaw State on Thursday.