MIAMI — In an exciting game on Saturday, Otis Frazier III played a pivotal role in UTEP’s victory over Florida International, contributing 22 points to secure an 81-73 win for the Miners.

Frazier complemented his scoring with five rebounds and three steals, playing an instrumental part in UTEP’s performance. The Miners improved their record to 14 wins and 4 losses, with a Conference USA record of 4-1. Ahamad Bynum also made an impact, scoring 18 points along with three steals, while Kevin Kalu added 11 points, shooting efficiently by hitting 80% from the field and free-throw line.

On the other side, Jonathan Aybar led the Panthers with a solid 17-point performance and two steals. Vianney Salatchoum made significant contributions as well, scoring 14 points while securing six rebounds and blocking two shots. Kole Williams also chipped in with 13 points for Florida International, which fell to a 7-12 overall record and 1-5 in Conference USA play.

The turning point in the game came with just under seven minutes left in the first half, as UTEP surged ahead and never relinquished the lead. By halftime, the score was 44-36, with Frazier collecting 12 of his points in the first half alone. In the second half, UTEP extended their lead significantly with a dominating 10-0 run, pushing the score to 54-38 with about 14:37 remaining. Bynum continued his strong showing with 13 points in the second half, helping to cement the Miners’ victory.

Looking ahead, UTEP will face Jacksonville State at home on Thursday, while Florida International prepares to host Liberty on Saturday.