EL PASO, Texas — On Saturday night, UTEP edged out Kennesaw State with a narrow 73-71 victory, driven in part by a standout performance from Otis Frazier III, who tallied 17 points.

Frazier also contributed significantly on defense, recording five rebounds and an impressive eight steals for the Miners, who now hold a record of 15 wins and 5 losses, along with a 5-2 mark in Conference USA.

Supporting the effort, Kevin Kalu showcased efficiency, converting six of his seven field goal attempts and going two for three at the foul line, resulting in a total of 14 points. Elijah Jones added to the scoring with 12 points, making four of six shots from the field and three of four from the charity stripe.

For Kennesaw State, Simeon Cottle emerged as a key player, finishing the game with 19 points and five assists. Braedan Lue made his impact felt with 14 points, while Jamil Miller contributed 12 points and gathered six rebounds for the Owls, who now sit at 12-8 overall and 4-3 in their conference play.

Frazier’s first-half performance was particularly noteworthy, as he racked up 14 points, though UTEP entered halftime trailing 41-37. The Miners made a strong comeback in the second half, outscoring Kennesaw State by six points. Notably, Jones played a crucial role during this period, leading UTEP with 10 points in the latter half.