HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — UTEP secured a victory over Sam Houston with a score of 79-65 in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament on Tuesday. This win ended a seven-game losing streak for UTEP, who are the No. 8 seed in the tournament, and allowed them to progress to the quarterfinals where they will face the top-seeded Liberty team on Wednesday.
Corey Camper Jr. led the charge for the Miners, scoring 18 points with efficient shooting, going 5 of 11 overall, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and making all four of his free throw attempts. Kevin Kalu contributed significantly with 15 points, hitting 5 of 11 field goals and making 5 of 6 from the free throw line, while also grabbing 15 rebounds. Otis Frazier III added 12 points, shooting 4 of 8 from the field, 2 of 5 from three-point land, and converting 2 of 3 from the foul line.
For the ninth-seeded Sam Houston Bearkats, Lamar Wilkerson was a standout performer, scoring 22 points along with six rebounds and four steals. Kalifa Sakho also made a strong impact with 18 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Marcus Boykin contributed 15 points to the team’s effort.
UTEP gained the lead with 6:35 remaining in the first half and maintained it for the rest of the game, ensuring their advancement in the tournament.
