HUNTSVILLE – The University of Texas El-Paso, the tournament’s fifth seed, overcame a 14-point second-half deficit in a 65-63 triumph over top-seeded Sam Houston in Friday’s semifinal action of the Conference USA Men’s Basketball Championship.
The Miners punched their ticket to the title game for the first time since 2011, and they are the lowest seed to appear in a championship final since Marshall (No. 6) in 2017.
After using a 24-3 run to down Liberty in the quarterfinals, UTEP produced another gutsy second-half performance to emerge victorious. Corey Camper Jr. recorded 10 of his game-high 19 points in the second half, and the Miners tallied seven of their 12 steals in the final period.
UTEP (18-15) will face the winner between No. 3 Western Kentucky and No. 7 Middle Tennessee State University at 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday on CBS Sports Network
–Conference USA
SCORES/SCHEDULE
- FRIDAY
Semifinals (Broadcast: CBS SPORTS NETWORK)
Men: No. 5 UTEP 65, No. 1 Sam Houston State 63; W. Kentucky 85, No. 7 Middle Tennessee 54
5:30 p.m. – Women: No. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 4 Louisiana Tech
8 p.m. – Women: No. 2 Liberty vs. No. 3 Florida International-No. 6 New Mexico State winner
8 p.m. Concert at Mars Music Hall: Brandon Elder
- SATURDAY
Championships (Broadcast: CBS SPORTS NETWORK)
4:30 p.m. – Women’s Championship game
7:30 p.m. – Men’s Championship game
Concert at Mars Music Hall: Quantaphonics
