UTEP assistant Phil Johnson takes over as head coach after the abrupt retirement of head coach Tim Floyd following Monday night's loss to Lamar. Mark Lambie / El Paso Times
It began with excitement, hope and a flurry of good fortune.
It ended with a fizzle, an evening of frustration and futility
New Mexico State ripped UTEP 80-60 Thursday night in front of 7,078 fans in the Don Haskins Center.
The win gave the Aggies the series sweep in this 103-year-old rivalry. NMSU defeated UTEP 72-63 last Saturday in Las Cruces.
This one, though, was worse.