UTEP is just three games into the C-USA portion of their schedule, but this weekend is a major must-win weekend for the struggling Miners.
Sitting at the bottom of the C-USA standings, both FIU and UTEP will jockey for the final spot in the C-USA tournament, and Thursday's game will create some positive leverage for the winner.
UTEP has lost 12 straight, while FIU has lost eight of their last nine, and like UTEP is 0-3 to start conference play.
Senior guard Donte McGill has picked up where he left off last season, averaging 18.