Playing against a Middle Tennessee team closing in on a Conference USA East Division title, the UTEP men dug a first-half hole and couldn't claw out in a 77-59 loss that dented its hopes for a top-two finish in the West.
UTEP led 13-7 early before a 12-0 Blue Raider run, part of a 19-3 and 30-9 run, gave MTSU a 15-point lead it maintained the rest of the game. UTEP closed to eight points at 45-37 in the second half but never truly joined the battle in a game that ran Middle Tennessee's home record to 13-0.