UTEP interim head coach Phil Johnson speaks following the Miner's loss to NMSU on Thursday night. Felix F. Chávez / El Paso Times
It was almost as if they could all breathe again.
UTEP played with poise, with a touch of swagger, with a wealth of confidence Saturday night and the result was an impressive 88-76 win over old rival New Mexico.
A faithful and loyal crowd of 6,394 showed up to support this team that had lost six straight games and a head coach. To say the Miners were reeling just a bit would be a stern understatement.