The UTEP men's basketball team's 66-53 victory against Florida A&M on Wednesday night was always going to be about survival, not art.
That was a test the Miners passed.
Playing without leading scorer Souley Boum, who cemented his status as the Miners' most valuable offensive player in his absence, UTEP rode its defense and just enough timely baskets in the final 10 minutes to improve to 4-2.
How it went
The Miners never trailed after scoring the game's first 11 points, but the lead was 39-38 with 9:30 remaining when the Miners heated up enough to make a difference in a contest dominated by the defenses until then.