The UTEP men’s basketball team (20-13, 7-6 Conference-USA) won its first round match up against Western Illinois University (16-16) March 19 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners were able to control the game early and not ever trail in this 80-54 victory. Boum ended up grabbing a triple double in this contest.
“I’m proud of our guys. This was a player-driven decision to play postseason play,” UTEP head coach Joe Golding said. “I supported them as long as they were 100 percent in, and I thought today they showed we were. We haven’t played in nine or 10 days and it was sloppy at times, but in the second half I thought our ball movement was as good as it’s been all season long.