The UTEP men's basketball team's encouraging 2021-22 season always figured to end in a predictable way: a flurry of missed shots and struggles rebounding.
The twist in an 82-69 loss to Southern Utah in the second round of The Basketball Classic was untypically poor defense after a year building their identity around that, but mostly this game gave them a good idea of where to go in recruiting.
UTEP finished 20-14 as SUU advances to the final five of the tournament.
The Thunderbirds took over with a 14-0 run when UTEP missed five consecutive shots and they completed the charge with a layup line.