The UTEP men's basketball team has a narrow path it has to follow to victory.
In a 73-68 Haskins Center loss to Western Kentucky that dropped the Miners to 13-17 overall and 6-13 in Conference USA, they didn't check the very first box. They didn't defend the paint.
More:C-USA men's basketball standings
Western Kentucky used a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint, the Hilltoppers made 65% of their 2-point attempts and held off several Miner hot spells to lead most of the way.
UTEP had other, more familiar problems, mainly free throws (10-of-19), turnovers (19) and ill-timed cold spells, but for the Miners it has to start with interior defense and in this game it didn't.