November college basketball tournaments are a time of learning, particularly assessing what's in the mirror.
The UTEP men's team has learned how to win close games, which is important because the Miners seem particularly good at keeping them close.
In the final game of the Jim Forbes Classic Friday, UTEP blew almost all of a 20-point lead in the final 10 minutes against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before solving its turnover problems and 3-point defense and making just enough free throws to win 72-67.
The Miners improved to 5-1 with their fifth consecutive victory while a resilient Islanders team that returns five starters from an NCAA tournament team fell to 4-3 after a furious rally fell short.