UTEP simply refused to lose.
Everything seemed stacked against these Miners. UAB came into Thursday night sitting alone in second place in the Conference USA standings. The Blazers dominated the Miners in the first 20 minutes, taking a 28-19 halftime lead. Most importantly, the Blazers swarmed the offensive boards, getting second chances and third chances and more.
All looked lost.
But then the Miners came out for the final half and said thanks, but no thanks. They played with a fury, they played as if their hair were on fire, they played as if their mothers' lives depended on it.