There was a glimmer of hope.
There was a tiny hint that maybe, just maybe, 2017 might take a different course than 2016. Dominic Artis made a driving layup and UTEP led UTSA 38-37 with 14:40 left in the game Sunday afternoon in front of 816 fans in the Convocation Center in San Antonio.
And then it all fell apart.
UTSA went on a 13-4 run and the Miners were clawing uphill for the remainder of the game. In the end, it was shoot quick and foul and the Roadrunners made 24-of-30 free throws on this first day of 2017.