I predict UTEP is gonna have an even better season than last year, though I'm not the only one that believes that..BTW how about that Ayala? He was 3 for 3 from 3 point land!

Here's the game info from the EP Times:

UTEP sharp in capturing season opener

Bill Knight
El Paso Times

Delaware State bombed home its fifth 3-pointer, giving the Hornets a 15-14 lead against UTEP. The Miner crowd was growing a little restless.

No worries.

The Miners ripped off 17 consecutive points, turning a nip-and-tuck affair into fun and games. UTEP never had to look over its shoulder again, ripping Delaware State 83-50 in front of 8,117 fans (counting no-shows) in the Don Haskins Center. It was UTEP's opener and it also was the opening game of the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational Tournament. Jackson State will be Game 2, Tuesday night in the Haskins Center.

UTEP coach Doc Sadler played 14 Miners during this game, with 10 of them scoring and five of them hitting double figures. Omar Thomas had 15 points, Will Kimble 13, Giovanni St. Amant 12, Jason Williams and Miguel Ayala 11 each.

"I'm happy with the way we played," Sadler said. "I was concerned because they make you play on the defensive end. We like to play aggressively and I was concerned we would fall into a trap and give up easy baskets. They shot 57 percent against Illinois (in an 87-67 loss Friday night)."

To the Hornets' credit, they continued to play hard, very hard, on both ends of the floor throughout the game.

UTEP worked the ball well, got it in deep and outscored Delaware State 36-16 in the paint. The Miners also outscored the visitors 16-2 on fast break points. Those two factors, plus some sizzling shooting, sent UTEP to a torrid 62.5 percent from the field.

"I don't think our team is different in any way from last year," St. Amant said. "Everyone knows their role. The starters know their role and the guys coming off the bench know their role. We feel real confident and our chemistry is good."

Kimble, the 6-foot-10 newcomer to this formula, said, "The guys have been great to me, me being the new guy. They've worked with me, helped me pick up the offense."

On this late Sunday afternoon, the Miners most certainly had that offense in high gear. No worries.

<a href='http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/sports/todaysstories/20041122-197715.shtml' target='_blank'>EP Times Article</a>

:D