- Matchup: FIU Panthers vs UTEP Miners
- Event Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
- Venue: Don Haskins Center, El Paso, TX
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The UTEP Miners (6-12) will host the FIU Panthers (9-9) at the Don Haskins Center this Thursday night.
In their recent game against Sam Houston State, the FIU Panthers suffered a defeat, finishing with a score of 76-63. The Panthers recorded a field goal percentage of 29.4%, making 15 of 51 attempts, while connecting on 9 out of 21 three-point shots for a 42.9% conversion rate. At the charity stripe, FIU converted 24 out of 39 free throw attempts, achieving 61.5%. They managed to grab a total of 39 rebounds, with 13 being offensive. The team dished out 11 assists but struggled with 16 turnovers and secured 10 steals. Defensively, they allowed Sam Houston State to shoot 44.1% from the floor, going 26 for 59. Sam Houston State accumulated 19 assists and tallied 10 steals during the game. On the boards, they gathered 35 rebounds, with 8 offensive and 27 defensive. Their free throw shooting was less than ideal, as they made 14 of 26 attempts for 53.8%, and three-point shooting was also a challenge, converting just 10 of 29 attempts. Both teams finished with 23 fouls each.
Julian Mackey played a pivotal role in the Panthers’ performance, scoring 23 points on 5 of 13 shooting. He was on the court for 26 minutes, accumulating 5 rebounds and ending the game with 3 assists, showcasing a shooting percentage of 38.5%.
Entering this matchup, FIU holds a record of 9-9, averaging 83.7 points per game, ranking 59th in Division I basketball. They have a field goal success rate of 46.0% and hit 35.8% of their three-point attempts (145 out of 405), along with a 67.5% free throw shooting percentage. The Panthers retrieve an average of 39.2 rebounds per game and have tallied 304 assists this season, placing them 67th nationally in assist totals. They currently face 12.9 turnovers per game and commit 18.8 personal fouls on average.
Defensively, the Panthers are proficient in forcing around 15.8 turnovers per game while drawing 19.6 personal fouls. Unfortunately, they rank 340th in collegiate basketball for assists allowed, conceding 308 for the season. Their opponents have posted a field goal percentage of 42.7% (483 of 1,131), while they yield an average of 37.3 rebounds per game. Opponents also score efficiently against them, making 34.4% of their three-point attempts, leading to their ranking of 303rd in Division I for points allowed per game (78.3).
The UTEP Miners faced a setback in their last outing, falling to Liberty with a score of 80-69. During this game, UTEP allowed Liberty to collect 20 rebounds (4 offensive). The Miners hit 35.0% of their three-point shots, making 7 out of 20, while achieving an impressive 81.8% from the free throw line, converting 9 out of 11 attempts. Defensively, UTEP allowed Liberty to shoot 59.3%, as they managed to score 32 out of 54 attempts. Overall, UTEP finished the game shooting 54.9% (28 for 51) and converting 47.8% of their three-point shots (11 of 23). Additionally, they made just 2 out of 4 free throw attempts for 50.0%. Liberty recorded 7 personal fouls, resulting in 4 attempts for UTEP at the free-throw line. The Miners recorded 12 turnovers and made 4 steals overall, while securing 19 rebounds (18 defensive and 1 offensive).
Elijah Jones was a standout for the Miners, scoring 21 points over 34 minutes of play. He achieved a field goal percentage of 56.3% by making 9 of 16 attempts and added 7 rebounds to his performance.
Currently, UTEP stands at a record of 6-12. As a team, they shoot 43.4% from the field, ranking them 283rd in the country. Throughout the season, the Miners have scored a total of 1,256 points (averaging 69.8 per game) and secure about 32.7 rebounds per game. They average 12.3 assists per contest, ranking 306th in Division 1, while also turning the ball over 12.2 times per game. Their team incurs an average of 19.1 personal fouls, with a free throw shooting rate of 67.1%.
In terms of defense, UTEP gives up 35.3% on three-point attempts (128 of 363) and their opponents convert 69.6% of their free throw tries. The Miners allow an average of 13.3 assists and 35.2 rebounds per game, which slots them at 179th and 224th, respectively, in those defensive metrics. Their defensive statistics indicate they rank 157th in college basketball for points allowed per game, giving up 72.8. They force their opponents into approximately 13.2 turnovers per game and yield a shooting percentage of 45.7% from the field, ranking 286th in college basketball.
Which team will prevail in this NCAA showdown against the spread?
Prediction: Back UTEP
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