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The 53rd Sun Bowl Invitational got under way today with UTEP defeating the Alcorn State Braves by a score of 78-45. After the loss just two days ago against number three Arizona on the same floor, the Miners bounced back emphatically and will play for the championship tomorrow night.
The quick turnaround and the possibility of taking the opponent lightly were concerns coming into tonight for head coach Tim Floyd and his squad.
“We were concerned going in just because of the carnage that the SWAC had laid on people here on the last few days,” Floyd said. “Didn’t have much time to get ready coming off the Arizona game, but our guys handled it well.”
The carnage Floyd refers to was in relation to some results by some conference mates of the Braves in recent days. Southern Miss, Houston and Michigan State were all upset in the last three days by a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Miners made it clear that would not be the case tonight.
UTEP got off to a good start with two quick buckets from senior center Cedrick Lang and proceeded to go on a 23-6 run that lasted past the 10-minute mark. The Braves were limited to 28.6% shooting from the field, making just four shots and scoring a total of 15 points throughout the first 20 minutes of play.
“We executed very well tonight,” Lang said. “Made sure the ball was really moving which led to easy baskets.”
Lang finished the night with a perfect 6-6 from the field, 13 points and 4 rebounds.
The second half saw more of the same with the visiting Braves shooting 33.3% from the field. Sophomore Vince Hunter scored 11 of his game-high 16 points in the second half and the Miners cruised to their seventh win of the season. Alcorn State turned the ball over 19 times throughout the course of the game that resulted in 27 points for the Miners and a few plays for the highlight reel. On one instance freshman Omega Harris stole the ball on the Miner’s half before falling out of bounds. After running down the court he lobbed it up to Hunter who finished with a powerful dunk.
“Our mindset was attacking and play hard,” said junior guard Earvin Morris. “We were focused on not taking any steps back and continue to get better.”
The Miners will now turn their attention towards Kent State University, which they host tomorrow night. The Golden Flashes escaped with a tight 53-52 victory against North Dakota State earlier in the night. Kent State has only lost twice this season and after the win tonight the Golden Flashes are on a four-game winning streak.
One Miner in particular is looking forward to tomorrow night’s game against the Golden Flashes. Morris, who transferred to UTEP this year from Tallahassee Community College, played 17 games for Kent State in the 2012-13 season.
“It’s going to be really fun playing against a couple of guys that I played with, but most of all I get to play against the coach,” Morris said. “Looking forward to a good show tomorrow.”
Luis Gonzalez may be reached at [email protected].
