UTEP Defeats New Mexico State 91-88 in Overtime Thriller

Caleb Blackwell scores 9 of his 21 points in OT to lift UTEP over rival New Mexico State

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a close game that went to overtime, UTEP defeated New Mexico State 91-88 on Saturday night. Caleb Blackwell led the way for UTEP, scoring 9 of his 21 points in the extra period to secure the victory. Jamal West and Kaseem Watson also had strong performances for the Miners, with West scoring 20 points and Watson adding 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Why it matters

This was an important conference matchup between two rivals, UTEP and New Mexico State. The win helps UTEP improve their conference record and stay competitive in the Conference USA standings, while the loss is a setback for New Mexico State in their quest to climb the league table.

The details

UTEP trailed 39-32 at halftime, but Jamal West and Kaseem Watson led a second-half comeback to tie the game at 79-79 and send it to overtime. In the extra period, Caleb Blackwell took over, scoring 9 of his 21 points to lift UTEP to the 91-88 victory. Jemel Jones led New Mexico State with 26 points in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
  • UTEP trailed 39-32 at halftime.

The players

Caleb Blackwell

A key player for UTEP, Blackwell scored 21 points, including 9 in overtime, to lead his team to victory.

Jamal West

UTEP forward who scored 20 points and had 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in the game.

Kaseem Watson

UTEP forward who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Jemel Jones

New Mexico State's leading scorer, Jones had 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“This was a hard-fought game between two rival teams. I'm proud of the way our guys battled back in the second half and found a way to win it in overtime.”

— Joe Golding, UTEP Head Coach (mymotherlode.com)

What’s next

UTEP will look to build on this conference win as they continue their season, while New Mexico State will aim to bounce back in their next game.

The takeaway

This overtime thriller showcased the intense rivalry between UTEP and New Mexico State, with UTEP's resilience and clutch play from Caleb Blackwell ultimately proving to be the difference in a close, back-and-forth contest.