UTEP Men's Basketball Team Rallies Past NM State, 91-88, For Thrilling OT Win

Miners overcome 10-point deficit in regulation to defeat I-10 rival in overtime

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The UTEP men's basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime and then pull away for a 91-88 victory over I-10 rival NM State at the Don Haskins Center. Led by 21 points from Caleb Blackwell, double-doubles from Kaseem Watson and Elijah Jones, and a big game from Jamal West Jr., the Miners rallied back from a 14-point deficit at one point to earn their second straight win over the Aggies.

Why it matters

This thrilling comeback win over a conference rival showcases the Miners' resilience and ability to fight back from large deficits, a trait that will be crucial as they continue their conference play. The victory also marks the first time UTEP has defeated NM State in consecutive games in 14 years, demonstrating the program's progress under head coach Joe Golding.

The details

UTEP trailed NM State by 10 points (66-56) with 6:13 remaining in regulation, but closed the second half on a 16-6 run, including a game-tying 3-pointer by Watson with 4.4 seconds left to force overtime. The Miners then bolted to a 9-point lead (83-74) in the extra session and never relinquished the advantage, with Blackwell scoring 9 of his 21 points in OT. UTEP outrebounded NM State 49-42 and set season-highs in free throw makes (26) and attempts (38).

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
  • UTEP trailed by 10 points (66-56) with 6:13 remaining in regulation.
  • Watson hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

The players

Caleb Blackwell

A UTEP player who scored 21 points, including 9 in overtime, to lead the Miners to victory.

Kaseem Watson

A UTEP player who recorded a double-double with 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, including the game-tying 3-pointer in regulation.

Elijah Jones

A UTEP player who also recorded a double-double with 17 points and a career-best tying 12 rebounds.

Jamal West Jr.

A UTEP player who had a big game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

Joe Golding

The head coach of the UTEP men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“In a rivalry game, you never know what's going to happen. I thought they controlled the game. We couldn't' really get anything going offensively and then we made a run and had some toughness to us.”

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

“We've been getting better at that, just hadn't been able to finish. Tonight, we were able to finish. It was a great college basketball game. There were haymakers getting thrown both ways, and it was a lot of fun to be a part of. The crowd tonight was fantastic.”

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

What’s next

UTEP has another split week ahead, with a road game at Jacksonville State on Wednesday before returning home to host league-leading Liberty on February 14th, which will be televised on ESPN2.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory over a conference rival demonstrates the UTEP men's basketball team's resilience and ability to fight back from large deficits, a trait that will serve them well as they continue their conference play. The win also marks the first time UTEP has defeated NM State in consecutive games in 14 years, showcasing the program's progress under head coach Joe Golding.