EL PASO, Texas – Despite a season-high 21 points from Simi Socks, including a three-pointer that cut UTEP's lead to one with under six minutes to play, the Miners closed the game outscoring the University of the Incarnate Word 16-11 to hold onto a 72-66 win Tuesday evening from the Don Haskins Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In a game that featured eight ties and five lead changes, UIW (5-4) opened the game scoring five of the first seven points, thanks to a three-pointer by Shawn Johnson and a layup from Jalin Hart. With the help of a pair of steals, UTEP (4-6), took its first lead of the game at the midway point of the first half, 14-13. A Johnson three-pointer gave the Cardinals the lead on their next possession. Johnson continued with the hot hand, nailing two more triples to increase the UIW lead to five (19-14).

A steal by UTEP's Omega Harris leading to a fastbreak layup started a 6-0 run to give the Miners their largest lead of the half, 26-21, with 2:04 left in the opening half. Keaton Hervey blocked a Miner shot, which led to a Simi Socks three-pointer to cut the deficit to two, 26-24, with 1:26 remaining. After a pair of Socks free throws tied the game, UTEP took a two-point lead following a Titus Smith layup with 27 seconds remaining. But Christian Peevy's dunk at the buzzer, assisted by Cody Graham, tied the game at 28-all.

UTEP played the majority of the second half without its head coach, as Phil Johnson received two technical and was ejected with 15:32 remaining in the game and his Miners leading by one. Socks made three of four free throws to turn a one-point deficit to a two-point Cardinal lead. Hart's triple on the next possession gave UIW a five-point lead.

Sam Burmeister's three-pointer at the 10:26-mark of the second half gave UIW its largest lead, 49-43, but UTEP continued to chip away at the deficit and re-took the lead, 51-50, with 7:43 to go in the game. A three-pointer by Keith Frazier gave UTEP a four-point lead, but was quickly answered by Socks' triple to make the score 56-55 with 5:57 left in regulation. However, UTEP increased its lead to eight with 4:13 to go and the Cardinals couldn't recover.

LEADERS

Johnson finished with 14 points to make him the 16^th member of the 1,000 Point Club in program history. The last Cardinal to join the club was Kyle Hittle in 2015-16. Socks led all players with a season-high 21 points. Charles Brown III pulled down a team-best seven boards, followed by Peevy's six.

Paul Thomas led UTEP with 16 points and eight rebounds, followed by Harris with 15 points.

UP NEXT

UIW flies to Gainesville, Fla., to take on a Florida team that is currently receiving votes in the national poll, but was ranked as high as fifth earlier in the season. First tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 22 live on the SEC Network.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals open Southland Conference play at McNeese on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m.