In a game that lived up to the weight of its rivalry and the roar of the Don Haskins Center, UTEP delivered another unforgettable comeback, outlasting New Mexico State 91–88 in overtime Saturday night in the 226th Battle of I-10.
The Miners once again leaned on resilience, composure, and timely shot-making, improving to 3–0 in overtime games this season and recording their fifth comeback win after trailing by double digits. It was also UTEP’s second straight win in the rivalry — a feat the program hadn’t achieved in 14 years.
NM State controlled much of the night. The Aggies jumped out early behind hot perimeter shooting, building a lead that grew to 14 in the first half. Anthony Wrzeszcz sparked the surge with four first-half three-pointers, helping NM State take a 39–32 advantage into the locker room.
The Aggies appeared to be in control late as well, extending their lead to 66–56 with just over six minutes remaining in regulation. But UTEP, fueled by defensive pressure and second-chance opportunities, slowly chipped away.
The defining moment of regulation came in the final seconds. With the Miners trailing by three, Kaseem Watson caught the ball at the top of the key and buried a contested three with roughly five seconds left, sending the building into chaos and forcing overtime tied at 72.
Overtime belonged to UTEP.
After NM State briefly reclaimed the lead, the Miners erupted on a decisive 10–0 run, flipping momentum completely. Caleb Blackwell was at the center of it, scoring nine of his game-high-tying 21 points in the extra period and calmly converting six straight free throws to seal the win.
Watson delivered a complete performance, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, while Elijah Jones added 17 points and 12 boards of his own. Jamal West Jr. was relentless inside, posting 20 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks while drawing fouls all night — going 12-for-20 from the free-throw line and forcing multiple Aggies to foul out.
UTEP’s physicality proved decisive. The Miners outrebounded NM State 49–42, including 18 offensive rebounds, and matched their season high with 11 made three-pointers. Those second-chance points and trips to the free-throw line wore down the Aggies late.
NM State was led by Jemel Jones, who poured in a game-high 26 points and hit several big shots in the closing minutes of regulation and overtime. Julius Mims pulled down 12 rebounds for his third straight double-digit rebounding effort, but the Aggies’ missed free throws — 14-for-23 on the night — loomed large down the stretch.
When the final horn sounded, UTEP had once again turned adversity into advantage, sending the El Paso crowd home after one of the most dramatic rivalry wins in recent memory.
In a series defined by intensity, Saturday night was a reminder of what makes the Battle of I-10 special — and why this UTEP team continues to believe it can survive anything thrown its way.
