UTEP Point guard ready after long layoff...

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Filiberto Rivera pushed the ball up the court Monday morning, then zipped it through the tiniest of open spaces to a cutting teammate. Result? Layup.

It was almost as if Rivera had not been sidelined the past two weeks with a bad ankle. He was playing with heavy ankle braces and his conditioning is a bit off. But Rivera is back and, unless there is a relapse, will start Wednesday night against New Mexico State in Las Cruces.

"It was kind of sore," Rivera said after Monday morning's session. "But I can live with it. It is time to get back to practice so I can get better. I'm just really thankful for our trainers, Mike (Gutierrez) and Jesus (Flores). They really put some work into it. It's not really 100 percent, but hopefully by Wednesday it will be even better."

Rivera has missed UTEP's past three games with a balky ankle he injured in practice Nov. 29.

"Fili looked fine," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said. "I'm sure he will be sore, but sure, he will be ready to go Wednesday. Unless something happens, we will probably go with Fili, Gio (St. Amant), Jason (Williams), Omar (Thomas) and Will (Kimble) Wednesday night."

UTEP, now 5-2 on the season, will play New Mexico State at the Pan American Center, then play the Aggies again Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners went through a Monday morning practice, then went back at 6 p.m. to walk through some things and work on some in-bounds plays.

"This practice was a momentum builder for me," senior Omar Thomas said. "I've got my point guard back, and he looked better than I thought he would after this layoff. It's always great to have him back on the floor, especially now. It's rivalry week and this is for I-10 bragging rights, and these games are always good and always fun."

 

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UTEP, NMSU rivalry about past, present



They began playing this series in 1915, running up and down the basketball court and creating a rivalry at a time when President Woodrow Wilson was warning the Germans and World War 1 was rumbling.

Now, nearly 90 years later, this friendly basketball game -- between two cities, two universities, two neighbors -- has evolved into the fiercest of rivalries ... just some intense, serious fun and games in baggy shorts.

Tonight, UTEP will go to Las Cruces. Saturday, New Mexico State will come to El Paso.

The Miners, 5-2, and the Aggies, 3-4, are far more interested in this moment, this season than any history. But history always is a part of these games. New Mexico State has won eight of the past 13. UTEP won the past two. Fittingly, these two universities cannot even agree on the series record. Both know New Mexico State has the lead, but the Miners have the Aggies leading this thing 100-89, and the Aggies have the Aggies leading 97-90.

But again, that is history, and while history is important, it also is on the periphery when that opening tip is tossed and bodies begin to bang.

"It should be fun," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said. "I'm not sure the players appreciate how few times they get to play in games like this. But really, these games are what college basketball is all about. The fans are excited and intense, and it means something to both schools. Obviously, this is a bigger non-conference game than most. We're neighbors and it's for bragging rights. If you are a player, it means either walking around for the next year with your chest puffed out a little more, or walking around hoping people don't notice you. But I think it's just fun for everyone."

UTEP had the most fun last year, taking an 83-74 decision in Las Cruces, then putting the finishing touches on the sweep withan 85-60 victory in El Paso.

UTEP will have All-Western Athletic Conference point guard Filiberto Rivera for the first time in three games. Rivera still has a tender ankle but has practiced the past two days. NMSU might have talented 6-foot-6 swingman Duane John, who scored 26 in the first game between these two teams last season. The Aggies expect to find out today if John has gained his eligibility.

Senior Omar Thomas leads UTEP in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.4 points and 17.3 rebounds an outing. Junior Jason Williams averages 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. And Rivera averages 12.5 points and 4.0 assists. Mike Mitchell, a 6-foot junior college transfer, leads NMSU in scoring, averaging 12.3 points a game. Trevor Lawrence, 6-11, averages 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and shoots .567 percent from the floor. Josh Jenkins leads the Aggies in assists at 3.5 per game.

The anticipation is part of the show in this series.

"I think everyone is looking forward to this," UTEP junior guard Giovanni St. Amant said. "It's the battle of I-10, a good crowd, a good atmosphere, just fun. It's fun every time we do it, and it is even fun to prepare for. We know it's going to be a battle."

 

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Game far from sold out



New Mexico State officials said Tuesday there are plenty of seats available for tonight's UTEP- NMSU shootout at the Pan American Center. In fact, there might be several thousand seats available.

NMSU has averaged just 5,536 fans for its three home games this season -- and that includes 8,125 for rival New Mexico. The UTEP-NMSU game drew 11,983 fans in Las Cruces last season.


# From downtown:
New Mexico State's Allen Haynes, a senior from Hobbs, N.M., is climbing the school's all-time 3-point shot ladder. Haynes has averaged 41 3-pointers a season in his two previous seasons and currently ranks ninth all-time in 3-point shots made with 96. He also is seventh all-time in 3-point field goal percentage for NMSU.

# With Fili:
UTEP senior point guard Filiberto Rivera is the quarterback of the team, and it is as obvious on the statistical sheet as it is to the naked eye.

Rivera has missed UTEP's past three games with an ankle injury, but should be in the starting lineup tonight.

With Rivera, UTEP has averaged 73.5 points a game. Without Rivera, the Miners are averaging 64.3. With Rivera, UTEP has a plus-13.5 scoring margin. Without Rivera, UTEP has a plus-6.3 scoring margin. With Rivera, UTEP is shooting .470 percent from the field. Without Rivera, the Miners are shooting .427 percent.

# A little better:
NMSU is off to a 3-4 start, but UTEP coach Doc Sadler believes the Aggies are a better team than a year ago.

"They are good shooters and they are very, very athletic," Sadler said. "They are capable of putting up a lot of points and, defensively, they are better than last year. (Trevor) Lawrence, their big guy inside (6-foot-11), is playing well. Last year I didn't think they had a true point guard, but now I think both their guys (junior college transfer Mike Mitchell and freshman Josh Jenkins) do a good job for them."