July 9, 2007

Head Coach Tony Barbee announced UTEP's 2007-08 men's basketball non-conference schedule on Thursday.

The Miners will play a minimum of four games versus teams that reached postseason play a year ago, with the possibility of more in the preseason National Invitation Tournament and the State Farm Sun Bowl Tournament. Fields for both tournaments will be released later in the summer.

"I wanted to challenge this team, and people are saying that this is one of the toughest schedules in the history of the program," Barbee said. "We will face several teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament last year. I think it's a schedule with good balance that will help our younger players come along at a faster pace and prepare us for conference play."

UTEP will launch the 2007-08 campaign -- its second under the direction of Barbee -- with three straight home games. The Miners will host Division II Western New Mexico on Nov. 1 and Division III Sul Ross State on Nov. 5 in a pair of exhibition contests. The regular season opener is Nov. 9 at home versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

On Nov. 12, the Miners will play a road game in the preseason NIT as they make their first appearance in the tournament since 1992. UTEP is guaranteed to play a minimum of two games in the tournament, which concludes on Nov. 23 with the finals in New York City. Sandwiched between NIT play will be a home game against Texas Southern on Nov. 18.

The Miners will renew their rivalry with 2007 NCAA Tournament participant New Mexico State on Nov. 27 at the Don Haskins Center. The rematch of the I-10 series will take place on Dec. 8 in Las Cruces.

UTEP will square off with UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Dec. 1. The former Western Athletic Conference rivals will be facing one another for the first time since the 1997-98 season. The Runnin' Rebels are coming off a 30-7 campaign, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Following home dates with Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 19) and Cal State Northridge (Dec. 22), UTEP will once again join the field of the State Farm Sun Bowl Tournament -- an event the Miners have won 26 times. The 47th annual event is slated for Dec. 28-29.

The Miners will christen the new year by tangling with long-time adversary New Mexico on Jan. 2 at the Haskins Center. UTEP will wrap up the non-conference slate on Jan. 5 at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders returned to the "Big Dance" last year while compiling a 21-13 mark.

The Conference USA schedule is expected to be announced in August.

UTEP returns three starters and seven letterwinners from last year's 14-17 squad, while introducing a recruiting class that has been ranked 34th in the country by HOOP SCOOP Online.

Season tickets are on sale now by calling (915) 747-6150.