SWHoopsFan

In a state where Football is king, there is a place where Basketball rules over all sports, that in the west texas town of El Paso. The biggest men's college basketball rivalry in Texas is back in El Paso. The Miners and the Aggies.

Location: Don Haskins Center (Bear's Den)
City: El Paso, TX (23rd largest city in the USA)
Date: 12/17/2003
Time: 7:05pm
Teams:
UTEP
The most historical men's basketball program in Texas.
The only Men's Division 1 Basketball Champion in Texas. (1966, the year that changed college hoops)
Once the Cinderella of the 80s knocking of team as the likes of No. 1 seed Kansas.

NMSU
Leads the series 100-88
Coached by Hall of Famer Lou Henson
Currently the best team in New Mexico

At stake:
UTEP: Rio Grande Championship in Men's Basketball and sweeping the series.
NMSU: Getting revenge and winning at rivals home.

Intresting Notes:
After the worst attendance of the season during the Houston game, UTEP has sold out all 12,222 tickets to the game.
Another intresting fact in the rivalry the team that usually wins the first game on the road tends to lose the second game at home.

HKF

Well the Miners are killing NMSU 65-38 right now. UTEP looks for real this year.

Billy Gillespie and his staff deserve a lot of credit for what they are doing down there in El-Paso.

__________________
My favorite NBA players: Deron Williams * Kobe Bryant * Carmelo Anthony * Ben Gordon * Joe Johnson * Kevin Martin * Tim Duncan * Kyle Lowry * Thad Young * Amare Stoudemire * Dwight Howard * Josh Smith * Brandon Roy * LaMarcus Aldridge * Rudy Gay * Al Horford * Brandan Wright * Craig Smith * Renaldo Balkman * Wilson Chandler

2008-09 Favorite Rookies: Jerryd Bayless (POR), Roy Hibbert (IND), Greg Oden (POR), Chris Douglas-Roberts (NJN), Joe Alexander (MIL), Patrick Ewing, Jr. (NYK)

College Basketball: "Where 7-Foot Bigs Foul Out Happen"

SWHoopsFan

Not only did Billy Gillespie end the NMSU domination of the Battle of I-10 but gave UTEP the Rio Grande Championship. Intresting note even though starter Phili Rivera got injured during the game UTEP stepped up the tempo. This team is all about teamwork. I guess the saying is true, Basketball is back in El Paso.

NMSU is really hurting in the department of bench. I hope Henson turns the team around.