BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The first half was simply a mugging.
UTEP smothered, simply smothered Rice in every sense of that defensive word, and the Owls could never quite come up for air ... or at least not enough air to get back in the battle.
The 40-minute result of that first half defensive clinic? UTEP 86, Rice 76. And the real result? UTEP lives to play another day.
The Miners mugged the Owls Thursday afternoon in that first half of this Conference USA Tournament quarterfinal game, taking a 49-29 lead in front of several hundred fans in Legacy Arena and now they move into Friday’s semifinals against regular season champion Middle Tennessee.