The UTEP men's basketball team almost overcame a mountain of adversity at Florida International on Thursday morning, but fell 69-67 when they were were done in by their 17th turnover and their failure to grab key rebounds late.
The Miners played without coach Rodney Terry, who was in a Miami hospital after an allergic reaction Wednesday night, in their first game without transferring point guard Jordan Lathon, and were outshot from the free-throw line 23 attempts to 12.
After trailing by 10 points at halftime, they charged back into a 63-60 lead with 5:16 left and were later tied at 65, but Osasumwen Osaghae's offensive rebound and three-point play with 2:12 left gave FIU a lead it would not relinquish.