There is a formula to winning at home, one UTEP had been on the wrong end of on their recent road trip.
The home team should win the free-throw line and the visiting team should have trouble making big shots late.
The Miners turned that into a strong closing stretch in a 76-64 victory over Southern Miss that ended a skid where they had lost five of six on their long road trip.
In going to 9-0 at home for the first time since 1988-89, the Miners made their first 24 free throws and finished 34-37 there, eventually outscoring the Golden Eagles 37-14 from the line to go to 10-6 overall and 1-2 in Conference USA.