The Sports Xchange
Dec 9, 2017
UTEP guard Keith Frazier had 21 points and Omega Harris added 18 as the Miners weathered Washington State's 3-point attack for a 76-69 victory over the Cougars at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso on Saturday.
Frazier made five 3-pointers, one fewer than his career high, and Harris made two to offset the long-range accuracy of the Cougars, who made 12 of their 31 3-point tries. Washington State entered the game fourth in the nation in 3-pointers made per game at 12.1.
Harris made all eight of his free-throw attempts, including four in the final 22 seconds, to help the Miners (3-6) to their second straight win. Paul Thomas had 11 points.
Washington State guard Viont'e Daniels had a career-high 18 points on a career-high six 3-pointers but the Cougars (6-3) could not avoid their third straight loss.
Robert Franks had 14 points and nine rebounds, Drick Bernstine had 13 points and Kwinton Hinson had 10 points for the Cougars. Hinson made three threes and Franks made two.
Frazier, who had eight rebounds, hit a 3-pointer with 6:34 left to give the Miners a 64-58 lead, and the Cougars never got over the hump.
Washington State went 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal until Malachi Flynn's 3-pointer with 4:55 remaining closed the deficit to 64-62.
Hinson's third 3-pointer brought the Cougars within one at 66-65 with 3:10 left, but that was as close as they got.
Washington State missed its final four 3-point attempts in the final three minutes, including one by Franks that would have tied the game with 31 seconds left.