Antoine Gillespie hit a 3-point shot with 54 seconds left Monday night, as Texas-El Paso held off Southern Utah, 66-61.
UTEP (5-1) trailed much of the second half before taking a 63-61 lead on Gillespie's shot. Gillespie, who's averaging more than 23 points a game, was held to just 14 points.He went five of 18 from the field, including 2-of-8 from 3-point range.
Southern Utah (5-3) led 32-30 at intermission, and the game remained close throughout. The largest lead by either team was six points.
After Phil Crocker's tip-in 7:16 into the second half gave Southern Utah a 47-45 lead, the lead exchanged hands seven times in the final 10 minutes.
Donnie McDade hit all three of his 3-point shots and Andy Ward hit two of his six tries to lead Southern Utah with 15 points each. McDade also had a team-leading seven rebounds.
UTEP 66, Southern Utah 61
Southern Utah (5-3)
Ingram 2-5 0-0 4, McDade 6-11 0-0 15, Allen 4-10 1-4 9, Berard 3-9 0-0 9, Ward 3-8 7-10 15, Blackener 0-1 0-1 0 Faulkener 3-8 0-4 7, Bailey 1-1 0-0 2, Squire 0-0 0-0 0, Saunders 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-53 8-18 61.
UTEP (5-1)
Crocker 4-7 0-0 9, Davis 5-10 0-0 10, Gosa 3-6 1-2 7, Spillar 5-8 1-2 16, Gillespie 5-18 2-3 14, C. Davis 1-1 0-0 3, Gonzalez 0-0 0-0 0, Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Barnes 0-0 0-0 0, Banks 2-3 3-4 7.Totals 25-53 7-11 66.
Halftime- Southern Utah 32, UTEP 30. 3-Point goals-Southern Utah 9-20 (McDade 3-3, Berard 3-7, Ward 2-6, Faulkner 1-4, Ingram 0-1, Blackener 0-1, UTEP 9-21 (Crocker 1-2, Davis 0-2, Spillar 5-8 Gillespie 2-8, C. Davis 1-1.) Fouled out- R. Davis Rebounds- Southern Utah 32 (McDade, Allen 7), UTEP 31 (Gosa 9).Assists-Southern Utah 10 (Ingram 3,) UTEP 15 (Crocker 6). Total fouls-Southern Utah 13, UTEP 13. A-7,128.