UTEP Gets Bulldogged At Home in Ugly Loss to La. Tech

Tim Floyd made no bones about it -- his team got whipped by Louisiana Tech. UTEP was out-rebounded, out-stolen, out-shot and out-hustled by the Bulldogs, 58-45. 

It was a game where the ball always seemed to be one step ahead of the Miners, who could never just wrap it up for a rebound, hang on to a deflection or so much as earn the bonus shot from a one-and-one.

UTEP was 1-for-7 from the free throw line to La. Tech's 5-for-5. The last free throw of the night was the only make for the Miners, and it was Vince Hunter's second try from a two-shot shooting foul.

Though the pre-season Conference USA favorite Bulldogs had a lot to do with UTEP's sad effort Thursday night, the Miners didn't seem capable of helping their own cause.

UTEP left a mess in its own house. Expect Floyd and his staff to rub his team's nose in it and hope for a quick turnaround before facing ex-Miners coach Doc Sadler's Southern Miss Golden Eagles Saturday at the Haskins Center.