Magic Wins Bracket @ Slam N Jam . . .

El Paso, Texas-----Forward Jason Williams scored a career high 25 points as the University of Texas El Paso outlasted San Jose State University, 69-65, in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game.

The 6-foot-6 junior hit a key three-point basket with 2:24 remaining to give the Miners (16-3, 6-1 WAC) a 65-60 lead, pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and was one of three UTEP players who blocked a San Jose State field goal try in the final two minutes of the game.

"We didn’t have an answer for Williams," said San Jose State coach Phil Johnson, whose team lost its third in a row.

"This (game) probably was our greatest challenge of the year to come into this environment. They have a very good team. Our coaches did a good preparing the team. Our game plan was good. It really came down to the last couple of minutes," added the Spartans’ head coach whose second-half substitution came in the final 30 seconds of the game.

"A lot of people look at our team and look at our record. This is proof that this team plays. This team is still together. We made a phenomenal effort tonight. We gave ourselves a chance to win with 1:30 to go. This is a team (UTEP) that beat Tulsa by 35 here and a team that beat Rice by 30. I’m proud of our guys."

The Spartans (4-12, 1-6 WAC) had four players score in double figures for the second game in a row. Forward Marquin Chandler recorded his third straight "double-double" with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Eric Bloom scored a season high 15 points on five three-point baskets. Alex Elam broke out of a1-for-18 shooting slump by scoring all 10 of his points in the second half and limited UTEP’s Omar Thomas, who came into the game averaging 20.6 per contest to a season-low three points. Center Matt Misko played the last 9:02 with four fouls and scored 10 points.

Guard Donta Watson was the only Spartan starter who did not score in double figures, but he contributed season-high figures of eight assists and nine rebounds to go along with his eight points.

"Anytime you have a player as good as Chandler and a player like Elam shooting over 55 percent from three (point range), you have a good college basketball team," said UTEP coach Doc Sadler. "We didn’t play that well. Our shot selection wasn’t bad except for the way they were playing us. They were going to allow everybody but (Filiberto) Rivera and Thomas to beat us. What we were trying to do was to get the ball swung on the wing. It’s hard when you’re standing out there not to shoot the basketball."

Neither team had more than an eight-point lead. San Jose State led three times in the first half, but trailed 32-29 at halftime. The Miners never gave up the lead in the second half. With 4:25 remaining, Bloom missed a 10-footer from the right side of the key that would have tied the score at 60-60. A Rivera lay-up off a Williams assist gave the Miners a 62-58 lead. Chandler’s last basket at 3:01 brought the Spartans to 62-60 before Williams’ crucial fourth three-point basket of the game with 2:24 to go.

Reserve Miguel Ayala was the only other Miner to score in double figures with 14 points.

UTEP's ability to get to the free throw line enough times helped the Miners to victory. The conference's top free throw shooting team made 12-of-15 compared to San Jose State which converted the only four tries it had in the game.

San Jose State (65)
Elam 4-11 0-0 10; Chandler 9-18 2-2 20; Misko 4-6 2-2 10; Watson 3-7 0-0 8; Bloom 5-14 0-0 15; Guilbeaux 1-1 0-0 2; McFadden 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 4-4 65.

UTEP (69)
Williams 10-15 1-2 25; Thomas 1-7 1-2 3; Tofi 2-5 1-2 5; Rivera 3-9 2-2 8; St. Amant 2-5 0-0 4; Ayala 4-8 3-3 14; Branch 0-1 2-2 2; Kimble 3-5 2-2 8. Totals 25-55 12-15 69. .

Halftime score – Texas El Paso 32, San Jose State 29. Three-point field goals - San Jose State 9-24 (McFadden 0-1, Elam 2-6, Chandler 0-2, Bloom 5-10, Watson 2-5), Texas El Paso 7-21 (Williams 4-7, Thomas 0-1, St. Amant 0-1, Rivera 0-5, Ayala 3-7). Rebounds – San Jose State 33 (Chandler 12), Texas El Paso 31 (Williams 8). Assists – San Jose State 14 (Watson 8), Texas El Paso 15 (Rivera 6). Total fouls – San Jose State 14, Texas El Paso 8. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none. Attendance – 12,000.