The Norfolk State Spartans visit Don Haskins Center to take on the UTEP Miners. The game gets underway at 9:00 pm ET on Monday, Dec. 21.
The Miners lost big to New Mexico State 73-53 on Saturday. Omega Harris finished with 23 points to lead the team. The Spartans are coming off an 84-70 loss at the hands of Evansville on Thursday. Jeff Short had a team-high 22 points.
UTEP is a seven-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 141 points. The Miners look to build on their records of 6-4 Straight Up (SU) and 3-4 Against The Spread (ATS).
On the other side, Norfolk State has a SU record of 4-7 and an ATS record of 2-2. The Spartans are shooting lights out from the foul line so far, with a .765 free throw percentage that ranks 11th in Division I.
This is the first meeting of the season for UTEP and Norfolk State. The last time they played, UTEP came out on top, bringing its SU record to 1-0 over the Spartans. Additionally, with a 1-0 record, UTEP has the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – UTEP, ATS Winner – UTEP, O/U – Over
Notes
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas El Paso’s last 6 games.
Texas El Paso is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games.
UTEP lost its last game by a 20-point margin. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, Norfolk State is 2-2. UTEP is 3-1 in blowouts this season.
The UTEP Miners average 73.9 possessions per game and 1.008 points per possession, while the Norfolk State Spartans earn fewer possessions (67.5) but more points per possession (1.043).
UTEP averages an effective field goal percentage of 48.9%. Norfolk State has not won a game this season when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage (0-5).
UTEP attempts an average of 18.0 three pointers per game and Norfolk State attempts 17.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the UTEP Miners have a 2-3 record while the Norfolk State Spartans are winless at 0-3.
UTEP makes an average of 6.0 steals per game. Norfolk State has not won a game when it has given up 6 or more steals this season (0-4).
