This is a true home game for UTEP in the Basketball Classic. The Miners are expected to have point guard Jamal Bieniemy (14.7 ppg, 4.0 apg) back from a nagging injury. He apparently was simply rested for the opening-round rout of Western Illinois -- pretty gutsy by Coach Joe Golding to sit a guy in a postseason tournament when it's one and done. Guess he thought UTEP didn't need Bieniemy to win. SUU is 7-7 on the road and lost its leading scorer for the season back on March 1.

Southern Utah will give the Miners a run for their money, but I expect UTEP to make the necessary halftime adjustments to take care of business. I'm on the Miners.