Box Score EL PASO, Texas – Tarleton State Men's Basketball was unable to give head coach Billy Gillispie a victory in his return to El Paso, despite a late second-half rally against UTEP on Monday night at the Haskins Center.
 
The Texans (3-9) outscored the Miners (7-3) by four in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome their early deficit.
 
Before starting lineups were announced, coach Gillispie was greeted with an over minute-long standing ovation that nearly brought the former UTEP head coach to tears. Throughout the night many former acquaintances of the former leader of the Miners made sure to stop by and tell him how great it was to have him back in town for the game.
 
I love El Paso, I love the town and the people, they have always been great to me," said head coach Billy Gillispie about his return to his beloved El Paso.
 
Bubu Benjamin led the Texans with 18 points, the eighth time he has led the team this season. The sophomore has totaled double digits in all but one game and at least 15 points in nine of the 12 contests. The Canada native added a team-high three steals.
 
Freshmen Jordan Mizell and Keitenn Bristow also notched double-digit scoring totals. Mizell posted a season-high 14 off the bench and Bristow added 13 in his second start for the Texans. Mizell shot a perfect eight-for-eight from the charity stripe and tallied a team-best three assists. Bristow shot 66.7 percent from the floor (six-for-nine) including one-for-four from deep.
 
Dantwan Grimes and Marty Silvera each saw their first action of the season for the Texans. Silvera earned the start in his first D1 collegiate contest. Grimes contributed seven points off the bench including a pair of made triples in the second half. The junior totaled 21 minutes while playing turnover-free basketball.
 
Former Texan Devon Barnes was one of four Miners in double figures, finishing the night with 11.
 
The Miners broke out to an early 8-2 lead. After scoring the first four points, Bristow scored the first Texans points of the night with a lay-up in the paint. UTEP expanded its early lead to 17-4 thanks to a pair of made triples.
 
Tarleton responded with an 8-0 run of its own to cut its deficit to just five, 17-12 at the midpoint of the half. Six of Benjamin's team-best eight first half points came during the run. Mizell started the spurt with a layup and Benjamin followed with the next six via a layup, made triple and a free throw.
 
In the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Texans were unable to shrink their lead below five. The Miners led by as many as 12 in the final 10, after a 5-0 Texan run. Bristow nailed a three-pointer to cut the Miner lead to single digits at the half.
 
Out of the halftime break, the Miners maintained a double-digit lead for the first five minutes. But, coach Gillispie's crew they still had fight left. Trailing 40-29 with 15:44 to go, the Texans cut the deficit in half with a 6-0 run. A pair of free throws by Chris Mpaka and buckets by Bristow and Mizell, the Texans were right back in the game.
 
After a pair of Miner made free throws, Grimes brought the Texans within four, the lowest of the second half at that point. Grimes rained a three in front of the Texan bench, reenergizing the rowdy bunch. With both teams trading baskets over the next several minutes, it was Grimes again as the shot clock expired with his second triple of the night to bring the Texans back within five, 49-44 with 8:27 left to play.
 
On the next Tarleton possession, Benjamin brought his crew within three, 49-46 with just under eight minutes to play. However, the Miners followed up with back-to-back buckers to break out to an eight-point advantage. But a mini 4-0 run courtesy of Mpaka and Mizell, the Texans were right back in the swing of things, down by just four with six minutes to go.
 
Over the next three minutes, UTEP slowly took an eight-point advantage seemingly ending the Texans hopes. But, Tarleton had one more run left inside themselves. Benjamin initiated a 6-0 run with a pair of layups separated by a pair of Mpaka made freebies at the line. With 54 seconds left, the Texans trailed by just two. But a costly goaltend by the Texans ended their chances giving UTEP a four-point lead with 34 ticks remaining. The Texans came up empty on the next possession and after a few foul shots to end the game, ultimately dropped the contest, 67-62.
 
Tarleton won the battle of the boards for the fourth time this season, 26-25. For just the second time in the Division I era, the Texans shot 50 percent from the floor and was unable to come away with the victory. Tarleton is now 37-2 when the team shoots 50 percent or better during its Division I era.
 
Tarleton State will continue its two-game road trip with a Wednesday night contest against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from the Iba-Gallagher Arena.