Watson scores 23 as UTEP beats Middle Tennessee 83-80 in OT
AP
Jan 09, 2026
EL PASO, Texas (AP) Kaseem Watson scored 23 points, four in the overtime, as UTEP took down Middle Tennessee 83-80 on Thursday.
Watson also contributed seven rebounds for the Miners (5-10, 1-3 Conference USA). Elijah Jones scored 20 points while shooting 8 for 12 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) with three blocks. Jamal West shot 6 of 15 to finish with 16 points.
KJ Thomas added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists, while LA Hayes had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double with three steals off the bench.
Chris Loofe finished with 16 points and seven rebounds for the Blue Raiders (9-6, 3-1) before fouling out. Sean Smith also had 16 points, along with four assists and two steals for Middle Tennessee. Kamari Lands also recorded 12 points.
Watson scored 11 points in the first half and UTEP went into halftime trailing 44-37. After trailing by nine points in the second half, UTEP went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 66-66 with 4:28 remaining. Jones put the Miners up by two with 41 seconds left before Smith tied the game on his own layup with 28 seconds left.
Jones scored four straight points in overtime to give the Miners a lead they never relinquished. Jones scored 11 second-half points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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1st Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
44
UTEP
Miners
37
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Blue Raiders gains possession)
19:41
Jahvin Carter misses three point jump shot
19:39
Blue Raiders offensive rebound
19:32
+2
Kamari Lands makes two point layup
2-0
19:15
+2
Jamal West Jr. makes two point layup
2-2
18:43
Blue Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
18:26
Jamal West Jr. misses two point layup
18:24
Chris Loofe defensive rebound
18:18
+2
Jahvin Carter makes two point layup
4-2
18:05
Elijah Jones misses two point jump shot
18:03
Chris Loofe defensive rebound
17:53
Kamari Lands misses two point jump shot
17:51
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
17:32
Kaseem Watson misses two point hook shot
17:30
Torey Alston defensive rebound
17:21
+3
Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot
7-2
16:50
+2
Jamal West Jr. makes two point dunk
7-4
16:31
+2
Torey Alston makes two point layup (Jahvin Carter assists)
9-4
16:08
Jahvin Carter personal foul
15:49
+3
KJ Thomas makes three point jump shot (Bobby Montgomery Jr. assists)
9-7
15:29
Torey Alston turnover (out of bounds)
15:29
TV timeout
15:09
Cassius Brooks misses two point layup
15:07
Chris Loofe defensive rebound
14:52
+2
Torey Alston makes two point layup
11-7
14:29
C.J. Smith misses two point layup
14:27
Blue Raiders defensive rebound
14:16
C.J. Smith shooting foul (Alec Oglesby draws the foul)
14:16
Alec Oglesby misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:16
+1
Alec Oglesby makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-7
13:58
Kamari Lands blocks KJ Thomas's two point layup
13:56
LA Hayes offensive rebound
13:29
+2
Sean Smith makes two point layup
14-7
13:25
LA Hayes misses two point layup
13:23
Tre Green defensive rebound
13:19
Chris Loofe shooting foul (LA Hayes draws the foul)
13:19
LA Hayes misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:19
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
14-8
12:51
+2
Torey Alston makes two point jump shot (James Dent Jr. assists)
16-8
12:38
LA Hayes misses three point jump shot
12:36
Torey Alston defensive rebound
12:30
Torey Alston misses two point layup
12:28
Elijah Jones defensive rebound
12:28
Luka Jovanovic personal foul
12:04
Kaseem Watson misses two point jump shot
12:02
Torey Alston defensive rebound
11:49
Jamal West Jr. shooting foul (Kamari Lands draws the foul)
11:49
TV timeout
11:49
+1
Kamari Lands makes regular free throw 1 of 3
17-8
11:49
+1
Kamari Lands makes regular free throw 2 of 3
18-8
11:49
+1
Kamari Lands makes regular free throw 3 of 3
19-8
11:25
+3
Kaseem Watson makes three point jump shot (Jamal West Jr. assists)
19-11
11:12
Alec Oglesby misses three point jump shot
11:10
Sean Smith offensive rebound
11:06
Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
11:04
Cassius Brooks defensive rebound
10:42
+3
Kaseem Watson makes three point jump shot (Jamal West Jr. assists)
19-14
10:15
+2
Sean Smith makes two point jump shot
21-14
10:15
Cassius Brooks personal foul (Sean Smith draws the foul)
10:15
+1
Sean Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 1
22-14
9:53
Alec Oglesby blocks LA Hayes's two point jump shot
9:51
LA Hayes offensive rebound
9:51
+2
LA Hayes makes two point jump shot
22-16
9:51
Luka Jovanovic shooting foul (LA Hayes draws the foul)
9:51
LA Hayes misses regular free throw 1 of 1
9:51
Torey Alston defensive rebound
9:38
+3
Alec Oglesby makes three point jump shot (Jahvin Carter assists)
25-16
9:27
Kaseem Watson misses three point jump shot
9:25
LA Hayes offensive rebound
9:22
C.J. Smith misses three point jump shot
9:20
Torey Alston defensive rebound
9:07
+2
Chris Loofe makes two point jump shot (Kamari Lands assists)
27-16
8:37
Torey Alston shooting foul (KJ Thomas draws the foul)
8:37
KJ Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:37
+1
KJ Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-17
8:24
+3
Tre Green makes three point jump shot (Jahvin Carter assists)
30-17
8:03
+2
KJ Thomas makes two point layup
30-19
8:03
Jahvin Carter shooting foul (KJ Thomas draws the foul)
8:03
+1
KJ Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 1
30-20
7:47
Kamari Lands misses two point jump shot
7:44
Blue Raiders offensive rebound
7:44
TV timeout
7:33
Chris Loofe turnover (traveling)
7:23
Kaseem Watson offensive foul
7:23
Kaseem Watson turnover (offensive foul)
7:06
Tre Green misses three point jump shot
7:04
Elijah Jones defensive rebound
6:54
+3
Elijah Jones makes three point jump shot (Jamal West Jr. assists)
30-23
6:30
Torey Alston offensive foul
6:30
Torey Alston turnover (offensive foul)
6:17
Chris Loofe shooting foul (Jamal West Jr. draws the foul)
6:17
Jamal West Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:17
+1
Jamal West Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
30-24
6:02
+3
Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot
33-24
5:41
KJ Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Tre Green steals)
5:30
Kamari Lands turnover (lost ball) (Elijah Jones steals)
5:21
Kamari Lands personal foul (Elijah Jones draws the foul)
5:21
Elijah Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:21
Jamal West Jr. offensive rebound
5:13
+3
Kaseem Watson makes three point jump shot (Cassius Brooks assists)
33-27
5:00
+3
Tre Green makes three point jump shot (Sean Smith assists)
36-27
4:46
Kaseem Watson misses two point jump shot
4:44
Jarred Hall defensive rebound
4:36
+3
Sean Smith makes three point jump shot
39-27
4:23
Jarred Hall personal foul (Cassius Brooks draws the foul)
4:23
+1
Cassius Brooks makes regular free throw 1 of 2
39-28
4:23
+1
Cassius Brooks makes regular free throw 2 of 2
39-29
4:12
LA Hayes personal foul
4:09
Tre Green misses three point jump shot
4:07
KJ Thomas defensive rebound
3:50
+2
Kaseem Watson makes two point jump shot
39-31
3:30
Jarred Hall misses three point jump shot
3:28
KJ Thomas defensive rebound
3:12
Jamal West Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:10
Jarred Hall defensive rebound
3:09
Mouhamed Mbaye personal foul
3:09
TV timeout
2:52
Jarred Hall misses two point layup
2:50
LA Hayes defensive rebound
2:46
+2
Elijah Jones makes two point dunk (LA Hayes assists)
39-33
2:17
Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
2:15
Jarred Hall offensive rebound
2:14
Jarred Hall turnover (lost ball) (LA Hayes steals)
2:14
Jarred Hall personal foul (LA Hayes draws the foul)
2:14
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
39-34
2:14
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
39-35
1:58
Alec Oglesby turnover (lost ball) (Jamal West Jr. steals)
1:50
Jamal West Jr. misses two point jump shot
1:48
Jamal West Jr. offensive rebound
1:48
Jamal West Jr. misses two point layup
1:46
Jamal West Jr. offensive rebound
1:46
+2
Jamal West Jr. makes two point layup
39-37
1:46
Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
1:33
+3
Alec Oglesby makes three point jump shot (Sean Smith assists)
42-37
1:09
Jamal West Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Alec Oglesby steals)
0:40
+2
Tre Green makes two point layup (Kamari Lands assists)
44-37
0:17
Elijah Jones misses two point jump shot
0:15
Kaseem Watson offensive rebound
0:12
Kaseem Watson turnover (lost ball) (Sean Smith steals)
0:02
Sean Smith misses two point jump shot
0:01
LA Hayes defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
29
UTEP
Miners
36
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:34
+2
Elijah Jones makes two point dunk (KJ Thomas assists)
44-39
19:07
+2
Torey Alston makes two point layup
46-39
18:50
Torey Alston personal foul
18:42
Kaseem Watson misses three point jump shot
18:40
Blue Raiders defensive rebound
18:23
Elijah Jones shooting foul (Chris Loofe draws the foul)
18:23
+1
Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 1 of 2
47-39
18:23
+1
Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 2 of 2
48-39
18:06
Cassius Brooks misses three point jump shot
18:04
Chris Loofe defensive rebound
17:54
+3
James Dent Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jahvin Carter assists)
51-39
17:34
+2
Jamal West Jr. makes two point layup
51-41
17:22
Elijah Jones blocks Jahvin Carter's three point jump shot
17:20
Cassius Brooks defensive rebound
17:12
+2
Elijah Jones makes two point layup (KJ Thomas assists)
51-43
16:52
Kamari Lands misses two point layup
16:50
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
16:32
Kaseem Watson misses two point jump shot
16:30
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
16:24
Alec Oglesby misses three point jump shot
16:22
Elijah Jones defensive rebound
16:02
+2
Elijah Jones makes two point jump shot
51-45
15:42
+2
Chris Loofe makes two point layup (Jahvin Carter assists)
53-45
15:40
Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
15:40
TV timeout
15:23
KJ Thomas misses three point jump shot
15:21
Alec Oglesby defensive rebound
15:07
+2
Luka Jovanovic makes two point layup (Sean Smith assists)
55-45
14:55
Alec Oglesby personal foul
14:55
TV timeout
14:41
+3
Kaseem Watson makes three point jump shot (KJ Thomas assists)
55-48
14:15
Kamari Lands offensive foul
14:15
Kamari Lands turnover (offensive foul)
14:05
KJ Thomas turnover (back court violation)
13:41
Blue Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
13:26
Jamal West Jr. misses two point jump shot
13:24
Jamal West Jr. offensive rebound
13:21
Jump ball. Jamal West Jr. vs. Luka Jovanovic (Blue Raiders gains possession)
13:21
Jamal West Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Luka Jovanovic steals)
13:04
Alec Oglesby misses three point jump shot
13:02
LA Hayes defensive rebound
12:40
Sean Smith shooting foul (Jamal West Jr. draws the foul)
12:40
Jamal West Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:40
+1
Jamal West Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
55-49
12:07
James Dent Jr. misses two point jump shot
12:05
LA Hayes defensive rebound
11:57
Luka Jovanovic blocks Jamal West Jr.'s two point jump shot
11:55
Miners offensive rebound
11:55
TV timeout
11:49
+3
Elijah Jones makes three point jump shot (LA Hayes assists)
55-52
11:23
Jordan Hernandez personal foul
11:17
Tre Green misses three point jump shot
11:15
Elijah Jones defensive rebound
10:57
Jamal West Jr. offensive foul
10:57
Jamal West Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
10:39
Elijah Jones blocks Jahvin Carter's two point layup
10:37
Chris Loofe offensive rebound
10:35
+2
Chris Loofe makes two point layup
57-52
10:19
+2
Kaseem Watson makes two point layup
57-54
10:12
Jordan Hernandez personal foul
10:07
Kaseem Watson personal foul
9:55
Alec Oglesby misses three point jump shot
9:53
Jamal West Jr. defensive rebound
9:53
Torey Alston personal foul
9:32
Kaseem Watson misses two point jump shot
9:30
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
9:20
+2
Jahvin Carter makes two point layup
59-54
8:54
Tre Green personal foul
8:41
Jahvin Carter personal foul (KJ Thomas draws the foul)
8:41
+1
KJ Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2
59-55
8:41
KJ Thomas misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:41
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
8:19
+2
Chris Loofe makes two point layup (Jahvin Carter assists)
61-55
8:19
Jamal West Jr. shooting foul (Chris Loofe draws the foul)
8:19
+1
Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 1 of 1
62-55
7:56
Chris Loofe shooting foul (KJ Thomas draws the foul)
7:56
TV timeout
7:56
KJ Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:56
+1
KJ Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-56
7:46
KJ Thomas personal foul (Jahvin Carter draws the foul)
7:46
+1
Jahvin Carter makes regular free throw 1 of 2
63-56
7:46
+1
Jahvin Carter makes regular free throw 2 of 2
64-56
7:20
Jamal West Jr. misses two point jump shot
7:18
Mouhamed Mbaye offensive rebound
7:17
Chris Loofe personal foul (Mouhamed Mbaye draws the foul)
7:17
+1
Mouhamed Mbaye makes regular free throw 1 of 2
64-57
7:17
Mouhamed Mbaye misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:17
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
6:47
Kamari Lands misses two point jump shot
6:45
Luka Jovanovic offensive rebound
6:40
+2
Luka Jovanovic makes two point layup
66-57
6:15
Kaseem Watson misses three point jump shot
6:13
LA Hayes offensive rebound
6:13
Alec Oglesby personal foul
6:13
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
66-58
6:13
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
66-59
6:00
Sean Smith turnover (lost ball) (LA Hayes steals)
6:00
Sean Smith personal foul (LA Hayes draws the foul)
6:00
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
66-60
6:00
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
66-61
5:34
Elijah Jones blocks Jahvin Carter's two point layup
5:32
Jamal West Jr. defensive rebound
5:18
Luka Jovanovic blocks Jamal West Jr.'s two point jump shot
5:16
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
5:06
Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
5:04
KJ Thomas defensive rebound
4:56
+2
KJ Thomas makes two point layup
66-63
4:35
Jahvin Carter turnover (lost ball) (LA Hayes steals)
4:28
+2
Jamal West Jr. makes two point jump shot (LA Hayes assists)
66-65
4:28
Luka Jovanovic shooting foul (Jamal West Jr. draws the foul)
4:28
+1
Jamal West Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
66-66
4:03
Jahvin Carter misses three point jump shot
4:01
Jahvin Carter offensive rebound
3:57
+2
Chris Loofe makes two point dunk (Jahvin Carter assists)
68-66
3:57
Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
3:57
TV timeout
3:41
+3
Kaseem Watson makes three point jump shot (Cassius Brooks assists)
68-69
3:13
Jamal West Jr. blocks Torey Alston's two point layup
3:11
Jamal West Jr. defensive rebound
2:48
KJ Thomas misses two point jump shot
2:46
Chris Loofe defensive rebound
2:36
+3
Chris Loofe makes three point jump shot (Sean Smith assists)
71-69
2:19
Miners 60 second timeout
2:04
+2
Jamal West Jr. makes two point jump shot
71-71
1:36
Jahvin Carter misses two point jump shot
1:34
KJ Thomas defensive rebound
1:04
LA Hayes misses three point jump shot
1:02
KJ Thomas offensive rebound
0:57
Miners 30 second timeout
0:41
+2
Elijah Jones makes two point layup
71-73
0:30
+2
Sean Smith makes two point layup
73-73
0:20
Miners 30 second timeout
0:01
LA Hayes misses three point jump shot
0:00
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
OT
MTSU
Blue Raiders
7
UTEP
Miners
10
Time
Team
Play
Score
5:00
(Miners gains possession)
4:40
Elijah Jones misses three point jump shot
4:38
Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
4:17
Jamal West Jr. shooting foul (Kamari Lands draws the foul)
4:17
+1
Kamari Lands makes regular free throw 1 of 2
74-73
4:17
Kamari Lands misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:17
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
4:00
KJ Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Sean Smith steals)
3:47
Alec Oglesby misses two point jump shot
3:45
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
3:39
+2
Elijah Jones makes two point dunk (KJ Thomas assists)
74-75
3:17
Jahvin Carter misses two point jump shot
3:15
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
2:44
Elijah Jones misses two point layup
2:42
Chris Loofe defensive rebound
2:33
Jahvin Carter misses two point jump shot
2:31
LA Hayes defensive rebound
2:12
Jamal West Jr. misses two point jump shot
2:10
Kaseem Watson offensive rebound
2:00
Chris Loofe shooting foul (Elijah Jones draws the foul)
2:00
+1
Elijah Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2
74-76
2:00
+1
Elijah Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
74-77
1:40
Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
1:29
Blue Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
1:06
Torey Alston shooting foul (Jamal West Jr. draws the foul)
1:06
Jamal West Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:06
+1
Jamal West Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
74-78
0:53
+2
Sean Smith makes two point jump shot
76-78
0:27
Jamal West Jr. turnover (lost ball)
0:24
Blue Raiders 60 second timeout
0:11
Alec Oglesby misses three point jump shot
0:09
LA Hayes defensive rebound
0:09
Jahvin Carter personal foul (LA Hayes draws the foul)
0:09
+1
LA Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
76-79
0:09
LA Hayes misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:09
Kamari Lands defensive rebound
0:05
KJ Thomas personal foul (Sean Smith draws the foul)
0:05
+1
Sean Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
77-79
0:05
+1
Sean Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
78-79
0:05
Miners 30 second timeout
0:04
Luka Jovanovic personal foul (Kaseem Watson draws the foul)
0:04
+1
Kaseem Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
78-80
0:04
+1
Kaseem Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
78-81
0:03
LA Hayes personal foul (Sean Smith draws the foul)
0:03
+1
Sean Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
79-81
0:03
+1
Sean Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
80-81
0:02
Sean Smith personal foul (Kaseem Watson draws the foul)