EL PASO, Texas (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle defined by missed shots and forced turnovers, Western Kentucky used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from UTEP for a 68-56 victory in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Don Haskins Center.

The Hilltoppers, who entered as a narrow 2.5-point favorite, overcame a cold shooting afternoon by overwhelming the Miners on the glass and capitalizing on a staggering disparity in points off turnovers. Western Kentucky improved to 10-6 overall, while UTEP fell to 5-11.

The game’s pivotal shift came after halftime. UTEP, trailing by just four points at the break, 35-31, saw its offense completely stall. The Miners managed only 21 points in the second half, shooting a frigid 5 of 23 from the floor after intermission. Western Kentucky’s defense was the catalyst, generating 13 steals and forcing 15 UTEP turnovers, which they converted into 20 points. By contrast, UTEP scored just three points off Western Kentucky’s 10 giveaways.

Teagan Moore, a 6-foot-5 guard from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, provided the crucial offensive spark for the Hilltoppers off the bench. He scored a game-high 19 points in just 24 minutes, including a critical 3-pointer with 5:47 remaining that extended Western Kentucky’s lead to 12 points and effectively sealed the game. His scoring burst in the second half helped his team maintain control as both teams labored offensively.

UTEP was led by Jamal West’s 15 points and LA Hayes’ 13, but the Miners could not sustain any offensive rhythm. Point guard KJ Thomas distributed six assists but also committed six of his team’s turnovers as Western Kentucky’s perimeter pressure took its toll.

The statistical story was one of inefficiency and second chances. Western Kentucky won despite shooting just 39.1% from the field and 26.3% from 3-point range. They compensated with a massive 17-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to a 34-18 edge in points in the paint and numerous extra possessions.

Elijah Jones provided a bright spot for UTEP defensively with three blocks, but the Miners’ own shooting woes were profound. They finished the game at 32.1% from the field and 22.7% from beyond the arc. Their offensive rating of 78.4 points per 100 possessions underscored a afternoon of frustration.

The victory was a bounce-back for Western Kentucky after a road loss at New Mexico State earlier in the week. For UTEP, the defeat halted the modest momentum from an overtime win against Middle Tennessee, continuing a season of struggles in conference play.

A crowd of 4,392 watched as the game failed to reach the anticipated offensive output, with the combined 124 points falling well under the over/under line of 146.5.

Western Kentucky returns home to face Missouri State on Wednesday. UTEP begins a two-game road trip at Delaware on Thursday.