EL PASO, Texas (Interstat) — In a stark tale of two halves, the Loyola Marymount Lions remained undefeated, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat the UTEP Miners 71-58 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Don Haskins Center.

A crowd of 3,534 watched as the Lions improved to 4-0, while the Miners suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 2-1.

The game turned on a dramatic second-half defensive stand by Loyola Marymount. After trailing 38-34 at the break, the Lions held UTEP to just 20 points after halftime, completely stifling the Miner offense. UTEP’s shooting, which had been effective in the first half, collapsed, as the team managed only seven field goals in the final 20 minutes.

The Lions’ victory was built on superior efficiency. They scored 71 points on just 62 possessions, an offensive rating of 113.8, while UTEP managed only 58 points on 64 possessions, an offensive rating of 91.1. Loyola Marymount’s shooting was the key differentiator, as they connected on 53.8 percent of their shots from the floor, compared to UTEP’s 35.1 percent. The Lions were also potent from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 24 three-point attempts.

While UTEP’s defense was active, forcing 14 Loyola Marymount turnovers and converting them into 19 points, they could not overcome their own offensive struggles. The Miners also committed only eight turnovers but were outscored 28-16 in the paint and 12-5 on fast breaks.

Loyola Marymount’s attack was balanced and efficient. Myron Amey Jr., a guard from Vacaville, California, led all scorers with 18 points, including four three-pointers, and added five rebounds. Forward Jalen Shelley of Little Elm, Texas, orchestrated the offense with a near-triple-double, contributing 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. His playmaking was crucial in breaking down the UTEP defense, particularly in the second half.

Guard Jan Vide from Domzale, Slovenia, added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Rodney Brown of Perris, California, also chipped in 13 points. The Lions’ interior presence was bolstered by 7-foot-1 center Rick Issanza of Kinshasa, Congo, who scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds and recorded a block.

For UTEP, the scoring load was shared but inefficient. Jamal West of Baltimore, Maryland, led the Miners with 14 points. Guards Tyreese Watson of Philadelphia and KJ Thomas of Amarillo, Texas, each scored 11 points, with Watson adding five assists. Elijah Jones of Pleasantville, New Jersey, contributed 10 points and four rebounds.

The game began at a frantic pace, with UTEP’s Caleb Blackwell hitting two early three-pointers to help the Miners establish an early lead. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. UTEP seemed to seize control late in the period, using an 8-2 run to take a 38-31 lead with under a minute to play. A three-pointer from Loyola Marymount’s Rodney Brown just before the halftime buzzer cut the deficit to four and provided a spark for the visitors.

That momentum carried into the second half, where the Lions opened with a 13-2 run to take a lead they would not relinquish. The run was fueled by stifling defense and efficient scoring, including a three-pointer from Jalen Shelley and an alley-oop dunk from Rick Issanza. UTEP’s offense went cold for long stretches, and the Lions methodically extended their lead, capitalizing on their significant advantages in shooting percentage and offensive execution down the stretch.

The Lions will look to maintain their perfect record when they host Troy on Friday night. UTEP hits the road for its next contest, facing Utah State on Saturday.