EL PASO, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive grit and offensive struggles, UTEP outlasted Tennessee-Martin 64-60 in overtime Saturday at the Don Haskins Center to remain undefeated on the young season.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair that saw neither team lead by more than six points, ultimately requiring an extra period to decide a winner after the teams were deadlocked at 52-52 at the end of regulation. The Miners improved to 4-0, while the Skyhawks fell to 1-4.

UTEP’s victory was anchored by a dominant performance on the glass and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch. The Miners hauled in 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points and overcoming a poor shooting night where they made just 23 of 70 field goal attempts. From the free throw line, UTEP converted 13 of 18 attempts, including critical makes in the final seconds of overtime.

Mary Moses Amaniyo was the catalyst for the Miners. The 6-foot-1 forward from Arua, Uganda, scored a game-high 18 points, with many coming on putbacks from her seven offensive rebounds. She was instrumental in UTEP’s interior presence on both ends of the floor.

Tennessee-Martin was led by the backcourt duo of Kenley McCarn and Zakheria Thompson, who each scored 15 points. McCarn, from Melbourne, Ark., added five assists while playing all but one minute of the contest. Sidni Middleton of Vilonia, Ark., contributed 10 points for the Skyhawks.

The game was a defensive battle from the start, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. UTEP shot 32.9 percent from the field, while Tennessee-Martin was only marginally better at 38.7 percent. Three-point shooting was particularly cold, with the Skyhawks making 4 of 18 and the Miners connecting on just 5 of 27 from beyond the arc.

Despite being outrebounded 46-33 overall, Tennessee-Martin stayed competitive by forcing 14 UTEP turnovers and converting them into 10 points. The Skyhawks also took better care of the ball, committing only 12 turnovers, and were more efficient from the free throw line, making 8 of 10 attempts.

The game appeared to be slipping away from UTEP late in the fourth quarter before a dramatic comeback. Ivane Tensaie, who finished with 15 points for the Miners, hit a clutch 3-pointer with just four seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game and force overtime.

In the extra period, the teams traded baskets until the final minute. With the score tied at 59-59, Tensaie struck again, hitting another 3-pointer with three seconds left on the clock to give UTEP a 62-59 lead. After a UTEP timeout, a foul sent Delma Zita to the line, where she sank two free throws to seal the 64-60 victory. Zita finished with four points and five assists.

The announced attendance at the Don Haskins Center was 941. UTEP will look to continue its winning streak on the road Tuesday at Missouri-Kansas City. Tennessee-Martin will seek to get back in the win column on Dec. 4 at Lipscomb.