EL PASO, TX --- Western New Mexico's men's basketball team found the going tough in the Don Haskins Center Friday night as the Mustangs fell 78-51 to the UTEP Miners in El Paso. WNMU (0-2, 0-0 Heartland Conferece) came out strong -- leading by as many as six points with 13:00 to go in the first half, and 21-20 with three minutes to go in the half -- but found out why the Miners made it to NCAA Championship last year as UTEP forced 21 turnovers and outrebounded Western 44-29.

El Pasoan Matt Enriquez had a solid homecoming for Western, knocking down 19 points ... the only Mustang in double figures. Mike Sells had eight points.

UTEP's Jason Williams was near perfect, going 13-of-16 for 29 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the first of what should be many double-doubles for the Miners this season.

WNMU will face their third Division I opponent of the season Monday night as they meet New Mexico State in Las Cruces. Game time at the Pan American Center is slated for 7:00pm.