Rainbows vs.
UTEP Miners

Coach: Don Haskins (38th season, 711-346).

Season: 8-5

Top players: Sharif Fajardo, 6-8 senior forward/center has had 11 double-digit scoring games this season and is averaging 14.5 points. He was one of the WAC's top rebounders last year and is averaging 5.8 caroms this season. Brandon Wolfram, a 6-8 sophomore forward, has had nine double-digit scoring games. He is averaging 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds. Newcomer point guard Winford McCrae, a 6-1 junior, has excellent ballhandling skills and penetrates well.

Interesting facts: This is the WAC season opener for both teams... The Miners had a six-game win streak come to an end with a 47-44 loss to Detroit on Dec. 29...The Rainbows lost to the 11th winningest coach of all time, Georgia State's Lefty Driesell, on Dec. 4 at Stan Sheriff Center. In Haskins, they face the 10th winningest coach of all time...Mike Robinson leads Hawaii in scoring with 12.5 ppg...Hawaii newcomer Marquette Alexander has scored in double figures in eight games.

Keys to the game: The Miners are hitting 44.9 percent from the floor, while UH is hitting 46.4 percent. The problem is turnovers. The Rainbows have turned the ball over 39 more times than opponents in 12 games...UTEP and Hawaii have met 37 times with the Miners winning 26 times...The Rainbows have not won in El Paso since 1994 and are 3-15 at Don Haskins Center...Hawaii has scored 63.8 ppg while the Miners have scored 69.7. The Miners also hold the edge in rebounds with 35.4 to Hawaii's 30.3.

Tipoff: Today, 3:30 p.m., El Paso, Texas

On the air: Live on KCCN (1420-AM)

http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu