GAME NOTES: Looking to extend a two-game win streak to start the season, the Texas-El Paso Miners will clash with the Princeton Tigers in the first round of the Wooden Legacy tournament at Titan Gym in a non-conference tilt.

Princeton opened the season with a victory over Rider, 64-58, but the Tigers have fallen in their latest three contests since the win. Princeton dropped consecutive games to George Mason, Lafayette and, most recently, Incarnate Word (79-68) on Saturday. The Tigers will be looking to straighten things out in this four-day, three-round bracket-style tournament in Fullerton.

UTEP opened the season with what appeared to be a difficult two-game opening stretch, even though it was being played at home. The Miners took down Washington State to open the regular season, 65-52, then downed New Mexico State eight days later, 77-76, to earn a 2-0 record coming into the Wooden Legacy tournament.

These two foes have met only twice on the court in the all-time series. Princeton took the first meeting back in 1996 (76-64), but UTEP won the most recent clash in 2004 (68-42).

The Tigers didn't have the best offensive performance against Incarnate Word in the team's latest outing, shooting 35.6 percent from the floor, including 22.2 percent from 3-point range. Spencer Weisz led Princeton with 22 points in the game, adding five rebounds with four turnovers. Steven Cook netted 14 points with seven boards, Amir Bell chipped in with 13 points and Hans Brase tallied a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, adding in five assists to his stat line.

Through four games, the Tigers are averaging 64.5 ppg on an even 40 percent shooting from the field. The team is also giving up 70.8 ppg to opponents, so the team's defense could use a little push moving forward. Weisz leads the team, scoring an average of 17.3 ppg on 47.6 percent shooting. Brase is the only other Tigers player to come into the UTEP game with a double-digit point total, netting 14.0 ppg with a team-best 10.0 rpg mark. Princeton could use a little more discipline, having registered 80 personal fouls already through four contests. Bell has fouled out of half of Princeton's games.

UTEP found itself down to New Mexico State by 12 points at the half, 42-30, but used a second-half rally in which the Miners hit on 63 percent of their shots to make the comeback and hold off the Aggies for the one-point win. Vince Hunter notched a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Cedrick Lang chipped in with 15 points and seven boards. Omega Harris added 13 points in the win, and Julian Washburn rounded out the team's double-digit scorers with 11 points.

Hunter had a sensational freshman year last season, and now the forward leads the team in scoring through two games at 18.5 ppg with a team-best 13.0 rpg mark. Lang is adding 11.5 ppg, and Washburn rounds out the trio of double- digit scorers at 10.0 ppg. C.J. Cooper has dished out a UTEP-best 12 assists in those two games played, in which he has started one. The Miners bring a 71.0 ppg average into the clash with Princeton. They've also been holding opponents to 64.0 ppg, but are allowing them to shoot 45 percent from the floor.

The Miners are supposed to contend for the Conference USA crown this season, and have a bevy of playmakers on the floor that are highlighted by Washburn and Hunter. Princeton could surprise in this tournament, but only if the Tigers can get help outside of Brase and Weisz, and if Bell can stay out of foul trouble.