UTEP Defeats Michigan, 65-56
Reigning Conference USA player of the year Randy Culpepper leads team with 24 points.

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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Randy Culpepper scored 24 points in his first game off the bench in two seasons, and UTEP held Michigan to no field goals in the first 11:23 of the second half on its way to a 65-56 win over the Wolverines on Saturday night in Atlantic City.

The Miners (4-2) took third place at the Legends Classic with their first victory over a Big Ten team since 1997.

A former Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year, Culpepper made his first appearance in reserve since March 30, 2009 at Oregon State - ending a string of 40 straight starts. He was 10-for-16 from the field while adding three rebounds and three steals.

UTEP turned in one of the more dominant defensive halves in school history, as the Wolverines (3-2) were 7-for-28 from the field over the final 20 minutes. Michigan shot 30.2 percent from the floor on the night.

The Miners, meanwhile, shot 61.5 percent in the second period in pulling away from a 29-29 deadlock at the midway point. UTEP scored the first 13 points of the second half before Michigan finally dented the scoreboard on a free throw by Evan Smotrycz with 14:02 to play.

Freshman John Bohannon scored a career-high 10 points and added seven rebounds for UTEP. Julyan Stone chipped in with 10 points. The Miners outrebounded the Wolverines 40-31, as Jeremy Williams snagged a game-high 10 boards.

Darius Morris led Michigan with 20 points. He was 8-for-11 from the field, but his teammates were a combined 8-for-42.

UTEP will play at I-10 rival NM State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.