Tuesday, December 30th, 11:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Leavey Center (5,000) -- Santa Clara, California. Television: None. Home Record: UTEP 5-1, SCU 4-1. Away Record: UTEP 0-1, SCU 2-3. Neutral Record: UTEP 2-2, SCU 0-3. Conference Record: UTEP 0-0, SCU 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The Texas-El Paso Miners and Santa Clara Broncos clash at the Leavey Center tonight in the championship game of the 42nd annual Cable Car Classic. The Miners earned their spot in tonight's title tilt with a solid 79-66 victory over James Madison last night. It was the third straight win by UTEP, which now stands at 7-4 on the year. As for Santa Clara, it had a much more difficult time in its opening game, but it was able to rally for an 83-80 victory over Belmont on Monday. The triumph put the brakes on a three-game slide and pushed the Broncos to 6-7 overall and 4-1 on their own floor. Tonight's game marks the first-ever meeting between UTEP and SCU on the hardwood.

UTEP opened the game with a 17-2 run and never looked back in a 79-66 victory over JMU last night. The Miners shot a solid 44.8 percent from the floor in the contest and that includes a 14-of-33 performance from beyond the arc. Randy Culpepper set a school record by making eight three-pointers and he finished with 30 points to pace the Miners. Stefon Jackson and Gabriel McCulley also got into the mix, netting 13 points apiece. On the year, Jackson tops the roster in scoring with a hardy 22.6 ppg and he is also pulling down 6.3 rpg. The talented Jackson is also just 35 points away from becoming UTEP's all-time leading scorer. Culpepper has formed a solid one-two punch with Jackson, as he turns in 20.5 ppg. As a unit, the Miners are generating 78.5 ppg this season, although they have shown some vulnerability on defense, allowing 75.4 ppg.

The Broncos scored the first 18 points of the second half, as they overcame a 46-28 deficit for an 83-80 victory over Belmont last night. It was a great come-from-behind win by SCU, which shot 46.2 percent from the field and made 14-of-19 free-throw attempts. Kevin Foster led a balanced attack with 24 points and three steals. James Rahon added 15 points off the bench, while John Bryant and Perry Petty chipped in with 11 points apiece. On the season, Bryant has clearly been the team's most productive player, leading the Broncos with his double-double average of 17.9 ppg and 12.4 rpg. Foster is next in line at 11.8 ppg and he is trailed by Rahon and his 10.4 ppg. Overall, Santa Clara is turning in 63.6 ppg and making good on 45.5 percent of its field goal attempts.

SCU has the luxury of hosting this game and behind the support of its fans and a big game from Bryant, it should prevail over a solid UTEP squad.

Predicted Outcome

Santa Clara 74, Texas-El Paso 69