Bank of the West Don Haskins
Sun Bowl Invitational
Tuesday, December 28
WNMU vs. UTEP, 7 p.m.
SHSU vs. Air Force, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29
WNMU vs. SHSU, 5:30 p.m.
Air Force vs. UTEP, 7:30 p.m.EL PASO, Texas (September 18, 2010) —The nation’s oldest collegiate holiday basketball tournament will take a new format on Dec. 28-29, as the 49th edition of the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational will have a classic format with predetermined games. This year’s field includes host school UTEP of Conference USA, the United State Air Force Academy from the Mountain West Conference, Sam Houston State University of the Southland Conference and Western New Mexico University of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
“This tournament has been an El Paso tradition for close to five decades,” said SBA executive director Bernie Olivas. “We are excited to continue this holiday tradition and bring some exciting basketball to El Paso.”
UTEP will be making its 49th consecutive appearance in the oldest holiday championship tournament in the nation, while this year marks the first appearance by Sam Houston State and Western New Mexico. Air Force is making its third appearance in the field.
“UTEP is excited to be a part of the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational,” said Bob Stull, UTEP Director of Athletics. “I look forward to seeing great fan support as our eight seniors play in the tournament for the final time. I want to say thank you to Bank of the West for their continued support of this fine event.”
Heading into this year, 91 teams have participated in the tournament producing 19 different tournament champions, including 28 titles to host-school UTEP. Over the history of the Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament, 70 teams have gone on to post-season play in the same season that they participated in the tournament.
“We’re extremely excited as we prepare for our second year of sponsorship of the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational,” said Larry Patton, President and CEO of Bank of the West. “Beginning with the parade and continuing through the tournament, our staff will increasingly build on the excitement of bringing this event to El Paso’s sports community.”
The Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament has featured some of the game’s top coaches over the years – Gene Bartow, Bobby Cremins, Don Haskins, Lon Kruger, Gene Keady, Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, Guy Lewis, Phil Martelli, Rollie Massimino, Jim O’Brien, Lute Olson, Wimp Sanderson, Charlie Spoonhauer, John Thompson III, Gary Waters and Tex Winter.
It has also featured some of the nation’s top collegiate players – Nate Archibald (UTEP), Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan), Dana Barros (Boston College), Adrian Caldwell (Lamar), Antonio Davis (UTEP), JoJo English (South Carolina), Mike Evans (Kansas State), Brandon Ewing (Wyoming), Jim Farmer (Alabama), Greg Foster (UTEP), Walt Frazier (Southern Illinois), Jeff Green (Georgetown), Tim Hardaway (UTEP), Roy Hibbert (Georgetown), Stefon Jackson (UTEP), Tim McCormick (Michigan), Chuck Person (Auburn), Glenn Robinson (Purdue), Brandon Wolfram (UTEP) and Sharone Wright (Clemson).
The United States Air Force Academy Falcons (10-21, 1-15) are led by fifth-year head coach Jeff Reynolds and have appeared in the post season in two of the last five seasons. Air Force hopes to rebound from a disappointing season and return to the form that saw the Falcons become one of the winningest teams in the Mountain West Conference this decade.
The Sam Houston State University Bearkats (25-8, 14-2) are coached by first-year head coach Jason Hooten, who takes over a squad who won the Southland regular season and conference championship and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2010. The Bearcats return two starters and six letterwinners from last year’s NCAA team.
The Western New Mexico University Mustangs (10-16, 9-10) are coached by eighth-year head coach Mark Coleman, who returns just two juniors and two seniors from last year’s squad. The roster features 12 underclassmen, including El Paso El Dorado’s Everett Duis, a 6-6 freshman, and Las Cruces High’s Lucio Luttrell, a 6-3 sophomore.
The UTEP Miners (26-7, 15-1) are led by first-year head coach Tim Floyd, who has eight seniors and three starters at his disposal from a team that captured the Conference USA regular season crown and earned a berth in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Beginning Dec. 1, tournament tickets will be available at the Sun Bowl Association office at (915-533-4416 or 800-915-BOWL), the UTEP Ticket Center (915-747-5234) and TicketMaster outlets. Tournament tickets can be reserved now by calling the Sun Bowl Association office. Tournament tickets are also included in UTEP season ticket packages.
Ticket prices are as follows: Four-Game, Two-Night Package:
$40 (rows 1-34) and $20 (rows 35-39);
* $20 UTEP students, plus one guest
Two-Game, One-Night Package (Day of Game Only):
$22 (rows 1-34) and $12 (rows 35-39);
* $12 UTEP students, plus one guest
* — Must purchase at the UTEP Ticket Center Only
