EL PASO, Texas (AP) — C.J Cooper scored 15 points including a crucial 3-pointer in double overtime to lift Texas-El Paso over Denver 60-54 in the Sun Bowl Invitational championship on Sunday night.
Cooper had missed all six of his 3-point attempts and UTEP had been only 1 of 18 from distance before Cooper’s 3 put UTEP up 59-54 with 41 seconds left.
Vince Hunter’s layup with 1:48 to play gave UTEP (10-5) the lead for good at 55-54 and the Miners ended the game on a 9-0 run. John Bohannon had 17 points and 15 rebounds and earned the tournament MVP.
Cam Griffin led Denver (6-7) with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Pioneers took a 54-51 lead but missed their last seven field goal attempts over the final 3 minutes.
The Pioneers fell behind 17-4 and trailed most of regulation, but Griffin sparked a second-half run that forced the game into overtime.
