Gabriel McCulley scored 22 points and UTEP used a 19-5 second-half run to pull away from Houston en route to a 70-50 victory Saturday.
Julian Washburn added 19 points for the Miners (8-8, 1-1 Conference USA), and John Bohannon had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Joseph Young led Houston (9-6, 1-1) with 14 points.
UTEP led 38-37 when McCulley hit a 3-pointer with 14:47 remaining to start the 19-5 run. McCulley added another 3 at the 12:17 mark - he was 3 for 3 beyond the arc in the game - as the Miners pulled away for a 57-42 lead with 7:02 left in the game.
UTEP shot 61 percent from the field and outrebounded the Cougars 35-20. The Miners have won 17 of their last 18 home games against Conference USA opponents and are 40-8 in conference home games since joining C-USA for the 2005-06 season.
