UTEP 78, Tulsa 70

Published Feb. 21, 2010 12:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

Randy Culpepper scored 29 points to help Texas-El Paso remain atop the Conference USA with a 78-70 victory over Tulsa on Saturday.

The Miners (20-5, 11-1) put the game away early, keeping Tulsa (19-8, 8-5) to just 25 percent shooting in the first half while rolling to a 43-26 lead at the break.

Culpepper had 15 points in the period, including a trio of 3-pointers, while Derrick Caracter was also in double figures with 10. Caracter finished with 16 points.

The Hurricane's loss was their second at home in a week following a 23-game home win streak.

Ben Uzoh had 22 points, Jerome Jordan 19 and Justin Hurtt 15 for Tulsa.

UTEP had no problems with Tulsa's man-to-man defense, as Caracter bulled inside and Culpepper shot 3-pointers and drove to the basket with equal effect.