EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Wes Eikmeier scored 16 points and Will Bell added 12 to lead Colorado State to a 56-53 victory against UTEP in the Sun Bowl Invitational on Wednesday night.
Pierce Hornung had eight points and eight rebounds for the Rams (8-4), who play Jacksonville State for the championship on Thursday. UTEP faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the consolation game.
Eikmeier's 3-pointer gave Colorado State a 56-50 lead with two minutes remaining. C.J. Cooper hit from behind the arc for the Miners (6-7) and had a potential game-tying 3-point shot with two seconds left, but it missed.
Gabriel McCulley scored 13 points for UTEP. Cooper added 11 points and Michael Perez 10.
The Rams have won six straight against the Miners, although the former Western Athletic Conference rivals had not met since 1998.
