Sensley still leads the team with 13.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He has started all 55 games of his UH career.

Sensley was not in a talking mood after yesterday's practice, but acknowledged that his knee was in more pain yesterday than it was before Saturday's game.

"He wants to be the go-to guy, well this is his chance to prove it," Wallace said. "I want to see him come out and go get it."

Chris Botez, a 7-foot junior center, will start in Sensley's place. The other starters will be "Little Matt" Gibson and Jake Sottos at guard, and Bobby Nash and Jeff Blackett at forward.

"We were all hanging our heads after the loss (Saturday) night, but we get a chance right away to redeem ourselves with this one because UTEP is a good team," Sottos said.

Wallace said he has no specific substitution pattern, but Sensley, Vaidotas Peciukas, Deonte Tatum and "Big Matt" Gipson are all expected to contribute in reserve roles.

In any case, the 'Bows are hoping to wear down a road-weary UTEP team. Tonight will be the Miners' seventh road game in their past nine games.

They lost at Pacific on Saturday in a game that finished after 11 p.m. in Stockton, Calif. The Miners caught a flight out of San Francisco yesterday morning and arrived in Honolulu late in the afternoon.

"We can come up with all kinds of excuses if that's what we want to do, but the bottom line is this is the way it's going to be," UTEP head coach Doc Sadler said. "If the flight was the hardest thing over here, we're in good shape."

The Miners are in second place in the WAC at 10-4; the 'Bows are in seventh place at 6-7.

A month ago in El Paso, UTEP beat Hawai'i 71-70. The Miners shot 38 free throws to Hawai'i's 13, including the game-winners by Omar Thomas.

Wallace said UTEP point guard Filiberto Rivera is the key to the Miners' attack.

"He's so good at penetrating through the defense, he sets up all his teammates," Wallace said. "They get you out of position defensively and cause you to reach in and foul."

And the Miners make fouling teams pay. UTEP is ranked second in NCAA Division I with a 78.7 free-throw percentage.

UTEP has already attempted 602 free throws this season, making 474. In contrast, Hawai'i has made only 248 free throws in 374 attempts.

Thomas, UTEP's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, has made 157 free throws in 191 attempts. No Hawai'i player has attempted more than 72.

"We just have to be more aggressive offensively," Wallace said.

It will also be a rematch of former junior college teammates. Sottos and Rivera were the starting guards for the Southeastern (Iowa) team that won a national championship in 2003.

"We talked about it just (Saturday) night," Sottos said. "He has bragging rights for now, so I have to try and get it back."