Kentucky
CUSA Tournament Final: UTEP men’s basketball falls to Western Kentucky
UTEP men storm past Sam Houston to reach CUSA finals
UTEP men storm past Sam Houston to reach CUSA finals
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — All of UTEP men’s basketball undoubted strengths — toughness, resilience, a scrappy defense, heart — lack one important attribute.
None of those positives put the ball in the basket. That’s been a recurring problem throughout the year, and at the absolute worst time, in the middle of the second half of the Conference USA title game against Western Kentucky, that was the Miners’ demise in a 78-71 loss that ended their season.
More: CUSA tournament brackets
This time the big second-half run went against them, as UTEP missed eight consecutive shots and a 53-47 lead with 13:47 to play became a 60-53 deficit with 8:51 left. This time, a Miner team that defined itself with big comebacks, including an early rally from a 17-4 hole in this game, couldn’t find its way back.
The heart and fight was there, the balance on the tightrope wasn’t and the Miners finished their remarkable run, and their five-game winning streak, with an 18-16 record that does give them some momentum into next year.
Zid Powell closed his career with 21 points, including one-man runs of 8-0 and 6-0 when UTEP was successfully digging itself out of holes, but he didn’t have enough scoring help. The Miners shot 39%, including an 0-of-10 start when they fell behind by 14 points in the first seven minutes, and had 19 turnovers.
They’ve overcome numbers like that before, but it’s not very likely, and at the biggest moment, likely held.
Miners down 4 at the half
UTEP overcame a nightmare start to take a brief lead, but a 7-0 Western Kentucky run late in the first half gave the Toppers a 40-36 lead at the half.
The Miners missed their first 10 shots and had six turnovers as WKU ran out to a 17-4 lead, but UTEP joined the battle with a 10-0 run over 1:24, then Powell later scored eight unanswered points in 1:21. That was the start of a 10-0 run that put the Miners up 30-29.
In that first 10-point run that rescued UTEP from its awful start, freshman Trey Horton hit two 3-pointers that seemed to ease the Miners’ nerves.
They were outshot 55%-39% in the opening half but made 5-of-12 threes (they were 6-of-16 on twos) and made 9-of-12 free throws to WKU’s 4-of-4 despite out-fouling the Hilltoppers 9-8.
Powell went to the locker room with 10 points and Otis Frazier added nine.
Up next
The NCAA tournament selection show is Sunday at 4 p.mm. Mountain time on CBS and ESPN.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
Kentucky
Watch: Blast brings down Northern Kentucky bridge
COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – The Licking River Bridge was demolished Monday morning in a controlled blast, clearing the way for a replacement structure.
Authorities established a 1,000-foot safety perimeter, closed nearby roads and asked residents to shelter in place before the demolition. The bridge collapsed within seconds of the blast.
“Today we say goodbye to a bridge that has served Kentuckians for nearly a century and we make room for something new. A signature bridge that is safer, stronger and we make room for something new,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This region, like the rest of the commonwealth, is evolving, it is booming, it’s economy growing every day. What we’re doing together is building our new Kentucky home.”
The Licking River Bridge is now history after crews brought it down with a controlled demolition Monday morning. (WKRC)
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Crews will begin construction on the new bridge after debris removal is complete. The replacement bridge is expected to open in the summer of 2028.
Kentucky
Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for March 1, 2026
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, March 1, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
03-07-16-32, Cash Ball: 25
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 4-5-5
Midday: 3-1-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 3-8-0-2
Midday: 6-2-3-9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
Kentucky
Woman dies in head-on collision in Bullitt County
Kentucky State Police is investigating after a Shepherdsville woman died Feb. 28 in a two-vehicle crash in Bullitt County.
A preliminary investigation shows the crash, which occurred at 7:34 p.m. at the intersection of KY 44 East and Watergate Drive, began when the passenger-side tires of a Toyota Tacoma heading westbound on KY 44 East dropped off the right side of the roadway and onto a steep shoulder, Master Trooper Bryan Washer said in a statement March 1.
The teenage driver “overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross the centerline into the eastbound lane and into the path of a Ford Escape.”
Due to a head-on collision, the Ford Escape went down a small embankment and overturned on its roof before coming to rest, Washer said. The driver of the Ford Escape, Sarah Weisman, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bullitt County Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Toyota Tacoma was not injured from the crash.
Trooper Scott Wheatley and Detective Brad Holloman of the State Police conducted the initial investigation into the crash, Washer said. Holloman continues to investigate.
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
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