A TIE BETWEEN TEXAS WESTERN AND EASTWOOD
The Miners Made History
Before the Troopers built a championship tradition, the 1966 Texas Western Miners changed the game.
On college basketball’s biggest stage, the Miners proved that a team from El Paso could defy expectations, break barriers, and make history that would resonate far beyond the Borderland.
A decade later, the 1976 Eastwood Troopers carried that same El Paso toughness, discipline, and belief to a Texas state championship.
Different teams. Different stages. One city connected by excellence.
The Miners changed history. The Troopers carried the tradition forward.
UTEP TRIBUTE TO 1966 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAM
EPISODE 1: TOGO RAILEY
Togo Railey
Togo Railey was a reserve guard on the legendary 1966 Texas Western Miners, the team that changed college basketball history.
As one of the players who experienced that historic season firsthand, Railey offers something no statistic or retelling can replicate: the perspective of someone who was there.
On The Rebound 915 Podcast — 66 Edition, Railey shares memories of Don Haskins, the team’s chemistry, and the determination behind a championship run that continues to resonate generations later.
PAT RILEY REMEMBERS THE 1966 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Pat Riley has always boiled the 1966 title game down to one truth: Texas Western took control immediately and never let Kentucky breathe. He points to David Lattin’s opening dunk over him as the moment he knew the Wildcats were in trouble. In Riley’s view, Texas Western was sharper, more disciplined, and better prepared, and he’s never offered excuses — just respect for a team he believes outplayed Kentucky from start to finish.
THE DOUBLE PLAY
The Double Play
Pam Seitz Pippen holds a rare place in El Paso basketball history.
As a Texas Western cheerleader, she witnessed the Miners’ historic 1966 national championship victory over Kentucky.
Ten years later, she was there for Eastwood High School’s 1976 Texas State Championship.
Two historic teams. Two championship moments. One remarkable witness to El Paso basketball history.
TEXAS WESTERN HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
A Legacy That Changed the Game
The 1966 Texas Western Miners did more than win a championship—they changed college basketball history.
Their victory over Kentucky with the first all-Black starting lineup in an NCAA championship game became a defining moment in the integration of the sport.
In 2007, the team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing its lasting competitive and cultural impact.
Some championships are remembered for the score. Others are remembered for changing the game.
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