EL PASO, Texas -- Vince Hunter scored 22 points and UTEP outscored UAB by 17 at the free throw line on Thursday for a 71-69 win that knocked the Blazers out of a three-way tie on top of the Conference USA standings.

The Miners (13-7, 5-3) scored 13 straight points, holding the Blazers (10-11, 6-2) scoreless for nearly 6 1/2 minutes to take a 62-55 lead with 1:24 left.

It was 66-57 after a Hunter dunk with 47 seconds left but UAB knocked down four straight 3-pointers, the last by Nick Horton with six seconds left to make it 70-69. Earvin Morris made one of two foul shots with five seconds left and a William Lee 3-point attempt hit the front of the rim with one second left.

UTEP, a 64 percent free throw shooting team, made 9 of 11 from the line in the final 1:24 to finish 21 of 33. Hunter, a 55.4 percent foul shooter, was 12 of 16. UAB was 4 of 5 from the line.