EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and WestStar have announced the four teams playing in the 64th Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, featuring all returning teams, with Norfolk State, North Dakota State, UC Irvine, and UTEP converging on the floor of the Don Haskins Center for the two-day holiday classic on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22, 2025.
All four teams have a very deep basketball tradition and plenty of success.
“The WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is a staple here in El Paso and every team that has been here before is always excited to come enjoy the great competition as well as the Sun Bowl hospitality,” said Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “Norfolk State, North Dakota State, and UC Irvine are itching for a return visit to the Borderland and will leave with more great experiences and memories.”
Norfolk State Spartans
The Norfolk State University Spartans return to the Sun City coming off a 24-11 record with an in-conference record of 11-3, finishing first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Spartans would go on to win the MEAC regular season title and the conference tournament, earning themselves a spot in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Head Coach Robert Jones is entering his 13th season at the helm and 19th overall with the program. Jones saw an exceptional 2024-25 campaign, sweeping the MEAC regular season and tournament titles to make it to the big dance. Jones enters this coming season 236-159 as head coach with three MEAC Tournament titles and three MEAC Coach of the Year awards.
The Spartans hope to continue conference dominance and win their first tournament title after Brian Moore Jr. earned the Lou Henson Award before transferring to Grand Canyon University this past transfer window.
North Dakota State Bison
The North Dakota State Bison, the 2017 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Champions, are looking to achieve the same feat in their return to the tournament. Coming off a 21-11 season and finishing 4th in the Summit League with a record of 10-6, the Bison came up a point short in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament.
Head Coach David Richman, the 2014-15 Summit League Coach of the Year, is entering 12th season as head coach of the Bison with a 211-142 record. After 18 straight years on the coaching staff, he was named head coach in 2014. Since then, Richman has led the program to three NCAA tournament berths and seven Summit League title appearances. He was head coach during the 2017 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational when his Bison defeated UNC Wilmington, then UTEP in the championship game.
The Bison look to win a second tournament title with the additions of Tay Smith, Birkir Eythorsson, and Emil Skyttä.
UC Irvine Anteaters
The UC Irvine Anteaters, champions of the 2015 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, are returning to El Paso in search of their second tournament title. In the 2024-25 season, the team achieved an impressive overall record of 32 wins and 7 losses, finishing with a 17-3 record in the Big West Conference. The Anteaters narrowly missed winning the conference tournament title, falling just short against UC San Diego.
Head Coach Russell Turner, a seven-time regular-season champion and two-time tournament champion in the Big West, is entering his 16th year with the Anteaters. He is aiming to secure his second WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational championship, a title he won a decade ago. Turner has an impressive record of 508-321, leading the team to eight postseason appearances, including two NCAA tournament berths.
The ’Eaters have their sights set on a second tournament title after retaining guard Derin Saran and Colorado transfer forward Harrison Carrington.
UTEP Miners
The UTEP Miners are 89-29 all-time in the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational after winning two games in the tournament last year, marking the 34th time that the Miners have won the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational title.
UTEP is looking to return to their 2023-24 form, when the Miners were one win shy of a Conference USA Championship and ticket into the big dance. They look to bounce back after losing the last seven games of the regular season and losing in the second round of the CUSA Championships to Liberty.
Head Coach Joe Golding will remain with the program after signing a contract extension that will keep him in the Sun City for three more seasons. He will carry a career record of 228-207 (14 years) into the 2025-26 season, including a mark of 70-63 (four years) with UTEP. He has enjoyed three winning seasons in four years as head coach of the Miners, including guiding UTEP to 18 victories in each of those campaigns.
UTEP looks to maintain chemistry after losing seniors Kevin Kalu, Otis Frazier III, and Baylor Hebb. Miner standouts Devon Barnes, David Terrel Jr. Corey Camper Jr. and Ahamad Bynum all transferred out.
For more information on the 2025 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational please go to www.sunbowl.org.
About the Sun Bowl Association
The Sun Bowl Association is a volunteer based non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. The Sun Bowl Association, with the help of over 700 volunteers, promotes and serves the El Paso community and features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl football game. Other Sun Bowl core events include the Sun Bowl Flag Football Tournament presented by Goodwill, the Peter Piper Pizza Sun Bowl Punt, Pass and Kick, the Glasheen, Valles, & Inderman Injury Lawyers Sun Bowl Parade, the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Basketball Invitational, the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta presented by El Paso Live, and the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Pregame Fan Party presented by Visit El Paso. Follow the Sun Bowl Association on Instagram (@tonythetigersunbowl), Facebook (Sun Bowl Association), and X (@TonytheTigerSB).
About WestStar
Now, as the Borderplex region’s leading commercial bank, WestStar has assets of more than $3.1 billion and employs over 330 team members in branches stretching from Fabens, Texas to Las Cruces, New Mexico. As an active economic driver in our vibrant region, WestStar provides area businesses the capital they need to expand and thrive. In addition to banking services, WestStar also offers an array of financial products, including treasury management, investment, title, and insurance. At WestStar, we take great pride in serving not only as an active economic driver in our region, but also in being a responsible corporate citizen. We want the best for our region, and it drives us to be actively involved in many civic organizations and non-profit agencies through volunteer service, charitable fund-raising, and sponsorships. Our Board of Directors is home to some of the Borderplex’s largest charitable and civic supporters. As individuals, some of us sit as directors on boards, some serve as members, still others volunteer or contribute money. Regardless of our roles, we all share the commitment to serve.
