UTEP's Vince Hunter shoots over Louisiana Tech's Erik McCree during an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan., 8, 2015 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/The El Paso Times, Mark Lambie) EL DIARIO OUT; JUAREZ MEXICO OUT

UTEP’s star player will be dealing with a minor knee injury when the Miners visit Western Kentucky at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Sophomore forward Vince Hunter, who was Conference USA’s freshman of the year last season, is “pain tolerant to play” through a tweaked knee suffered Saturday against UTSA, coach Tim Floyd said.

Floyd said Hunter had two MRIs on the knee and it was diagnosed as a sprain, so he will be available to play Thursday if he can get through the pain.

The 6-foot-8 big man is averaging 16.1 points and 10 rebounds per game.

On the Western Kentucky side, coach Ray Harper received a question Monday on his radio show about senior guard T.J. Price’s health.

Harper said after Saturday’s win at Florida International that Price was playing on two sprained ankles. He played 35 minutes against FIU and 41 minutes last week against Florida Atlantic, where he sprained the left ankle late in the first half.

“He looked good today,” Harper said Monday. “Was he 100 percent cutting like he needs to on Thursday night? Probably not, but he’ll have two more days of treatments. … He should be good.”

— Zach Greenwell