(Game highlights)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After failing to guard residence court docket Saturday in a six-point loss to Texas Tech, the very last thing West Virginia may afford was one other setback Monday when it welcomed Oklahoma State.
This time round, the Mountaineers made their second-half lead stand, and consequently, snapped a three-game shedding skid with an 85-67 victory over the Cowboys on the WVU Coliseum.
“I thought this was our best defensive effort of the year,” WVU head coach Bob Huggins stated, “and probably our most complete effort of the year.”
West Virginia (16-12, 5-10) was in management all through and led for the ultimate 34 minutes, whereas sustaining no less than a 13-point lead over your entire second half.
The Cowboys have been unable to develop rhythm offensively within the first half, as they missed 16 of 23 field-goal makes an attempt and turned it over 11 occasions in falling behind 40-21.
“They played like aggressors and took the fight from us early on,” Cowboys’ head coach Mike Boynton stated.
The Mountaineers held OSU with no discipline purpose for greater than 8 minutes within the first half, permitting them to show a one-point lead right into a 32-14 benefit.
“Energy, intensity and focus. They all go hand in hand,” Mountaineers’ guard Erik Stevenson stated. “On Saturday, we didn’t have it as a team. We had it today and it showed.”
Tyreek Smith’s typical three-point play reduce the Oklahoma State (16-12, 7-8) deficit to 14-13 on the 11:39 mark of the opening half, and one free throw from Smith was all of the Cowboys managed till John-Michael Wright’s driving basket 3:37 earlier than halftime.
While the Cowboys went chilly, WVU rattled off 16 unanswered factors over a stretch of 5:50. That started with a bounce shot from Seth Wilson and was adopted by consecutive Mohamed Wague dunks, resulting in a timeout from Boynton.
The break did nothing to gradual the Mountaineers’ momentum, and Tre Mitchell’s second-chance allowed West Virginia to steer 24-14 for the primary double-digit benefit of the sport.
Erik Stevenson adopted with a private 8-0 run that featured two 3-pointers, the second of which allowed the Mountaineers to steer by 18 on the below 4-minute media timeout.
“We had a long talk about what we have left and what happens if we win and what happens if we lose,” Huggins stated. “I was really disappointed in our effort in the prior game. We’re up eight [with less than 9 minutes to play] and give those eight back in a matter of what seemed like five seconds. They were ready because they knew that they gave one away.”
Although OSU pulled to inside 15 late within the opening half, the Mountaineers closed it in robust vogue due to a jumper from Kedrian Johnson, who then got here up with a steal that led to a quick break layup simply earlier than the buzzer.
Johnson and Stevenson went to halftime with 11 factors apiece as WVU’s beginning backcourt made 8-of-13 field-goal makes an attempt to outscore your entire OSU workforce by one level.
The Mountaineers additionally went to the intermission with a 15-1 edge in factors off turnovers.
With the Mountaineers in entrance 58-41 within the second half, a scrum ensued between Mitchell and OSU’s Kalib Boone because the pair battled for a unfastened ball that led to extracurricular exercise. Upon reviewing the play, each gamers have been assessed a technical foul, which mixed with being referred to as for a private foul on the play, created a fifth foul that disqualified Boone.
“Two competitive guys going after a basketball,” Mitchell stated. “I felt I got hit some type of way, but it is what it is. There’s no excess anything with it. It’s just competitiveness.”
Making issues worse for Boynton’s workforce was Woody Newton’s ejection for leaving the bench and approaching the court docket in the course of the disagreement.
Yet after shedding two gamers, the Cowboys rattled off seven straight factors and pulled to inside seven on two Smith free throws on the 10:34 mark.
The Cowboys trailed by 13 as soon as extra, however may get no nearer.
After holding a 62-49 lead, WVU used an 11-2 spurt to place the sport out of attain. It featured two free throws from each Emmitt Matthews Jr. and Joe Toussaint, together with layups from Stevenson and Matthews and Stevenson’s triple that left the guests going through a 73-51 deficit with 7:53 remaining.
WVU led by no less than 20 the remainder of the best way till Naz Brown scored within the paint for the sport’s closing factors.
“It was a good overall effort for 40 minutes on both ends of the floor,” Stevenson stated, “and our goal was to play for 40 minutes. If we play for 40 minutes, we can beat anybody. That’s been our bugaboo if you want to call it that.”
The groups mixed for 46 free-throw makes an attempt and 33 fouls within the second half, throughout which era Mitchell led all gamers with 14 factors.
Mitchell, a Texas switch, had a WVU career-high with 22 factors. He made 8-of-15 pictures and 6-of-7 free throws, and Huggins was simply as happy with Mitchell’s defensive effort.
“We were all congratulating him in the locker room because he really did a good job guarding,” Huggins stated. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen Tre play.”
Mitchell had scored in double figures as soon as over the earlier eight video games and averaged 6.4 factors on lower than 35 % capturing.
“After reviewing film and looking back on the last game, I knew they weren’t going to double the post,” Mitchell stated. “I tried to take advantage of that early and that’s really what got me going.”
Stevenson led all gamers with 23 factors on 8-of-15 capturing, together with 5 for six on threes.
Johnson scored 12 factors and Matthews added 9 to go together with 5 rebounds.
Caleb Asberry scored 13 of his team-high 15 factors within the second half to tempo OSU. Bryce Thompson added 14 in a shedding effort.
Boone, who picked up his second foul 2:02 into the sport, performed lower than 7 minutes.
OSU, which shot 20 for 52 (38.5 %), made solely 2-of-19 threes and had 18 turnovers.
“Not necessarily the game plan, but it’s a part of the game plan. You have to make some threes,” Boynton stated. “When our best interior scorer gets in foul trouble early, it makes it a little bit different game than what you intend it.”
WVU completed with a 28-4 benefit in factors off turnovers.
The Mountaineers return to motion at 4 p.m. Saturday once they go for his or her first win at Allen Fieldhouse towards No. 3 Kansas.
“We have three more games to play. We have to handle business and try to win all three,” Stevenson stated. “If we can win all three, we don’t have anything to worry about.”
(Bob Huggins postgame press convention)
(WVU gamers postgame press convention)
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