WVU Concludes Nonconference Portion of its Schedule Victorious – West Virginia College Athletics

MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – West Virginia concludes its four-game homestand with a 67-46 victory over Mercyhurst Sunday afternoon on the WVU Coliseum.
 
Javon Small scored a game-high 19 factors, together with the 1,000^th level of his collegiate profession. Small has performed two seasons at East Carolina, one at Oklahoma State and now this yr at WVU.
 
Eduardo Andre got here off the bench to attain a season-high 14 factors whereas Toby Okani obtained his first double-double of the season with 13 factors and a season-high 12 rebounds.
 
West Virginia, now 9-2 and equaling its win whole from final season, restricted the Lakers of the Northeast Convention to only 28.3% capturing for the sport. Mercyhurst missed 38 of its 53 subject aim makes an attempt and turned the ball over 16 instances.
 
“Like I informed the blokes, the nonconference portion is now over, and so they did their job when it comes to placing themselves in place and now they prepare for Large 12 play,” West Virginia coach Darian DeVries mentioned. “General, this recreation was a bit of ugly at instances, however I assumed defensively within the second half we obtained it cranked up and get out into transition a bit of bit extra to drag away.”
 
After WVU led 35-22 at halftime, the Lakers went on an 8-0 run to lowered the Mountaineers’ result in eight, 38-30, with 14:46 left. Small lastly snapped its practically six-minute subject aim drought with a layup, two of 16 straight factors West Virginia scored to construct its lead as much as 24 factors.
 
West Virginia once more performed right this moment’s recreation with out beginning guard Tucker DeVries, who has been sidelined because the Georgetown victory with an undisclosed higher physique harm.
 
Beginning middle Amani Hansberry additionally checked out 18 seconds into the sport with what gave the impression to be an ankle harm. He spent the sport sitting on the bench with an ice bag on his foot, however DeVries indicated afterward it was nothing critical.
 
With Hansberry out, Harris Elezovich obtained some prolonged enjoying time and completed with 4 factors, 5 rebounds and an help in quarter-hour.
 
“(Hansberry’s harm) took away a bit of little bit of our depth and our potential to throw it inside,” DeVries defined. “However I assumed Harris got here in and gave us some actually good minutes and Eduardo took an prolonged function, in order that was good.”
 
Freshman Jonathan Powell, getting his second begin in DeVries’ place, made two 3s and completed the sport with six factors.
 
The Mountaineers outscored the Lakers 30 to 16 within the paint and had a 29 to 19 edge in bench scoring.
 
“If you find yourself sort of struggling a bit of bit offensively you’ll want to have protection so you’ll be able to cling round, after which while you get the prospect to interrupt it open you are able to do that,” DeVries mentioned.
 
West Virginia will now hit the pause button on basketball actions for Christmas break earlier than reassembling to start Large 12 play at eighth-ranked Kansas on New Yr’s eve afternoon in Lawrence.
 
That recreation will tip off at 2 p.m. and will likely be televised on ESPN+.