WVU Basketball
No. 17 WVU Avoids Disaster, Holds Off Last-Place Iowa State for 76-72 Win
After leading an Iowa State team still searching for its first conference win by as many as 15 points in the second half, No. 17 West Virginia was lucky to escape Ames with a 76-72 victory Tuesday evening.
With 15 seconds left to play, Iowa State (2-10, 0-7 Big 12) had possession trailing by just two points but junior Rasir Bolton lost the ball on a collision with WVU’s Gabe Osabuohien. West Virginia (12-5, 5-3) made two free throws following an intentional foul, pushing the lead to four and escaping with a four-point victory.
Iowa State fought back from an early 8-2 deficit to lead West Virginia 24-17 with 12 minutes left in the first half. From there, however, the Mountaineers went on a 16 to 0 run, fueled by eight points from junior guard Sean McNeil, to retake the lead for good. Over the final 12 minutes of the first half, WVU out-scored Iowa State 25 to 7, taking a 42-31 lead into halftime.
The Mountaineers maintained a double-digit lead for much of the second half, ballooning to 15 points with 10 minutes left. From there, Iowa State pieced together a 20 to 6 run that cut WVU’s to just one, 71-70, with less than three minutes left to play. ISU junior Tyler Harris hit four 3-pointer during that run. After being held scoreless in the first half, Harris bounced back to score 15 in the second half.
The Mountaineers were held without a made basket over the final 5:46 of the game, scoring on just five free throws. They made just one of their final seven shots. Iowa State missed each of its final four shots.
WVU senior Taz Sherman led the Mountaineers with 18 points on 5 of 7 shooting, while McNeil, Derek Culver and Emmitt Matthews Jr. each chipped in 13 apiece. Sophomore point guard Miles “Deuce” McBride had a second-straight uncharacteristically poor offensive showing, scoring 10 points on 4 of 11 shooting, 0 of 2 from 3-point range. Harris tied with Bolton and Solomon Young to lead the Cyclones with 15 points each.
WVU will host No. 23 Kansas in the WVU Coliseum on Saturday while Iowa State will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the No. 9 Sooners.
WVU QB Sean Boyle Enters Transfer Portal
Noah Farrakhan Confirms Portal Entry, Sends Thank You to WVU
Transfer Contacts Keep Rolling in for WVU Basketball
Updated Roster for West Virginia Basketball in 2024-25 Season V.2
Breaking: UIC Transfer Toby Okani Commits to West Virginia
WVU Looking at Marshall Transfer CB Generating Recent Buzz
Watch: WVU Football Players Ray, Hubbard, Cutter After Spring Practice No. 12
In the Holler: 2025 WPIAL Product Raves About Experience at WVU Football Spring Practice
Pair of Transfers Contacted by West Virginia Basketball
WVU OL Ja’Quay Hubbard Takes Shot at Pitt While Talking Expectations, Leadership
Watch: WVU Football Players White, Vesterinen, Malone After Spring Practice
Mike Drop: Is Zach Frazier Destined to Play for Steelers?
Alek Manoah Makes Triple-A Start: A Blooper and a Blast
Watch: WVU Football Players Ray, Hubbard, Cutter After Spring Practice No. 12
WVU Football Sights and Sounds: Spring Ball Intensity Remains
Breaking Down WVU Football’s Committments for 2024
12shares Share Tweet Reddit CommentsWith some new recruits announcing commitments to the WVU football program this week, the 2024 class...
Complete List of High School Recruits Offered by WVU Football
10shares Share Tweet Reddit CommentsTo say the WVU football program has been putting in a lot of recruiting work since...
Transfer Players Who Have Signed with West Virginia Football
7shares Share Tweet Reddit CommentsSince the Mountaineers have been increasingly active in pursuing transfers lately and there’s an important distinction...