WVU Basketball Falls Victim to Xavier’s 3-Point Excellence

The WVU basketball team finished 0-2 at the Shriner’s Children’s Charleston Invitational on Sunday as Xavier was on fire from three-point range. WVU fell 78-68.

The Mountaineers forced two turnovers early for Xavier, managing to grab an early 4-0 lead with points from senior forward Brenen Lorient.

Xavier added a three-pointer before a 7-0 run for WVU, including just the second three-pointer of the season from freshman guard Amir Jenkins.

The Musketeers took their first lead of the game at the 6:48 mark when graduate forward Tre Carroll made his third three-pointer in as many attempts, 24-23. Senior guard Treysen Eaglestaff made a jumper from the right elbow to regain the lead for WVU.

Carroll followed with his fourth three-pointer, forcing a WVU timeout at the 5:52 mark.

Eaglestaff made an and-one layup and converted the free throw to cut the Xavier lead to 29-28. However, WVU failed to score for the remainder of the half and went into halftime down 36-28.

Senior center Harlan Obioha scored first inside before Eaglestaff added a layup, cutting the score to 36-32.

senior guard Honor Huff and Eaglestaff came alive to start the second half, combining for nine points and cutting the Xavier lead to 44-41 going into the first media timeout.

The Musketeers responded out of the timeout with a 9-2 run to take a 53-43 lead.

Huff gave WVU a boost with a four-point play after being fouled on a three-pointer.

Xavier continued to keep the Mountaineers at a distance, as the Musketeers were 14-21 from three at one point. Huff tallied four straight points, but Xavier sophomore guard All Wright made another three with 4:50 remaining.

Xavier went up 72-63 going into the final media timeout after a bank-shot three from Xavier. The Musketeers’ shooting was too much to overcome for WVU, as the Mountaineers fell 78-68.

Eaglestaff was the leading scorer for WVU, finishing with 20 points.

WVU basketball will take the court again at 3 p.m. on Sunday when it hosts Mercyhurst at the Hope Coliseum.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.