WVU Basketball
WVU Basketball Knocks Off No. 2 Iowa State on Jerry West Day

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — On a day meant to honor the memory of the greatest Mountaineer to ever live, WVU basketball put forth an effort that would make Jerry West proud, knocking off No. 2 Iowa State 64-57.
It is West Virginia’s (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) third win over a top-10 team this season and fourth ranked win overall as the Cyclones (15-2, 5-1) lost for just the second time this season.
The court has been stormed https://t.co/ZHAtaroqoX pic.twitter.com/IZOo6BVXyx
— Cody Nespor (@CodyNespor) January 19, 2025
WVU’s offense went cold midway through the first half, ceding a 15-3 run to the Cyclones over a five-minute stretch. The Mountaineers were just 2-16 from the floor over a period of more than 10 minutes.
They were never out of the game, however, as Iowa State’s lead never reached double digits. When West Virginia finally found its offense again, the Mountaineers were right back in the game.
Amani Hansberry broke the dry spell with a three-pointer, which was immediatey followed up by a three from Tony Okani. Javon Small made a layup to cut ISU’s lead to one and then picked up a steal and converted an acrobatic fastbreak attempt to give WVU a 22-21 lead.
Another three from Hansberry had the Mountaineers up 25-24 at halftime.
The margin stayed within three points throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half until the Cyclones went up four, 42-37 with 9:09 to play. Small hit back-to-back shots before Powell drained a three-pointer and Eduardo Andre converted an and-one for a quick 10-2 run that had the hosts up 47-43.
The teams continued to trade baskets and defensive stops all the way until the game was tied, 49-49 with 2:43 left. Layups by Joesph Yesufu and Small put the Mountaineers up 54-49 when Iowa State called a timeout with 1:39 to play.
WVU led 56-51 when Small hit a three-pointer with just 42 seconds on the clock to go up by eight points. A Small dunk with 21 second left was the dagger as WVU went up by 10, 63-53.
Small, the leading scorer in the Big 12, finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Hansberry was next with 12 points on four three-pointers and six rebounds. Powell finished with nine points.
Iowa State’s Curtis Jones, the second-leading scorer in the conference led the Cyclones with 16 points. Keshon Gilbert scored 13 and Joshua Jefferson had 10.
Iowa State came into the game shooting 35% on three-pointers but shot just 1-17 (5.9%) from range against the Mountaineers.
At halftime, West Virginia honored Jerry West’s family members and announced that West’s No. 44 will be retired across all sports.