WVU Basketball Leans on Defense, Free Throw Shooting in Win Over Mercer

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A slow night on offense for WVU basketball meant the defense needed to step up for its 75-61 win over Mercer Thursday.

The Mountaineers forced 16 turnovers and scored 22 points from the free throw line in the win.

Sadler started the game with some excitement, drilling a step-back three-pointer from the left wing on WVU’s opening possession. He followed with a lob to sophomore center Mouhamed Sylla, who finished with a layup.

The WVU defense stepped up early, forcing Mercer turnovers on all three of its opening possessions and paving the way for a 5-2 lead at the first media timeout.

WVU went up by double digits for the first time with a dunk by fifth-year forward Brenen Lorient at 21-11 with 10:01 remaining in the first half. He added a layup at the 8:39 mark for a 23-15 lead.

The tide turned in Mercer’s favor, as WVU went on a major dry spell with the only points in the next five minutes being three free throws by Sadler. The Bears capitalized, tying the game was 26-26 and forcing a timeout by WVU head coach Ross Hodge.

Sophomore center Mouhamed Sylla ended the drought with a dunk out of the timeout, but Mercer tied it up again with a pair of free throws with two minutes to go in the half.

Senior guard Finley Bizjack saved WVU from a halftime tie with a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving WVU a 31-28 lead.

WVU opened the second half with a 10-3 run where Lorient and Sadler both scored four points. A 9-0 run over the course of three minutes gave the Mountaineers a 57-39 lead, the team’s largest of the game to that point.

WVU held on to the lead with 15 points from Bizjack en route to its 75-61 win.

WVU basketball will face its first major challenge of the season next time out when it plays Auburn in the Players Era Championship tournament at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Find more coverage of  WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.