--West Virginia started this game a lot like a team that hadn't played in almost a week and struggled to really find the starts/stops to generate momentum, but really came alive in the second half with a 16-0 run to help them pull away and take control of this game. The Mountaineers now move to 6-2 on the season and have three non-conference games left which they will be heavily favored in each. This was a game that this team needed to find a way to win at home and that's exactly what they were able to do.
--First of all, this was fun and while there wasn't a lot of fouls called there was a ton of physical basketball being played. It took a while to get the crowd into the game but they really had it going down the stretch run to create a really fun environment.
--Javon Small finished with 26 points on 9-16 shooting and hit some massive shots in this game including several with the shot clock winding down. The banked three (he called it) basically iced the game. Small is so hard to stay in front of and is comfortable both off the dribble and when catching the ball. The Hoyas were hedging their screens hard and tried to disrupt the offense, but he was able to still make plays and get downhill. He made some tough, tough shots and some great plays in critical times.
--Tucker DeVries finished with 15 points on 5-10 shooting and was 3-6 from three. DeVries also finished with 7 rebounds and 3 assists and also made some critical baskets down the stretch run of the game. He made a lot of critical plays especially with his decision-making.
--Sencire Harris only scored 6 points on 2-7 shooting, but is very, very impressive with what he can do on the opposite end. Harris finally got one to finish at the rim and finally got a call taking it to the rim. But he also finished with 2 blocks, 3 steals, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. He made things tough for Jayden Epps and Malik Mack at times and forced them both into some tough shots. They still made a few, but he just really is such an asset on that end of the floor. Epps was 1-8 in the second half and made one field goal. He led the team with +19.
--Eduardo Andre really changed the game when he got into it with his effort all around. He finished with 4 points and 3 rebounds, to go with 4 blocks. He really erased some easy scoring opportunities for Georgetown in critical situations.
--Toby Okani finished with 11 points on 5-8 shooting and had 2 assists with no turnovers. Okani was able to get to the rim and make some clutch plays in this one and he's taking/making a lot of good decisions on the offensive end of the floor on top of his versatility on the defensive end.
--It was good to see a three go down for Jonathan Powell. He had struggled from the floor in the Bahamas but delivered tonight.
--West Virginia only played eight players and
--West Virginia won the rebounding edge 34-33. Georgetown had a lot of size, but again it came down to effort on some of these including one play where Tucker DeVries was able to grab an offensive rebound and had the wherewithal to throw the ball into Eduardo Andre for a dunk. The Mountaineers also were +6 when it came to points in the paint.
--West Virginia turned 14 Georgetown turnovers into 19 points. That's been a recipe for success of this team and that continued in this one. Some of the only thing that was working early in this game was off those mistakes when they were able to get out and run. The Mountaineers had a 14-4 edge in fast break points and some of that was created on the defensive end by forcing some bad shots.
--You'll always take 12-13 from the line.
--The Mountaineers had 13 assists on 26 made baskets. They also had six blocks and I think all of them were poster worthy.
--Thought the defensive effort was strong in this one and forced them into some really tough looks.
--First of all, this was fun and while there wasn't a lot of fouls called there was a ton of physical basketball being played. It took a while to get the crowd into the game but they really had it going down the stretch run to create a really fun environment.
--Javon Small finished with 26 points on 9-16 shooting and hit some massive shots in this game including several with the shot clock winding down. The banked three (he called it) basically iced the game. Small is so hard to stay in front of and is comfortable both off the dribble and when catching the ball. The Hoyas were hedging their screens hard and tried to disrupt the offense, but he was able to still make plays and get downhill. He made some tough, tough shots and some great plays in critical times.
--Tucker DeVries finished with 15 points on 5-10 shooting and was 3-6 from three. DeVries also finished with 7 rebounds and 3 assists and also made some critical baskets down the stretch run of the game. He made a lot of critical plays especially with his decision-making.
--Sencire Harris only scored 6 points on 2-7 shooting, but is very, very impressive with what he can do on the opposite end. Harris finally got one to finish at the rim and finally got a call taking it to the rim. But he also finished with 2 blocks, 3 steals, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. He made things tough for Jayden Epps and Malik Mack at times and forced them both into some tough shots. They still made a few, but he just really is such an asset on that end of the floor. Epps was 1-8 in the second half and made one field goal. He led the team with +19.
--Eduardo Andre really changed the game when he got into it with his effort all around. He finished with 4 points and 3 rebounds, to go with 4 blocks. He really erased some easy scoring opportunities for Georgetown in critical situations.
--Toby Okani finished with 11 points on 5-8 shooting and had 2 assists with no turnovers. Okani was able to get to the rim and make some clutch plays in this one and he's taking/making a lot of good decisions on the offensive end of the floor on top of his versatility on the defensive end.
--It was good to see a three go down for Jonathan Powell. He had struggled from the floor in the Bahamas but delivered tonight.
--West Virginia only played eight players and
--West Virginia won the rebounding edge 34-33. Georgetown had a lot of size, but again it came down to effort on some of these including one play where Tucker DeVries was able to grab an offensive rebound and had the wherewithal to throw the ball into Eduardo Andre for a dunk. The Mountaineers also were +6 when it came to points in the paint.
--West Virginia turned 14 Georgetown turnovers into 19 points. That's been a recipe for success of this team and that continued in this one. Some of the only thing that was working early in this game was off those mistakes when they were able to get out and run. The Mountaineers had a 14-4 edge in fast break points and some of that was created on the defensive end by forcing some bad shots.
--You'll always take 12-13 from the line.
--The Mountaineers had 13 assists on 26 made baskets. They also had six blocks and I think all of them were poster worthy.
--Thought the defensive effort was strong in this one and forced them into some really tough looks.
