--Give this team credit for battling back. West Virginia was down 15-points in the second half and found a way to seize the lead and win this game 60-55. Yes, a terrible flagrant foul call certainly helped things but the Mountaineers outscored Northern Iowa 40-32 in the second half and a 33-13 run over the last ten minutes, including a 9-2 run over the last 2:21 of the game and was able to speed them up and force some turnovers. This was an ugly game for a lot of reasons but if you can win does it really matter? You can't forget that it was stagnant play that led to the deficit in the first place but a young team grew up tonight some with how it closed this game. Onward and upward for West Virginia who will now play Wichita State for the Challenge title tomorrow night.
--West Virginia was out-rebounded by five and was outscored by 20 in the paint against a team that only really played what you'd consider maybe two big men. Go figure?
--The best player in this game was freshman Deuce McBride. That's not what I thought I'd say coming into this one either but he took control in the second half and finished with 18 points on 6-12 shooting in 27 total minutes. He scored the ball with some clutch shots and seemed to want it in critical situations which is what you want to see from any player, forget a freshman. He had five assists and zero turnovers and also was impressive on the defensive end.
--Positives? The Mountaineers held Northern Iowa to 3-20 from three.
--West Virginia was 11-16 from the foul line in the second half but when things mattered they hit some big shots down the stretch from there to get back into it.
--Sophomore Derek Culver was huge on the glass with 15 rebounds, but only 3 points and he didn't make a single field goal against a team where he should have had some opportunities. The Mountaineers are going to have to find a way to get him going but he drew seven fouls in this game and really caused issues for their bigs with foul trouble.
--Freshman Oscar Tshiebwe dealt with foul trouble again limiting him to 6 points and 2 rebounds. One play that really stuck out to me was when he stole the ball in the first half and outran everybody on the court to dunk it. West Virginia just hasn't had many players like that at all with his size and speed and once he figures it out could be special.
--Thought redshirt senior Logan Routt gave the Mountaineers some excellent minutes tonight, especially on the defensive end.
--Scary moment for sophomore Emmitt Matthews there on a beautiful put-back to get the lead late in the game but he fell and hit hard. I don't think it was a flagrant foul but it was good to see him get up although he didn't take the free throws.
--The ball just didn't move a lot in the first half but the team finished with 10 assists on 20 made baskets. The Mountaineers forced 17 turnovers in this one.
--The Mountaineers largest lead of the game was at the end 60-55. But they all count and now the program will get ready to play Wichita State tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m.
--West Virginia was out-rebounded by five and was outscored by 20 in the paint against a team that only really played what you'd consider maybe two big men. Go figure?
--The best player in this game was freshman Deuce McBride. That's not what I thought I'd say coming into this one either but he took control in the second half and finished with 18 points on 6-12 shooting in 27 total minutes. He scored the ball with some clutch shots and seemed to want it in critical situations which is what you want to see from any player, forget a freshman. He had five assists and zero turnovers and also was impressive on the defensive end.
--Positives? The Mountaineers held Northern Iowa to 3-20 from three.
--West Virginia was 11-16 from the foul line in the second half but when things mattered they hit some big shots down the stretch from there to get back into it.
--Sophomore Derek Culver was huge on the glass with 15 rebounds, but only 3 points and he didn't make a single field goal against a team where he should have had some opportunities. The Mountaineers are going to have to find a way to get him going but he drew seven fouls in this game and really caused issues for their bigs with foul trouble.
--Freshman Oscar Tshiebwe dealt with foul trouble again limiting him to 6 points and 2 rebounds. One play that really stuck out to me was when he stole the ball in the first half and outran everybody on the court to dunk it. West Virginia just hasn't had many players like that at all with his size and speed and once he figures it out could be special.
--Thought redshirt senior Logan Routt gave the Mountaineers some excellent minutes tonight, especially on the defensive end.
--Scary moment for sophomore Emmitt Matthews there on a beautiful put-back to get the lead late in the game but he fell and hit hard. I don't think it was a flagrant foul but it was good to see him get up although he didn't take the free throws.
--The ball just didn't move a lot in the first half but the team finished with 10 assists on 20 made baskets. The Mountaineers forced 17 turnovers in this one.
--The Mountaineers largest lead of the game was at the end 60-55. But they all count and now the program will get ready to play Wichita State tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m.
