--West Virginia surely made this interesting after leading by as many as 27-points in the first half, the Mountaineers had to hold on down the stretch for a 72-65 win but in the end all that matters is the fact that they did win the game. The first half of this one was one of the best they put together and really had control of the game, while the second just seemed out of sorts for large stretches. Still, in the clutch moments this team found a way to make enough plays to get this win and move to 19-12 on the season and 10-10 in the league. Not bad at all in the first year under Darian DeVries.
--The defense was very good in the first half holding UCF to 29-percent and 9-31 from the field, but it wasn't as strong in the second although credit the Knights for making some really tough shots at times. Still they were able to get to the rim and make things interesting while shooting 50-percent from the floor.
--Javon Small did a little bit of everything per the norm with 25 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds but it did take him 23 shots to get that. It's nit picking with how many he means to this team but he was a little loose with the ball at times and struggled to get anything going in the second half going 0-7 from the field and scoring just 6 points. But he was masterful in the first half with 19 points and really was the key cog in the Mountaineers building their early lead.
--West Virginia struggled to get much going in the second half but it was Jonathan Powell that hit the biggest shots of the game. He had 12 points in the second half and was 4-6 from the field, all from three Two of those shots were critical as the Knights had closed the gap and had all the momentum. He still needs to shoot better from the line, but he was crucial in this win. The best part of his game is that he doesn't seem to take any off balance shots and continues to let it fly with confidence.
--Amani Hansberry has been playing a different brand of basketball lately with much more confidence. He had 18 points in this game and grabbed 10 rebounds recording his fourth of the season but three of those have come into the last six games. Hansberry has really started to play more comfortable and he's only scratching the surface of what he can become. I think he has a very bright future and is going to be a key factor for this team next season. During that six games stretch Hansberry is at 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds. That'll do.
--Toby Okani had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks along with 6 turnovers but he just makes so many hustle plays and plays that don't necessarily standout on the stat sheet in every single game. He is so important with what he can do with his defensive flexibility as well as a solid offensive skill set. He was +11 today which led the team and that doesn't surprise me. He did an excellent job on Hall early in the game and was able to frustrate him.
--Sencire Harris was active when he was on the floor with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and some great defense but he has to do a better job avoiding dumb fouls.
--West Virginia won the rebounding edge 44-39 and this team is still undefeated when they do that. The Mountaineers had 16 offensive rebounds and some of those were key down the stretch. The second chance points was +10 and those late game rebounds helped to seal this one up.
--Anytime you have 17 assists on 27 made baskets that's good ball movement. Thought the second half got stagnant at times, but the Mountaineers really did a great job moving the ball in the first half and getting some open shots. Really unselfish basketball.
--Turnovers were an issue at times in this one as the Mountaineers almost let UCF back into the game with careless mistakes. West Virginia had 16 turnovers and that led to 17 points for the Knights. They had 10 fast break points mostly because of live ball turnovers.
--West Virginia was 12 of 37 from three. That 37 number is the the most that West Virginia has shot in Big 12 play and is the second most this season. But the 12 makes was tied for the second most in the season and the most in Big 12 play.
--The Mountaineers now will prepare for the Big 12 Tournament where they will get a first round bye as the eight seed thanks to Colorado beating TCU 76-56 today. West Virginia will get the winner of TCU/Colorado and then would have to match up against Houston, so no easy road here.
--The defense was very good in the first half holding UCF to 29-percent and 9-31 from the field, but it wasn't as strong in the second although credit the Knights for making some really tough shots at times. Still they were able to get to the rim and make things interesting while shooting 50-percent from the floor.
--Javon Small did a little bit of everything per the norm with 25 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds but it did take him 23 shots to get that. It's nit picking with how many he means to this team but he was a little loose with the ball at times and struggled to get anything going in the second half going 0-7 from the field and scoring just 6 points. But he was masterful in the first half with 19 points and really was the key cog in the Mountaineers building their early lead.
--West Virginia struggled to get much going in the second half but it was Jonathan Powell that hit the biggest shots of the game. He had 12 points in the second half and was 4-6 from the field, all from three Two of those shots were critical as the Knights had closed the gap and had all the momentum. He still needs to shoot better from the line, but he was crucial in this win. The best part of his game is that he doesn't seem to take any off balance shots and continues to let it fly with confidence.
--Amani Hansberry has been playing a different brand of basketball lately with much more confidence. He had 18 points in this game and grabbed 10 rebounds recording his fourth of the season but three of those have come into the last six games. Hansberry has really started to play more comfortable and he's only scratching the surface of what he can become. I think he has a very bright future and is going to be a key factor for this team next season. During that six games stretch Hansberry is at 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds. That'll do.
--Toby Okani had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks along with 6 turnovers but he just makes so many hustle plays and plays that don't necessarily standout on the stat sheet in every single game. He is so important with what he can do with his defensive flexibility as well as a solid offensive skill set. He was +11 today which led the team and that doesn't surprise me. He did an excellent job on Hall early in the game and was able to frustrate him.
--Sencire Harris was active when he was on the floor with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and some great defense but he has to do a better job avoiding dumb fouls.
--West Virginia won the rebounding edge 44-39 and this team is still undefeated when they do that. The Mountaineers had 16 offensive rebounds and some of those were key down the stretch. The second chance points was +10 and those late game rebounds helped to seal this one up.
--Anytime you have 17 assists on 27 made baskets that's good ball movement. Thought the second half got stagnant at times, but the Mountaineers really did a great job moving the ball in the first half and getting some open shots. Really unselfish basketball.
--Turnovers were an issue at times in this one as the Mountaineers almost let UCF back into the game with careless mistakes. West Virginia had 16 turnovers and that led to 17 points for the Knights. They had 10 fast break points mostly because of live ball turnovers.
--West Virginia was 12 of 37 from three. That 37 number is the the most that West Virginia has shot in Big 12 play and is the second most this season. But the 12 makes was tied for the second most in the season and the most in Big 12 play.
--The Mountaineers now will prepare for the Big 12 Tournament where they will get a first round bye as the eight seed thanks to Colorado beating TCU 76-56 today. West Virginia will get the winner of TCU/Colorado and then would have to match up against Houston, so no easy road here.
