CHARLESTON, W.Va. – WVU Men’s Basketball (7-3) returned to Charleston for the first time since the 2016-17 season on Saturday. The Mountaineers fell to Wake Forest (7-3), 75-66. Read more: WVU falls in Holiday Hoopfest despite Huff’s honorable effort
Honor Huff led WVU in the losing effort, acting as one of the few bright spots for the Mountaineers. Juke Harris played his opposite, controlling the WF offensive attack. WVU Head Coach Ross Hodge defended his players’ performances but noted the turnovers.
“It wasn’t a lack of aggression on their part… When you turn the ball over 17 times, you limit yourself.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated following the conclusion of the postgame press conferences.
First half
WVU’s Harlan Obioha won the opening tip and the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center crowd erupted. Obioha was the first player to score shortly after.
Wake Forest’s Juke Harris, the star Demon Deacon, got his team on the board near the 17:08 mark with a triple. Harris capitalized a few possessions later with a contested three-pointer, drawing the and-one. He missed it, keeping the score at 6-3 in favor of WF.
Chance Moore scored on back-to-back layup attempts, shifting the momentum once more.
The two teams traded leads four times in the opening nine minutes, with neither squad able to pull away early.
A 6-0 WF run forced a WVU timeout halfway through the frame. The Demon Deacons found an offensive groove that paired well with the Mountaineers’ poor shooting.
Wake Forest took a 21-12 lead at the 8:29 mark thanks to basket interference. WVU challenged the call on the play, but was unable to reverse the ruling.
Momentum shift?
The Mountaineers ended a near-three minute scoring drought, going 3-4 from the charity stripe on two trips. The FG drought lasted even longer, going over six minutes.
Brenen Lorient and Huff stepped up when WVU needed it most. The duo scored on three straight possessions to cut the WF lead to four points.
Huff’s heat check fell short, ending the quick 8-0 WVU spurt and subsequently sending the contest to a break. The Chattanooga transfer picked up where he left off, though. Huff sank another triple and three FTs to tie the game at 29.
WVU and WF exchanged blows to end the half knotted at 34 point apiece.
At the break
Despite early shooting woes, the old gold and blue rallied from 10 down with just over five minutes left to match WF on the scoreboard.
WVU had several quality deep looks, but started the game 0-11 from behind the arc. It was not until the final five minutes of the half that the Mountaineers found their flow. Huff was the undisputed catalyst in the late-half surge.
Wake Forest was more efficient overall from the field (48%) than WVU (34%), but WVU owned the first-half boards. The Mountaineers racked up 26 total rebounds compared to WF’s 12.
Second half
Obioha started the scoring in the second half for WVU, just like the first. But WF quickly reclaimed the lead with an 13-0 flurry. WVU’s DJ Thomas ended the drought this time.
Trailing 47-38 coming out of a timeout, WVU needed to respond. Harris and other Demon Deacon hoopers continued to apply pressure on the scoreboard, though.
Mountaineer scoring droughts re-appeared sporadically throughout the remainder of the game, making it difficult to battle back. Pair the scoreless runs with mounting foul trouble and it started to look as if all hope was lost for the de facto home team. It was.
WVU drew within eight points with 6:24 remaining, and Huff had another short offensive surge that ignited the Charleston faithful. It was not enough to turn the tables on the Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest responded nearly every time West Virginia showed a spark. Huff referred to many of Saturday’s issues as “internal mistakes” on the court.
The scoreboard read 75-66 in favor of WF as the clock expired.
Top performers
Honor Huff (WVU): 24 points/1 rebound/1 assist
Juke Harris (WF): 28 points/5 rebounds (Holiday Hoopfest Most Outstanding Player)
What’s next?
WVU is back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 9, when the Mountaineers play host to Little Rock. Tuesday’s contest serves as a final tune-up before the Dec. 13 showdown with Ohio State in Cleveland. Tip-off against Little Rock is set for 7 p.m. in Morgantown.
Wake Forest returns to the court on Dec. 14, as the Demon Deacons welcome Queens into Winston-Salem.
Stay up to date with WV Sports Nation for continued WVU Athletics coverage.
