MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Men’s Basketball (8-3) handled the Little Rock Trojans (2-8), 90-58, on Tuesday inside Hope Coliseum. The matchup marked the inaugural meeting between WVU and LR. Read more: WVU Men’s Basketball handles Little Rock in 90-58 outing
Editor’s note: This article has been updated following the postgame press conference.
Efficient outings from Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff proved to be enough for WVU to control the contest. The pair accounted for 47 of WVU’s 90 points.
WVU nailed 15 three-pointers on 30 attempts.
First half
As in most games this season, Harlan Obioha won the opening tip-off for WVU. Eaglestaff sank a triple for the game’s first points. The UND transfer did not attempt a single field goal in Saturday’s loss to Wake Forest.
“I didn’t play the greatest in Charleston, and that’s something I have to live with and something that I have to get better at,” Eaglestaff said. “Like coach said, you can’t predict when the work you put in is gonna show, and today was one of the days where it showed.”
Obioha, Eaglestaff, and Amir Jenkins all contributed offensively in the opening run. WVU led 11-4 going into the first media timeout at the 15:44 mark of the half.
WVU broke the scoring open shortly after, coming out of the timeout on a 7-0 run. The spurt was capped with a statement breakaway dunk courtesy of Chance Moore. Little Rock finally ended its scoring drought, but the Mountaineers responded immediately.
Related: A man amongst boys: Chance Moore’s impact on WVU
WVU entered the second media timeout on a 13-2 run.
The old gold and blue continued to reign terror on the Trojans in many forms. Whether it came from a Brenen Lorient slam dunk or Huff from deep, WVU simply bullied LR.
Three triples from Huff in 96 seconds forced LR to burn a timeout and regroup, with WVU nabbing a 33-11 lead at the 7:12 mark.
The Trojans forced the Mountaineers into burning a timeout with 3:55 remaining by going on a small run. LR finally got a few shots to fall, led by star guard Johnathan Lawson. The Creighton transfer was credited with eight of LR’s first 17 points.
WVU led LR at the break, 47-23.
At the break
Huff and Eaglestaff got hot in the first 20 minutes, combining for 26 points. To add, the duo shot 8-13 from behind the arc.
WVU dominated in FG efficiency. The Mountaineers shot 59% (17-29) compared to LR’s 29% (8-28).
Second half
It was more of the same in the second half. The opening minutes of the frame featured back-and-forth possessions from both teams, but WVU continued to outmatch LR.
WVU outscored LR 9-6 in the first 4:42 of the half, setting the score at 56-29 in favor of the Mountaineers. Eaglestaff continued to capitalize, building some much-needed confidence.
The Mountaineers took a dip in efficiency after the break, but played with a comfortable lead for most of the contest.
Action crept on through the latter portion of the contest, but WVU never let LR within legitimate striking distance. The score read 90-58 in favor of the home team as time expired.
Top performers
- H. Huff (WVU): 24 points (8-11 from behind the arc)
- T. Eaglestaff (WVU): Season-high 23 points
- C. Wallace (LR):Â 23 points/9 rebounds/4 assists
What’s next?
WVU returns to action on Saturday, when the Mountaineers battle the Ohio State Buckeyes in a neutral-site affair. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH.
“This one’s probably gonna be more road-neutral [Cleveland] even though I’m sure we’ll have a great turnout ’cause it’s not that far,” WVU Head Coach Ross Hodge said. “You want to win it because it’s the next game on your schedule and it’s another big opportunity in the non-league, which is your last opportunity for those quad-1, quad-2s…”
Little Rock continues on the road at Morehead State, with that game set for 6:30 p.m. on December 16.
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