Hope Coliseum in Morgantown was home to the second-ever matchup between WVU Men’s Basketball (6-2) and the Mercyhurst Lakers (3-5) on Sunday. The Mountaineers cruised, 70-38. Read more: WVU’s suffocating defensive effort propels Mountaineers over Mercyhurst
Preface
WVU returned home after coming up empty in the Charleston Classic, losing to Clemson and Xavier in closely contested outings. Sunday’s matchup posed a grand opportunity for the Mountaineers to return to form. They did.
The WVU defense, much to the credit of having a defensive-minded staff, suffocated the majority of Mercyhurst’s offensive opportunities. The Mountaineers out-rebounded on both ends and put pressure on the visitors in every facet.
First half
WVU’s Harlan Obioha won the opening tip-off, and the game got underway. The two teams exchanged empty possessions for the first minute until Obioha powered through the paint to score.
The Mountaineers opened the game on a 10-0 run, forcing Mercyhurst to call a timeout with 16:46 remaining in the first half. Timely shots from Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff contributed to the early advantage.
Mercyhurst got on the board coming out of the Lakers’ timeout with a short jumper from Bernie Blunt III. WVU responded with back-to-back baskets to make it 14-2 going into the first media timeout. Seven of the Mountaineers’ first 14 points came courtesy of Brenen Lorient.
WVU made its first seven shots from the field and Chance Moore managed to draw a foul on the team’s first missed FG. The St. Bonaventure transfer sank both free throws.
Mercyhurst got warm and cut the WVU lead to 18-8, causing WVU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Ross Hodge to use a timeout. The Lakers finished the sequence on an 8-0 run leading into the second media timeout.
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Lorient broke the three-plus-minute Mountaineer scoring drought with a jumper, making it a seven-point advantage at the halfway point of the frame.
Back-and-forth action going into the third media timeout set the score at 26-19 with WVU in charge. Troy transfer Jackson Fields made his debut in the old gold and blue before the break, much to the liking of the Mountaineer faithful.
Both teams hit cold streaks coming out of the break. WVU outscored Mercyhurst 1-0 between the third and fourth media timeouts, tallying a singular free throw. WVU’s Moore rejuvenated a quiet Hope Coliseum with a slam dunk
The Lakers ended their scoring drought of nearly four minutes with a triple, but troubles piled up for the visitors. WVU ended the half on an 8-0 run.
At the break
The Mountaineers held a 39-22 advantage at the break. Lorient and Moore led the way in first-half scoring for WVU with nine points each. Jasper Floyd finished the frame with four assists and Eaglestaff tallied four rebounds.
WVU shot 16-25 from the field (64%), compared to 9-24 (38%) for Mercyhurst. The Mountaineers led in every major statistical category through the first 20 minutes, except for made triples.
Second half
Both squads started the second half bumpy. WVU missed seven of its first eight field goals and Mercyhurst continued an extended drought from the first half. The Lakers’ first points of the second half did not come until 4:05 into the frame.
The Mountaineers led by 25 at the first media timeout of the half, and continued to pour on as time melted off the clock. Mercyhurst had no answer, as it mustered six points through the first 13 minutes of the second.
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Mercyhurst ended a six-minute drought with a quick two points, but it was a lost cause. WVU’s suffocating defense camouflaged the fact that the Mountaineers fell flat in the shooting department in the half (33.3%). The final minutes were spent running out the clock, rotating substitutions and trips to the charity stripe.
By the time the clock showed all zeroes, WVU outscored Mercyhurst 31-16 in the second half. The Mountaineers locked up the 70-38 win with a last-second layup.
Standouts
- Chance Moore (WVU): 11 points/9 rebounds/1 assist
- Amir Jenkins (WVU): 10 points/3 rebounds/3 assists
- Bernie Blunt III (Mercyhurst): 14 points/1 rebound/2 assists
Final wrap
Mercyhurst concludes its four-game road trip with a visit to Lafayette. The Lakers have dropped all three contests thus far.
WVU is back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. in Morgantown. The Mountaineers will play host to the Coppin State Eagles.
As always, the game will be broadcast on 100.9 FM The Torch and its nine affiliate stations. The coverage runs all season long.
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