West Virginia
Game Preview: West Virginia men's basketball vs. No 2 Iowa State
Game Preview: West Virginia men’s basketball vs. No 2 Iowa State
West Virginia returns home after a two-game road swing when they host No. 2 Iowa State at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday.
WVSports.com offers a look at some key elements of the match-up to get you ready for tip-off.
SERIES: West Virginia leads 14-10
LAST MEETING: Feb. 24, 2024 in Ames — Iowa State 71, WVU 64
TELEVISION: ESPN+ (Chuckie Kempf / King McClure)
Tip-off: 5:00 PM ET
COACHES
Darian DeVries, West Virginia
12-4 (1st season at WVU), 162-59 (7th season overall)
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
85-36 (4th season at ISU), 184-99 (9th season overall)
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa State enters Saturday, coming off a 74-57 win over Kansas on Wednesday. The Cyclones held the Jayhawks to 41 percent from the field, forcing 17 turnovers, which led to 23 points. Iowa State shot 41 percent from the field but went 8-for-13 from beyond the arc. Curtis Jones made just his second start of the season as he scored 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Dishon Jackson added 17 points and four rebounds off the bench, while Joshua Jackson had 10 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
West Virginia enters Saturday having also played on Wednesday night but was on the wrong side of a 70-54 loss to No. 10 Houston on the road. The Mountaineers trailed by 13 at halftime but cut it to a one-possession game at one point in the second half and had the Cougar lead down to single digits multiple times. From that point on though Houston would take over, as WVU’s leading scorer Javon Small was held scoreless in the second half. Amani Hansberry led WVU with 16 points, and the Mountaineers’ 12 turnovers led to 25 points for the Cougars.
By The Numbers — Iowa State (15-1, 5-0 Big 12)
Iowa State enters Saturday on the nation’s longest win streak, currently sitting at 12 games.
Iowa State is averaging 85.4 points per game this year, which is best in the Big 12 and 8th in the country. Defensively, they are 5th in the conference in points per game, allowing 65.3 per game.
Iowa State is shooting 49.5 percent from the field which is the second-best in the Big 12 and is 11th in the country. They are also shooting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc this season, but in their five Big 12 games, that number is at 37.4 percent. Defensively, Iowa State is holding their opponents to 31.9 percent shooting from three, which is 8th in the Big 12.
Iowa State has the best turnover margin in the Big 12 at +5.69. They’re forcing 15.8 turnovers per game on average, while they are only turning the ball over 10.1 times per game which is the second-best in the league.
Iowa State’s only loss is to No. 1 Auburn, a game they lost 83-81.
Over their last five games, their most frequent lineup on the floor has been Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic, Joshua Jefferson, and Dishon Jackson. This lineup has been used 13.3 percent of the time while Momcilovic is currently out with an injury.
The second most-used lineup over their last five games has been Gilbert, Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Jefferson, and Brndton Chatfield, with this being used 12.3 percent of the time.
Jones is the leading scorer in the Big 12 and ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring at 17.8 points per game. Jones has started only two games for Iowa State but is playing the second-most minutes on the team at 29.1 per game. Joshua Jefferson leads ISU in rebounding at 8.2 per game. Iowa State has six players averaging 9.9 points per game or more this season.
Iowa State comes into the game ranked 5th in the NET and 4th by KenPom. This is considered a Quad 1 game for Iowa State. The Cyclones are 5-1 in Quad 1 games this season.
By The Numbers — West Virginia (12-4, 3-2 Big 12)
West Virginia is scoring 73.2 points per game this season but giving up 64.3 points per game this season, which is fourth-best in the Big 12. They are 13th in the league in field goal percentage at 43.6 percent but are third in the league in opponent field goal percentage at 38.9 percent.
WVU is shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc, and opponents are shooting just 29.2 percent from beyond the arc against the Mountaineers this season, ranking third in the conference and 22nd in the nation. West Virginia is forcing 13.4 turnovers per game and is turning the ball over 11.2 times per game.
Over their last five games, their most frequent lineup on the floor has been Javon Small, Sencire Harris, Jonathan Powell, Toby Okani, and Eduardo Andre. This lineup has been used 28.6 percent of the time.
WVU’s leading scorer is Small, who leads the Big 12 in scoring as well, averaging 19.4 points per game this season. Amani Hansberry leads WVU in rebounds with 5.6 per game.
In WVU’s four losses this season, the Mountaineers have averaged 11.5 turnovers per game and are shooting 40.5 percent from the field. In WVU’s 12 wins this season, they are shooting 44.6 percent from the field.
West Virginia is ranked 33rd in the NET, and 41st by KenPom. This is considered a Quad 1 game for WVU and they are 3-4 in such games this season.
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WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — A weekend filled with snow and frigid temperatures has prompted West Virginia school systems to delay or close schools, or move to non-traditional learning.
The following counties announced they will be closed on Monday, Dec. 15:
- Barbour
- Braxton
- Brooke
- Calhoun
- Clay
- Doddridge
- Gilmer
- Grant (partial)
- Hancock
- Harrison
- Jackson
- Kanawha
- Lewis
- Marion
- Marshall
- Monongalia
- Nicholas
- Ohio
- Pleasants
- Preston
- Putnam
- Randolph
- Roane
- Taylor
- Tucker
- Tyler
- Upshur
- Wayne
- Webster
- Wetzel
- Wirt
- Wood
The following counties announced that they will be operating on a delay on Monday:
- Berkeley
- Grant (partial)
- Greenbrier
- Hampshire
- Hardy
- Jefferson
- McDowell
- Mineral
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Pendleton
- Summers
Some Grant County schools have elected to operate on a delay rather than close altogether.
Meanwhile, a few schools have announced a move to non-traditional learning for Monday:
- Boone
- Cabell
- Fayette
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Mason
- Mercer
- Mingo
- Pocahontas
- Raleigh
- Ritchie
For the latest updates on school closures in West Virginia, click here.
To get the latest weather information and forecasts, head to the Eyewitness News Storm Team page.
West Virginia had control of Saturday night’s Cleveland Hoops Showdown for long stretches, but a game that should have been put away in the second half turned into a gut-punch finish as the Mountaineers fell 89–88 to Ohio State in double overtime in Rocket Arena.
WVU dictated the game early, controlling the pace and limiting Ohio State’s early offense. After a back-and-forth opening stretch, the Mountaineers began to separate late in the first half and took control heading into the break. Honor Huff capped the half with a three on the final possession, sending WVU to the locker room up 37–27.
That momentum carried into the second half. Brenen Lorient scored on WVU’s first possession, and the Mountaineers continued to build on the lead. West Virginia pushed the margin to 51–35 as Huff and Jackson Fields knocked down back-to-back threes for a 16-point advantage that reflected how firmly the game had tilted in the Mountaineers’ favor.
Ohio State didn’t fold, and the game gradually tightened. The Buckeyes began cutting into the lead, forcing WVU into longer possessions on both ends. Even as the margin shrank, the Mountaineers kept finding ways to respond. A technical foul on Ohio State and a brief WVU run helped slow the momentum, but the lead continued to slip as the second half moved toward the final minutes.
Ohio State erased the deficit entirely and briefly took the lead on a deep three late in the half, but Fields answered on the other end to tie the game at 68 and send it to overtime.
The first overtime followed the same pattern. Huff opened the period with a three, Ohio State answered, and neither team could gain separation. WVU had chances to end it, but Ohio State stayed close enough to force a second overtime.
The second overtime was just as tight. Chance Moore opened with free throws, Lorient knocked down a kick-out three to reclaim the lead, and Huff hit a jumper with 12.3 seconds left to put WVU back in front 88–87. Ohio State answered again, taking the lead with 3.6 seconds remaining. West Virginia never got a shot off on the final possession.
Huff led the Mountaineers with 24 points after a slow start. Lorient turned in one of his most complete performances of the season, scoring 18 points on perfect shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. Moore added 15 points,10 of which came from the foul line, while Jasper Floyd finished with 14 points and helped set the offense going early.
WVU will close the non-conference schedule on Dec. 22 inside Hope Coliseum against Mississippi Valley State. Tip-off is set for 7:00PM on ESPN+
The Ohio State basketball team has had an up-and-down year so far. The record is respectable at 7-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, but by and large, it has beaten teams it was supposed to beat and lost in its two biggest contests.
The Buckeyes will try to get some forward momentum when they head to Cleveland to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown Saturday night. Much like Ohio State, the Mountaineers have had mixed reviews and lost games against the better competition. They sit at 8-3 overall.
As we pause for the Ohio State football team to get back in action, what better way to put your scarlet and gray colored glasses on than by watching OSU hoops try to notch another win in what we all hope is a berth in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season. If so, we’ve got all you need to know to find and watch the game on Saturday.
Stream Ohio State basketball vs. West Virginia
What channel is Ohio State vs. West Virginia on today?
- TV Channel: ESPNU
- Livestream: FuboTV (subscription to new subscribers may be available)
Ohio State-West Virginia will be televised nationally on ESPNU. John Schriffen (play-by-play) and King McClure (analyst) will call the action from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which may offer a free trial to new subscribers.
Ohio State vs. West Virginia game time today
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
- Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET
The Ohio State-West Virginia game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Stream Ohio State basketball vs. West Virginia
Ohio State vs. West Virginia, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Dec. 13
- Ohio State 72, West Virginia 67: This game will not be a free-flowing one and will look more like the game against Pitt than Illinois. That will benefit Ohio State with its ability to get into half-court sets and use its size and dribble penetration in the paint. It’ll be a lower-scoring, physical affair, but one in which the Buckeyes are able to outlast the Mountaineers.
- Spread: Ohio State -3.5
- Over/Under: 144
- Money line: Ohio State (-170), West Virginia (+145)
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
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