MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — On a night when West Virginia broke the 70-point mark for the first time since a 78-70 win at Colorado on January 12, the Mountaineers put together their fourth-best shooting performance of the year in a 72-61 win over Utah on Saturday.
WVU made 25-of-52 shots from the floor against the Utes (48.1 percent). With the Utes focusing much of their attention on denying opportunities for West Virginia’s leading scorer Javon Small, three other Mountaineers scored in double digits while shooting above 50 percent from the field. Amani Hansberry scored 17 points, the most since he posted back-to-back 19-point games against Gonzaga and Louisville in the Bahamas over Thanksgiving weekend.
Feb 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Joseph Yesufu (1) talks with West Virginia Mountaineers forward Amani Hansberry (13) during the first half against the Utah Utes at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
“We have stretches where we play really good. We play great defense. We get out in transition and we are hitting shots. The switch flips and I guess we are a step late to certain things we are usually not a step late to,” Hansberry said.
“In order for us to be good, coach says all the time that we have to be hooked up and on top of our stuff for 40 minutes. Really it is playing consistent, getting on each other, staying out of our feelings and leaving it all out there for 40 consistent minutes.”
Advertisement
Joseph Yesufu’s 14-point game marked his fifth double-digit scoring effort and his third consecutive game of at least 11 points.
“We have really good shooters on this team. We’ve gone through a few games here where they haven’t shot it great. But they are good shooters and they are going to keep shooting. We have confidence in them. Their teammates have confidence in them. On a night like tonight, we can see as an offense what we are capable of. Even on a night when Javon doesn’t get opportunities, you have [Jonathan Powell], you have Amani and you have Joe connecting from deep. That makes a world of difference for us,” WVU head coach Darian DeVries said.
“The other night at TCU, we didn’t get that same production. They are all going to break out of it. I have no doubt. They put in the work and they are good shooters. I am excited to see what this stretch run looks like for them. You add Javon on top of it and you have something.”
Freshman Jonathan Powell scored 11 points after collecting just 16 points in his last four games.
“There aren’t a lot of other guys that are getting a lot of minutes. He gets a little more leeway to make some mistakes and play through it,” DeVries said. “A lot of times as a freshman, you don’t always get that opportunity anywhere. He has done a great job of continuing to grow with it and expand his game and doing some good things.”
Advertisement
Feb 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Joseph Yesufu (1) jumps for a rebound during the first half against the Utah Utes at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Small was credited with just five shot attempts from the field but he went 9-for-9 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points. He also dished out eight assists, tying his second-most in any game this season.
“He is one of the most willing passers and unselfish guys,” DeVries said. “If it is about making the right play, he is going to do it.”
West Virginia (15-8, 6-6 Big 12) is in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big 12 standings. The Mountaineers will host BYU Tuesday. The Cougars have identical overall and conference records to WVU. This is the last time this season the Mountaineers will host back-to-back games.
“It is only good if you take advantage of it and you get some sleep and you get some treatment and get some rest. This time of year, it is February and a lot of people are tired. Just that mental fight of continuing to maximize everything you’ve got left, taking care of your body is number one,” DeVries said.
“We have a huge home game and home games are golden in this league. You’ve got to come every single night and be ready to go. We’ve got BYU on Tuesday and hopefully another really big crowd and an impactful crowd like it was tonight.”
Join the Main Street Morgantown family-friendly holiday shopping event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 13) in Downtown Morgantown.
The event will feature a district-wide scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes and the opportunity to explore holiday pop-up markets by Hoot and Howl, The Co-Op and Apothecary Ale House.
While exploring downtown shops, participants who spot DASH the Dog can collect stamps. Each stamp brings participants closer to the chance of winning prizes from downtown merchants such as gift cards and goods. To qualify for prizes, completed Downtown Dash Guides with five or more stamps must be turned into Hoot and Howl, The Co-Op, Apothecary Ale House or at Breezeline’s play-to-win tent on Courthouse Square.
Advertisement
As a break from shopping, parents and their little ones can visit Kids Craft, Cookies & Cocoa Central at the WARD Building to enjoy a complimentary hot cocoa and cookie bar and children’s crafts provided by Hotel Morgan sponsored by Main Street Morgantown and Breezeline.
Visitors can also visit the beautiful 25-foot-tall holiday tree on display at Courthouse Square, a collaboration between the City of Morgantown, Monongalia County and Main Street Morgantown.
Sponsored by Breezeline, the Downtown Dash celebrates the holiday season, promotes walking and shopping throughout the downtown district, and supports local businesses by driving foot traffic directly to storefronts.
WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation visited the Wheeling Police Department to commend its efforts in addressing the area’s mental health and opioid crisis.
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger presented to the WVFF board, highlighting the department’s progress.
Schwertfeger attributed a 14% decrease in Group A crimes from 2024 to 2025 to the department’s crisis intervention program.
“Just another great partnership,” he said. “More collaboration in this area that we are very proud of and we want to keep the momentum going,.”
Advertisement
WVFF Executive Director Jonathan Board praised the program’s success.
“This in particular, the CIT program, that isn’t just in the ether, but is showing success – actual scientific success about de-escalation, about bringing together services providers and to boots on the ground and first responders, this is vitally important to not only this region but the entire state,” Board said.
The visit was part of WVFF’s ‘Hold the Line’ tour across the state.
Now that you know about West Virginia’s2026 recruiting class, I figured it’d be a good time to give a little insight into those who were once committed to the Mountaineers and landed elsewhere.
Advertisement
What happened, and where did they go?
QB Brodie McWhorter (Mississippi State)
McWhorter committed to Neal Brown and his coaching staff, but reopened his recruitment when the coaching change was made. Rich Rodriguez did recruit him at the beginning, holding several conversations with him before backing off and pursuing Jyron Hughley and Legend Bey. Hughley committed, Bey committed to Ohio State (signed with Tennessee), while WVU added two more quarterbacks in Wyatt Brown and John Johnson III.
RB Jett Walker (Texas)
Advertisement
Walker fit the bill for what Rodriguez wanted in the backfield. A big, physical presence who could absorb contact and hammer it in between the tackles. With multiple backs committed and feeling good about a few others, WVU didn’t feel pressed to hold onto him. Walker flipped to Minnesota and then flipped to Texas just three weeks later
WR Jeffar Jean-Noel (Georgia Tech)
Jean-Noel was the second recruit to commit to Rodriguez in the 2026 class, but reopened his recruitment in mid-April. He then considered Purdue, Pitt, Kentucky, UCF, and Florida State before landing at Georgia Tech.
Advertisement
OL Justyn Lyles (Marshall)
The Mountaineers had a number of offensive line commits, and with the late additions of Kevin Brown and Aidan Woods, and their chances of securing Jonas Muya, Lyles took a visit to Marshall and flipped his commitment.
Advertisement
LB Caleb Gordon (North Carolina)
Gordon’s commitment to WVU was very brief. As a matter of fact, it was the shortest of the bunch, announcing his pledge on November 24th and then flipping to NC State on the first day of the early signing period (December 3rd).
LB Daiveon Taylor (Kent State)
Taylor was the first commit in the class; however, it was so early that he was committed to Neal Brown’s staff, announcing his decision in April of 2024. He backed off that pledge the very day Brown was fired (December 1st) and eventually signed with Kent State.
CB Emari Peterson (unsigned)
Advertisement
Peterson decommitted from WVU just days before signing day, likely due to the Mountaineers zeroing in on a pair of JUCO corners in Rayshawn Reynolds and Da’Mun Allen. He will sign in February and currently has offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, South Florida, Southern Miss, Texas A&M, Toledo, Wake Forest, and a few others.
S Aaron Edwards (committed to Tulsa)
West Virginia chose to part ways with Edwards and ultimately replaced his spot with fellow JUCO safety Da’Mare Williams.
Advertisement
S Jaylon Jones (undecided)
Jones decommitted in late October and did not sign during the early signing period. He will likely choose between Central Michigan, Hawai’i, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas State.
Advertisement
S Taj Powell (Louisville)
Taj is the brother of former Mountaineer basketball guard Jonathan Powell, who is now at North Carolina. He decommitted the day after West Virginia lost to Ohio and flipped to Louisville that same day.
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
Two Michigan Players WVU Should Pursue if They Enter Portal Following Coaching Change
Cooper Young Adds Name to Growing List of Expected WVU Portal Entries
Advertisement
WVU is Set to Lose Former Top In-State Recruit to the Transfer Portal
Advertisement
Former West Virginia Coordinator Fired After Just One Season at Texas
Another West Virginia Running Back Expected to Hit the Transfer Portal
