West Virginia
DeVries maintains confidence in shooters as WVU enters stretch run of the regular season – WV MetroNews
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.
“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.”
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.”
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.”
West Virginia
Commentary: As Mountaineers ready for elimination game, harping on errors does no good – WV MetroNews
OMAHA, Neb. — There’s no denying the impact a pair of West Virginia errors in the seventh inning played in the outcome of what amounted to a 5-2 loss to North Carolina on Sunday night at Charles Schwab Field.
There’s no reason to harp on them either.
Tyrus Hall and Brodie Kresser would like nothing more than to have made fairly routine plays, particularly Kresser’s miscue that prevented a potential inning-ending double play.
Instead, Gavin Gallaher followed with a two-run triple to break a 2-all tie and UNC scored three unearned runs in the inning. Neither team would score again.
“Over the course of 62 games, that stuff happens,” second-year WVU coach Steve Sabins said. “I think we have the best fielding percentage in our league. Tyrus is one of the best defenders in the nation. So we’ve had really good success. And that’s kind of part of it. You don’t want it at that time. But I feel very confident that any mistakes that are made are made because mistakes happen in baseball, not necessarily the moment or the situation. I feel like our guys have played really free and aggressive this entire time.”
The Tar Heels are now within one victory of a spot in the Men’s College World Series Finals, while the Mountaineers (46-16) suffered their fourth loss in 22 games since May, and now have to defeat Troy on Tuesday to get another crack at the No. 5 national seed.
WVU never led Sunday and scored one of its two runs on a double play that Matt Ineich hit into in the fourth inning.
The next time Ineich stepped into the batter’s box in the sixth, the Mountaineers were in their best position of the game to lead with runners at first and second, before the shortstop hit into his second 4-6-3 twin killing in as many at bats.
Consider that among its single-season program record 46 victories this season, only two for West Virginia have come scoring two or fewer runs and four have with three or fewer runs. On both occasions that the Mountaineers won with two runs, they prevented the opposition (Liberty and TCU) from scoring.
Baseball is a game predicated on handling failure, not dwelling on it. Succeeding three times every 10 trips to the plate leaves you in position to be enshrined in Cooperstown at the highest level.
Let it not be forgotten that Kresser’s single to start the bottom of the 10th inning led to him scoring the winning run in the Mountaineers’ 6-5 victory over Kentucky to win the Morgantown Regional. He’s been a mainstay in the Mountaineer lineup each of the last three seasons — two that have ended in Super Regional appearances and this year, which will at some point end in Omaha.
“It is what it is. Have to flush it,” Kresser said. “Can’t let the moment get too big.”
Hall has hit exceptionally well throughout the NCAA Tournament and broke a 5-all tie last Friday against Troy with a two-run single in the eighth. He’s also made numerous high-level defensive plays throughout the 2026 campaign, including a few in the MCWS.
Sabins has described Hall as the best defensive third baseman he’s been around and numerous teammates have offered similar praise.
“I just missed it. It happens,” Hall said.
A big part of what’s made West Virginia’s 2026 season so successful is the team’s ability to stay present.
The Mountaineers haven’t dwelled on losses or harped on wins. They didn’t get too low after a 23-1 midweek loss to rival Pitt or an 11-9 postseason loss to Kentucky, and didn’t get too high after fending off elimination twice in one day, including an 11-9 win over the Wildcats that featured five ninth-inning runs.
Staying present and not living in the past has never been more important than now as WVU seeks a second win over the Trojans to prolong its stay on college baseball’s premier stage.
“We’re one of the best defensive teams in the country and sometimes things happen,” said Mountaineer relief pitcher Reese Bassinger. “You’re playing on a really good surface. Sometimes the ball takes a really weird bounce. I don’t really know what happened there, but it happens. We move forward.
“Kresser and Tyrus are some of the best defenders we have and I know without a doubt I would throw that same pitch over and over and I guarantee Kresser fields it for a double play every other time. That guy has been the rock. He’s been a captain for us. He’s a guy that everyone loves. Nobody cares about that. We move on, keep pitching, keep hitting and just go on the next game.”
A body found in a burning vehicle in West Virginia has prompted a homicide investigation.
In a press conference on Monday, Sean Snuffer, the chief deputy of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, said first responders were called to a rural section of Cabin Creek Road on Sunday around 9:50 a.m. for reports of a “suspicious vehicle.” A 911 caller said the vehicle’s doors were open and items were scattered around the vehicle, Snuffer said.
About 13 minutes later, a 911 caller said the vehicle was on fire, officials said. After crews arrived and extinguished the vehicle fire, a body was found. The remains were taken to the medical examiner’s office, and an autopsy on Monday determined the death was a homicide, Snuffer said. Officials are not releasing the manner of death at this time.
The victim’s identity has not been released as of Monday night, though Snuffer said the body appears to be an adult male. Snuffer said the investigation is “active and ongoing.” It was not immediately known if there were any suspects.
“We can’t answer a whole lot of questions,” he added. “I know people are going to want to know exactly what happened, but we can’t release that information.”
The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the vehicle blaze. Anyone with information on the case can contact detectives with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office at 304-357-0556 or leave a tip on the sheriff’s website.
KENOVA, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A man is facing multiple felony charges after a two-day investigation, according to West Virginia State Police.
On Friday, troopers say they responded to a brandishing complaint in Kenova.
During the investigation, troopers located the suspect, Skylar M. Larcart, 27, of Kenova, and found a firearm.
Troopers say they were then granted permission to search Larcart’s residence and vehicle. Their search resulted in the finding of a rifle, approximately 25 grams of marijuana and digital scales.
On Saturday, troopers say they also obtained a search warrant at Larcart’s residence.
During this search, investigators found multiple firearms, controlled substances and U.S. currency.
As a result of the investigation, Larcart was charged with 17 counts of persons prohibited from possessing firearms and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Troopers say over the course of the two-day investigation, Larcart accumulated a total of 21 felony charges and three misdemeanor charges.
Larcart is currently being held in the Western Regional Jail on a $20,000 bond.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
-
New Jersey4 minutes agoSeveral South Jersey corrections officers fired for misconduct
-
New Mexico7 minutes agoEMT student to receive $287,500 from state after injury during training
-
North Carolina12 minutes agoNorth Carolina Democrats propose changes to block GOP power transfers
-
North Dakota19 minutes agoCalendar for June 16-17, 2026
-
Ohio22 minutes agoOhio unveils limited edition ‘I Voted’ sticker for America 250
-
Oklahoma27 minutes agoA red-state revolt against insurers
-
Oregon34 minutes agoPortland Snags Two James Beard Awards for 2026
-
Pennsylvania37 minutes agoEmails detail how leaders in one Pa. county worked behind the scenes after ICE detention center surprise
