West Virginia

Game Preview: West Virginia vs. Utah men's basketball

Published

12 months ago

March 4, 2025

Press Room

Game Preview: West Virginia vs. Utah men’s basketball

West Virginia plays their final road game of the regular season on Tuesday night when they face Utah.

WVSports.com offers a look at some key elements of the match-up to get you ready for tip-off.

SERIES: Utah leads 6-1

LAST MEETING: Feb. 8, 2025 in Morgantown — WVU 72, Utah 61

TELEVISION: ESPN+

TIP-OFF: 9:00 p.m. ET

COACHES

Darian DeVries, West Virginia

17-12 (1st season at WVU), 167-67 (7th season overall)

Josh Eilert, Utah (Interim)

1-1 (1st season at TCU), 10-24 (2nd season overall)

LAST TIME OUT

Utah enters Tuesday on a five-game home winning streak, with the most recent being a 99-73 win over Arizona State on Saturday. The Utes shot 56.5 percent from the field, and made 10 of their 25 shots from beyond the arc. They also got to the free throw line 27 times, sinking 19 of them. Utah held Arizona State to shoot 43 percent from the field, and the Utes owned the rebounding advantage 40-29.

West Virginia enters Wednesday off a 77-56 loss to BYU on Saturday. The Mountaineers trailed by six at halftime, but it was downhill from there. The Cougars shot 61 percent from the field in the second half, making five of their 11 3-pointers in the second as well. WVU shot 33 percent from the field and went 8-for-27 from deep.

By The Numbers — Team (16-13, 8-10 Big 12)

Utah comes into the contest near the middle of the Big 12 in both scoring offense and defense. The Utes are 8th in scoring offense and 9th in scoring defense. They are 8th in team field goal percentage and 5th in opponent field goal percentage.

From beyond the arc, Utah is making 33.2 percent of their shots, while opponents are making 33.7 percent of their shots. In these two teams’ first meeting, WVU knocked down 37.5 percent of their 3-pointers while the Utes knocked down 26.1 percent.

Utah gets to the line the fifth-most in the Big 12, but when they do they have the worst free throw percentage, making 63.8 percent of their free throws on the year. On the glass, Utah is second in rebounds per. game but they are 6th in rebounding margin. Utah is 15th in turnover margin as they are averaging the fourth-most turnovers per game in the league.

Over their last five games, their most frequent lineup on the floor has been Gabe Madsen, Mike Sharavjamts, Ezra Ausar, Jake Wahlin, and Lawson Lovering. This lineup has been deployed 30.8 percent of the time over Utah’s last five games.

Madsen leads Utah in scoring with 15.2 points per game on the season. Ausar is averaging 12.4 points per game this season. Utah has had nine different players start a game this season.

Utah comes into the game ranked 64th in the NET, and 68th by KenPom. This is considered a Quad 2 game for the Utes and they are 2-4 in such games this season.

By The Numbers — West Virginia (17-12, 8-10 Big 12)

Offense continues to be a struggle for the Mountaineers while they have still played well on the defensive side of the ball. WVU is 16th in the league in scoring offense, but are 2nd in the league in scoring defense. During WVU’s last four road games they have averaged 59.5 points in those games, and lost all four. On the season, WVU is averaging 68.2 points per game, and giving up 64.6 points per game.

From the field, WVU is shooting 42.4 percent on the year. WVU has eclipsed that mark in 15 games this season, and they are 10-5 in such games. When the Mountaineers go under that mark, they are 7-7 this year. Defensively, WVU is holding their opponents to shoot 40.9 percent from the field and that is third-best in the Big 12.

West Virginia is 12th in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage, but they are 5th in 3-pointers made per game. Defensively, the Mountaineers are holding opponents to shoot 29.3 percent from beyond the arc and Utah is making 8.5 3-pointers per game. WVU is last in the league in rebounding margin, and fourth in turnover margin.

Over their last five games, their most frequent lineup on the floor has been Javon Small, Sencire Harris, Jonathan Powell, Toby Okani, and Amani Hansberry. This lineup has been used 25.1 percent of the time over the last five games.

WVU’s leading scorer is Small averaging 18.2 points per game. Small has scored 20 or more points 12 times this year and in those games, WVU is 8-4 in those games.

West Virginia is ranked 48th in the NET, and 53rd by KenPom. This is considered a Quad 1 game for WVU and the Mountaineers are 5-10 in such games this season.

NCAA Tournament/Standings Implications

This game could go a long way in terms of where teams play in the Big 12 Tournament. The top 8 seeds in the Big 12 earn a bye in the tournament and currently both Utah and WVU are 8-10 in league play, which is tied for 9th in the league. The winner of this game will have a chance to get into the top eight of the standings.

As far as the NCAA Tournament picture goes, WVU is a 10-seed in the latest Bracket Matrix projections, with their average seed line at a 9.95. Utah is not in the NCAA Tournament picture.

———-

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West Virginia

West Virginia Surrenders Six-Run Lead, Falls in Series Finale to Kennesaw State

Published

3 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia Surrenders Six-Run Lead, Falls in Series Finale to Kennesaw State

West Virgnia built a six-run lead through five and half innings, but the Kennesaw State Owls (5-5) scored seven unanswered runs in three frames to knock off the Mountaineers (8-2) Sunday afternoon 7-6.

West Virginia captured an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after sophomore Matt Ineich hit a leadoff single before sophomore Gavin Kelly and senior Paul Schoenfeld were issued walks to load the bases with two outs on the board. Then, redshirt freshman Ryan Maggy line a two-RBI single to centerfield in his first career start.

The Mountaineers extended their lead in the second when Kelly hit a three went opposite field for a three-run home run, his first of the season, for a 5-0 advantage.

West Virginia starting southpaw pitcher Maxx Yehl threw five scoreless innings. The redshirt junior recorded four strikeouts on the day and limited the Owls to four hits.

Kelly added a run in the sixth, clearing the centerfield wall for his second home run of the afternoon and a 6-0 WVU lead.

Redshirt sophomore Bryson Thacker took the mound in the six. After a high and wide throw on a ground ball, a walk, and with two outs, junior Cooper Williams drooped an RBI single in right field to put the Owls on the board. Then, a pitch in the dirt rolled to the backstop to add another run, closing the gap to four, 6-2.

Carson Estridge was handed the ball in the seventh. The senior right-hander gave up a leadoff double before registering the next two outs, including a strikeout, before freshman McCollum line an RBI single just out of the reach of the glove of Kelly. Senior Jackson Chirello cut the deficit one, hammering the 3-1 pitch well over the right field wall and into the Waffle House parking lot for a two-run home run.

West Virginia head coach Steve Sabins turned to the clubhouse leader in saves David Perez to get the Mountaineers out of the inning. The freshman returned to the mound in the eighth. Senior Jamarie Brooks reached after hitting a sharp ground ball over to first that went between the legs of senior Ben Lumsden. Then, Williams blasted a two-run home run and a 7-6 Owls lead.

In the ninth, senior Matthew Graveline nearly tied the game with the swing of the bat, driving 0-2 pitch off the top of the left field wall for a one-out double to put the Mountaineers into scoring position. However, redshirt senior Harry Cain sat the last two Mountaineer hitters to collect his second win of the season as the Owls completed the comeback with the 7-6 decision.

West Virginia is back in action on Tuesday for the first of a two-game series against Radford. Game one and game two (Weds) are both scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the all the action will stream on ESPN+.

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West Virginia

Delegate Larry Kump, master of various catch phrases, has died – WV MetroNews

Published

15 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Delegate Larry Kump of Berkeley County has died, state officials announced. Kump was 78 years old.

Larry Kump

Kump, a Republican, served in the House from 2010 to 2014, again from 2018 to 2020 and finally 2022 to the present. He had announced plans to run again in the coming electoral cycle.

“As a battle-tested and liberty minded Christian and Constitutional Conservative, my consecrated action principles of good governance remains solid and steadfast,” he wrote to supporters in January.

He had been serving in the ongoing legislative session, but had been absent in recent weeks.

The daily prayer in the House of Delegates this past Wednesday included an expression of concern for Kump: “A special prayer for Delegate Larry Kump. Lord, you know where he is in the hospital now, and I pray right now that you would send your angels there to touch him, to be with him.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Kump’s death on social media, calling Kump “a devoted public servant who dedicated many years of his life to improving West Virginia.

“Delegate Kump served with a deep commitment to the principles he believed would strengthen our communities and protect our freedoms.

“On behalf of the First Lady and myself, we extend our condolences to Larry’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him. His legacy of service and his love for our state will never be forgotten.”

Secretary of State Kris Warner also posted condolences to Kump’s family. “Larry was a conservative Christian and a true Mountaineer! He will be sadly missed by his friends and colleagues,” Warner posted.

The West Virginia Democratic Party also put out a statement to offer condolences, saying Kump’s work reflected a lifelong commitment to accountability, public policy, and the effective administration of government.

“Delegate Larry Kump devoted his life to his family, his community, and to his state. He brought experience, independence and thoughtfulness to his role, and he never lost sight of the people he served,” said Mike Pushkin, the Democratic Party chairman who is also a delegate from Kanawha County.

Kump was known for his turns of phrase, for example kicking off his comments on the House floor with “Great googly moogly” for emphasis. He often described his adoration for his “beloved and bodacious wife Cheryl.”

He regularly concluded interactions and written communications this way: “Meanwhile, and for sure and for certain, may God bless you all real good!”

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West Virginia

Vape Safety Act of 2026 passes W.Va. House, tightening oversight and licensing for shops

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Vape Safety Act of 2026 passes W.Va. House, tightening oversight and licensing for shops

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The Vape Safety Act of 2026 passed in the West Virginia House of Delegates on Friday, aiming to crack down on what lead sponsor of the bill Del. David McCormick, R-Monongalia, said are the bad actors in the vape shop world.

“They’re very lightly regulated,” McCormick said. “Here’s something that is becoming a blight on our landscape out here in our neighborhoods and towns. They’re all over the state and they need some oversight.”

McCormick said the bill will also strengthen licensing as to who can run the shops.

A key part of the legislation that passed the House by a vote of 88-5 is an FDA registry, requiring all the products sold in the shops to be approved at the federal level.

“Make sure that something doesn’t have 30 times the nicotine in it that it’s supposed to, which has happened, and get a 12-year-old kid addicted to nicotine,” McCormick. “That’s buying something that looks like Pokémon.”

Cracking down on the marketing strategies vape shops use is also included in the bill. It has gained support from both sides of the aisle.

“You walk into them and they have you know it looks fun and all the flavors and all the things,” Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha said. “So when teens go in there, it’s geared towards teens. So I think some regulation is important.”

Other provisions include vape shops not being allowed within 300 feet of schools, libraries or churches.

“I would deem these things almost attractive nuisance for kids and teenagers,” Lewis said. “What we want to do in this piece of legislation, we want to ultimately, above anything else, is protect our children and to get rid of bad actors to make sure that we know what’s being sold in the shop and we know who’s selling it.”

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