In a hard-fought matchup, West Virginia knocks off the Utah Utes in a game where the Utes held the lead for 28 minutes and 43 seconds of the contest. West Virginia got off to a slow start, but resilience was on full display for the Mountaineers in this one. Read more West Virginia overcomes slow start and stun Utes on the road.
Slow Start
The game started with Utah firing on all cylinders and opening an early lead. The Utes were dominating on both ends of the floor and jumped out to their largest lead of the game with 11:04 to go in the first half. The lead was 19-7 at the 11:04 mark. It looked as if Utah would run away with this one early. Utah was off to a hot start in large part to Gabe Madsen who finished this contest with a game high, 23 points.
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However, West Virginia quickly responded. The Mountaineers used stifling defense and some steady scoring to respond with a 10-0 run and saw the score cut to 19-17 at the 5:54 mark in the first half. By halftime, West Virginia held a slight edge on the scoreboard, 30-29, and this game looked to be one for the ages.
Down to the Wire
The second half started with an early back and forth leaving the Utes and Mountaineers knotted up 36-36 at the 16:39 mark. At the point the tides had turned, and the Utes used an 8-0 run to take a 44-36 lead and looked as if they would take all the momentum for this game. The momentum would quickly shift back into the favor of West Virginia, and we would see this rollercoaster ride for the rest of this one.
West Virginia was led by senior guard Javon Small who finished with a team high of 18 points. Small also tallied 7 assists and 4 rebounds in this one, West Virginia also saw contributions from Jonathan Powell, Amani Hansberry, and Joseph Yesufu. All those guys chipped in with double digit scoring night to help West Virginia stay on pace with the Utes.
Keys to the Game
Looking at some key stats, West Virginia’s offensive efficiency in the second half played a crucial role in this contest. They shot 50% from the field in the second half, connecting on 14-of-28 attempts, and connected 82% of their second half free throws knocking down 9-o-11. Utah, on the other hand, struggled in the efficiency department. They finished only 38.0% of their field goals, shooting 19-of-50. Despite their poor shooting night Utah managed to keep this one close because of their rebounding efforts and their ability to draw fouls. Utah outrebounded the Mountaineers 40-31 and won the offensive rebounds 14-8. This led to Utah converting 11 second chance points in opposed to the Mountaineers only converting 4.
Stand out Performers
The standout player for West Virginia was undoubtedly Javon Small, shot 7-of-14 from the field. Small stayed on par with his averages on the season. He made his presence felt on the court being such a dynamic scorer, it opened his playmaking ability to help get the guys going for the Mountaineers. His leadership and ability to make plays in critical moments were pivotal in securing the win.
Amani Hansberry was a beneficiary of Small’s play, tallying 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. His well-rounded game helped to offset some of the scoring struggles the Mountaineers have faced in the season.
For Utah, Gabe Madsen’s 23-point performance was the highlight. However, Utah was ultimately unable to match West Virginia’s late-game execution, despite solid performances from Mike Sharavjamts (12 points) and Ezra Ausar (11 points, 6 rebounds).
Looking Ahead
West Virginia will wrap up its season Saturday March 8th at home against UCF. This game will have huge NCAA Tournament implications for the Mountaineers. They will look to build on their victory against the Utes and finish the season with a home victory.
This is exactly the site I have been looking for. One place that out of town alumni can keep up with all mountaineer sports. Great job John! You have done it again! Let’s Goooew Mountaineers!