West Virginia will glance to take any other step towards the Most sensible 25 in its ultimate tune-up for the Giant 12 Convention gauntlet when it hosts suffering Mercyhurst on Sunday afternoon in Morgantown, W.Va.
The Mountaineers (8-2) have gained 4 immediately video games, the previous 3 at house, with the newest an 84-61 overcome Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 14. Javon Small led West Virginia with 27 issues within the victory, which saved the Mountaineers easiest in six house video games.
Small has scored a minimum of 20 issues in 5 of the group’s previous seven video games, and he has posted double-digit issues in all 10 of the Mountaineers’ contests.
West Virginia’s four-game successful streak, which started with an extra time victory towards then-No. 24 Arizona within the third-place recreation of the Combat 4 Atlantis, is this system’s longest since December 2022. The previous two victories, over mid-majors North Carolina Central and Bethune-Cookman, got here regardless of the absence of superstar guard Tucker DeVries, who’s out with an undisclosed upper-body damage.
Freshman Jonathan Powell is predicted to start out his 2nd consecutive recreation in DeVries’ stead. Powell, who had 14 issues and sank 4 3-pointers within the Dec. 14 win, intently mirrors the enjoying taste of DeVries.
“We now have finished some great issues,” West Virginia trainer Darian DeVries mentioned. “There is no doubt been some moments, too, whilst you see one of the vital disconnect on offense. We now have needed to stay it moderately easy as guys are attempting to be told new roles and new positions right through those video games.”
The Mountaineers start Giant 12 play on Dec. 31 at No. 8 Kansas.
Mercyhurst (6-8) heads to Morgantown after a 62-60 loss at Binghamton on Wednesday. The Lakers dropped their 2nd immediately recreation and fourth of their previous 5 outings through giving up a layup on the buzzer off an inbounds play.
Jeff Planutis led Mercyhurst with 13 issues within the defeat, whilst Shemar Rathan-Mayes added 12 and Aiden Reichert had 11. Planutis is atop the Lakers’ season scoring stats, contributing 14.9 issues consistent with contest.
The Mountaineers, who had been No. 45 within the KenPom ratings coming into the weekend, are — through some distance — the most efficient group Mercyhurst has confronted this season. The Lakers had been No. 355 within the 364-team ranking.
–Box Degree Media
