Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia turns the page quickly on its rivalry win as the Mountaineers aim to finish their five-game homestand unbeaten Monday night when Lafayette comes to the Hope Coliseum.
WVU (4-0) has leaned on its defense more than anything through the season’s first two weeks, and that trend only strengthened in Thursday’s 70–49 win over Pitt. The Mountaineers strung together a 10-minute shutout stretching across halftime and opened the second half with a 12–0 burst that broke the game open.
For first-year coach Ross Hodge, whose teams have now held opponents below 70 points in 27 straight games, the performance checked the boxes he wanted most: no foul trouble and clean finishes on the glass. The Panthers managed only six free throws, and WVU held a slim but important 34–31 rebounding edge.
While the Mountaineers continue to build their identity on the defensive end, the scoring load has rotated nightly. Senior center Harlan Obioha’s 19 points led the way against Pitt, and Honor Huff (15.5 ppg) enters Monday as WVU’s top scorer through four games. Brenen Lorient has been one of the steadiest pieces, averaging 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds, while Jasper Floyd has paced the offense with 19 assists.
The Mountaineers are still searching for consistent perimeter shooting from Huff and North Dakota transfer Treysen Eaglestaff, though Hodge has praised the composure of freshmen guards DJ Thomas and Amir Jenkins as they settle into their roles.
WVU is expected to remain without senior guard Chance Moore, who must sit one more game to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. Forward Jackson Fields is recovering from a preseason hand injury and is considered day-to-day.
The Leopards (1–3) arrive after a 97–78 loss to Cornell and has faced a difficult slate that also included Texas and Saint Joseph’s. Sophomore guard Caleb Williams leads Lafayette with 17.5 points per game. Monday marks the Leopards first trip to Morgantown since the 1970s.
The all-time series is even at 2-2.
The Mountaineers enter the matchup with a long history of handling non-conference opponents at home, posting a 147–13 record against such teams over the last 24 years.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, WVSN
