Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Chance Moore and Honor Huff set the tone and then kept pouring it on, leading West Virginia to a 91–49 blowout of Coppin State on Wednesday night at the Hope Coliseum.
Both finished with 17 points as the Mountaineers (7–2) shook off a flat opening stretch and buried the Eagles with long runs in both halves. Huff knocked down five 3-pointers — including three in a four-minute burst late in the first half — while Moore went 6-for-8 from the field and had 11 points by the break.
But even with WVU cruising, the game’s wildest moment came early. Coppin State coach Larry Stewart was ejected with 13:59 left in the first half while his team was actually winning 11–9. Stewart picked up two technicals arguing a no-call on Harlan Obioha’s block of Tyler Koenig, becoming one of the rare opposing coaches tossed from the Coliseum in the middle of holding a lead.
The Mountaineers took full advantage, ripping off 15 of the next 17 points. From there, the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense did what it does — holding the Eagles to 31.5 percent shooting and just 17 second-half points. Coppin State (2–9) became the fourth team this season that failed to reach 50 against WVU.
“Probably for the first time this season, we weren’t quite ready to roll from the tip,” WVU head coach Ross Hodge said. “We had gotten off to really good starts in every game that we played, so that was a little disappointing.
“You are dealing with human beings, and I have remind people sometimes that this is not a video game where you plug it in, and if a guy is rated a 97 free throw shooter, he’s 97 free throw shooter every time or whatever,” he added. “We weren’t quite ready to go and that responsibility falls on my shoulders.”
Behind Moore and Huff, the Mountaineers had plenty of balance. Brenen Lorient scored 12, and Treysen Eaglestaff posted 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds — including three made 3s after coming in shooting just 19.4 percent from deep. Seven Mountaineers finished with at least eight points as WVU shot 46.9 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from three.
While Jasper Floyd isn’t lighting up the scoreboard, his defense and toughness has been clutch for the Mountaineers.
“I thought our guys had a mature response in the second half, starting on the defensive end of the floor, and I really thought it kind of started with Jasper (Floyd) going and getting some physical rebounds,” he said. “He goes 1-4, 0-2 (from 3-point range) and he’s plus-30 for the night. That’s what we’ve got to continue to get everybody to buy into.”
Hassan Perkins led Coppin State with 11 points, while Demariontay Hall grabbed 11 rebounds.
WVU outrebounded the Eagles 45-36. The Mountaineers forced 15 turnovers and had seven steals.
WVU now heads to Charleston to face Wake Forest on Saturday night at Holiday Hoopfest. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Photo Credit: Dale Sparks- All-Pro Photography- WVU Athletics
