Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Jasper Floyd scored a career-high-tying 25 points as West Virginia downed Mount St. Mary’s 70-54 on Tuesday night at the Hope Coliseum.
Honor Huff had 16 points and Brenen Lorient chipped in 11 for the Mountaineers (1-0).
The first half featured several lead changes, as both teams traded baskets throughout the opening 20 minutes. Anastasios Rozakeas buried a 3-pointer with 6:22 remaining to give the Mount a 22–21 lead, and Justin Amadi completed a three-point play to make it 25–22. Huff answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 25-all before Floyd knocked down four straight free throws. WVU took a 35–29 lead into halftime.
The Mountaineers seized control early in the second half. Morris Ugusuk and Huff hit back-to-back threes to extend the advantage to 47–35, and WVU never looked back.
Trey Deveaux led the Mount (0-1) with 15 points, while Rozakeas added nine.
Despite being outrebounded 38–25, the Mountaineers’ defensive pressure proved to be the difference. WVU forced 20 turnovers, collected 13 steals, and turned those miscues into 19 fast-break points.
“I thought our defensive activity was probably the difference in the game,” Mountaineer head coach Ross Hodge said “We turned them over 20 times, and we only turned it over nine.”
Rebounding disparity was influenced by the turnover margin and missed free throws.
“We forced 20 turnovers, so they had more defensive rebounding opportunities than we did,” Hodge said. “When you look at it analytically it will be interesting to see what the actual percentage of rebounds were, which is probably a more accurate way of measuring the rebounding totals. Also, when you are missing free throws, it’s a pretty good chance they are going to rebound the ball.”
WVU shot 44 percent from the floor, 28 percent from beyond the arc and made 23-of-35 from the charity stripe.
The Mount shot 39 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range.
The Mountaineers host Campbell on Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET).
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
