STILLWATER, Okla. — West Virginia’s historic Big 12 arena tour continues Monday night with an ESPN Big Monday matchup at Oklahoma State in 81-year-old Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Mountaineers (11-2, 0-1 Big 12), who dropped a spot to 17th in Monday’s AP Top 25 poll, are seeking to avoid an 0-2 start in conference play for the second straight season. West Virginia opened league play with a 60-53 loss at Kansas on Saturday afternoon.
The host Cowboys (9-4, 0-1) are in the same position as the Mountaineers.
Oklahoma State was blasted on Saturday in an 85-50 loss at Texas Tech. Similarly to West Virginia, the Cowboys played well in the first half — the deficit was only six at halftime — before a dramatic change of events in the second half.
Prior to Saturday, Oklahoma State had not lost with point guard Isaac Likekele in the lineup. His presence wasn’t enough to bolster the Cowboys’ 28.8 percent shooting from the field, including an unseemly 6 of 25 from inside the three-point line.
West Virginia has a few things to work on following its loss to the Jayhawks.
Freshman forward Oscar Tshiebwe is coming off Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors following his 17-point, 17-rebound effort at Kansas, but sophomore counterpart Derek Culver will need to do more for the Mountaineers at Oklahoma State. Culver was ineffective until very late in the Kansas game, finishing with five points, 12 rebounds and three turnovers.
The Mountaineers also need to take better advantage of their trips to the free-throw line.
In its past three games — all played away from WVU Coliseum — West Virginia is shooting just 55 percent (37 of 67) at the line. It didn’t cost the Mountaineers in wins against Youngstown State and Ohio State, but the bad habit caught up to them at Kansas.
“It kills us,” WVU coach Bob Huggins said of his team’s free-throw shooting following the Kansas loss.