The 3-3 Mountaineers host a 7-0 Virginia Tech team that handed then No. 15 Oklahoma State its first loss of the season last weekend. It’s the first WVU/Virginia Tech meeting since the Hokies left the Big East for the ACC in 2004.
–Sophomore Aaron Brown gets the start for freshman Terry Henderson today. Brown started the first two games in Florida for the Mountaineers but went a combined 0-7 from the field in those two games. Henderson then started the next three games. Brown did knock in his first three pointer of the season on WVU’s first possession of the game. The Mountaineers made just one three the entire game Wednesday in the Marshall game. WVU was 1-6 from three in that game.
–The Mountaineers gave up a couple of early transition baskets as they were late in getting back. Gary Browne was summoned from the bench during the first media time out. Browne has done a great job scoring, defending and providing energy off the bench so far this season.
–The Mountaineers are getting wide open three point looks, but they are just 1-5. The Hokies have clogged up Deniz Kilicli inside. WVU is just 3-14 from the field at the second media time out as they trail 9-8.
–Gary Browne managed just six minutes before leaving the game with two fouls. The Mountaineers have five early offensive rebounds including two by Kevin Noreen who has been in the game since the first media time out. Noreen also has a couple of tough defensive rebounds.
–Aric Murray hit WVU’s second three of the game and his second three of the season as the Virginia Tech defense has layed off the WVU shooters, packing it inside.
–Murray and Noreen have both hit shots from distance in this game. Noreen has season highs with six points and five rebounds already.
–The Mountaineers have had eight players score so far. They have six assists on 11 baskets as they have passed it well and reversed it well for open shots.
–The Mountaineers are 2-9 from the field at the first media time out of the second half. Tech has come out with great energy in the second half as they have scored 12 points in the first 4:30 after getting just 24 the entire first half.
–Gary Browne lost his shoe during a sequence in the second half. He played about :25 seconds without that shoe until the Mountaineers called a time out.
–The Hokies have had a number of run-outs during this second half run as Tech has outscored WVU 16-6 so far in this half. The Mountaineers have missed 13 of 15 shot attempts.
–Noreen hit the first three point shot of his career in the second half of this game as Virginia Tech continues to dare WVU to shoot the ball deep. Noreen and Aric Murray have three of WVU’s five made three point shots. WVU’s starting guards–Juwan Staten and Jabarie Hinds–are a combined 1-13 from the field. Gary Browne is 0-9 from the field.
–Noreen hit another 3-pointer at the 9:30 mark of the second half. He is 5-8 from the field and 2-2 from three so far. He had attempted just one three point shot in his career prior to this game.
–The Mountaineers continue to struggle on defense as they are late to get back. WVU had closed to within one prior to back to back Tech baskets. The Mountaineers gave up a dunk on the second one as Erick Green beat everyone down the floor. Green has 20 including 11 in the second half.
–Freshman Eron Harris put the Mountaineers in the lead with a gutsy three that he stepped into from the top of the key. The second half threes have come from Harris, Noreen, Gary Browne, Keaton Miles and Murray. That group had combined for a total of five three point shots through the first six games of the season.
–Harris hit another three from the deep right corner to put the Mountaineers up 58-54 with 6:30 to play. The Mountaineers are 7-12 from three in the second half.
–Noreen makes the biggest play of the game so far as his stick back basket with :54 to go puts the Mountaineers up 65-64. Cadarian Raines of Tech then missed two free throws as the Mountaineers get the rebound and get fouled with :33 to go.
–Murray then goes 1-2 from the line to put the Mountaineers up 66-64. Tech has :31 left for the final shot of regulation. The Hokies can win with a three.
–Robert Brown banks in a three to put Tech in the lead with :14 to go. The Mountaineers watched Green close as they switched off a screen. Brown was wide open for the deep three.
–Staten puts the Mountaineers back in the lead with his drive to the basket. He got free and took it all the way to the rim uncontested. 68-67 WVU. Green had lost his balance with the ball near mid-court as the Hokies threw it in. Tech got the time out call from head coach James Johnson off the bench. The officials checked the time and left the clock at 3.4 seconds.
–Green misses from 17 feet at the buzzer. He got a good look for the pull-up from 17 feet. The shot was on-line, but it hit the front of the rim. It then skipped off the back of the rim at the buzzer. WVU with a great come back win. It’s the first loss of the season for 7-1 Virginia Tech. The Mountaineers are over .500 for the first time at 4-3 as they head for Duquesne Tuesday night.