STILLWATER, Okla. — West Virginia and Oklahoma State look to avoid 0-2 starts in Big 12 play when the Mountaineers (10-3) and the Cowboys (8-5) meet tonight at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Hours after Oklahoma State was defeated in the final seconds at defending national champion Kansas 69-67 on Saturday, the Mountaineers fell in overtime at Kansas State, 82-76. A combination of 20 turnovers, 18 missed free throws and untimely defensive lapses contributed to West Virginia’s tenth consecutive loss in Big 12 Conference road games.
“We did some stupid things today which turned the game around,” said WVU head coach Bob Huggins on Saturday.
In lamenting the miscues that piled up in the second half and in overtime, Huggins questioned the focus of some of his players.
“I don’t understand how you can say you love the game and not embrace the game. I don’t know how you can say you love the game and everything that comes out says it is more about you than the game. It makes no sense.”
A pair of Mountaineers posted double-doubles on Saturday. Tre Mitchell scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Mo Wague notched his first double-double with the Mountaineers. He had ten points and ten boards.
“He’s a young guy and he is learning. We’ve got a bunch of young guys that should know better.”
The Mountaineers arrived in Stillwater Saturday evening. This is the first of three two-game road trips in league play for West Virginia.
“Just rejuvenate. We can’t go back in time and change what we did wrong. It is in the past for a reason. We’ll just move on and stay positive.” said WVU senior guard Kedrian Johnson.
Like the Mountaineers, the Cowboys surrendered a sizable halftime lead on Saturday. OSU led No. 4 Kansas 45-30 at intermission before falling by a basket in Lawrence. KJ Adams delivered the game-winning basket for the Jayhawks with 5.8 seconds to play.
Bryce Thompson led Oklahoma State with 23 points and John-Michael Wright added 19.
The average margin of defeat in OSU’s five losses is 4.4 points per game. The Cowboys have used the same starting lineup in all 13 games and each starter averages over eight points per game. Thompson leads the way at 12.4 points per contest.
WVU and OSU split their two meetings last year, which each team winning on their home floor.
Following tonight’s game, the Mountaineers will host Kansas Saturday night and Baylor on January 11.