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Mountaineers benefit from Bell, Okonkwo stepping up against Auburn

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s Erik Stevenson stole the show Saturday in the Mountaineers’ 80-77 victory against No. 15 Auburn.

Stevenson broke out of a month-long shooting slump to make seven 3-pointers and score a career-high 31 points in what was a much-needed victory for the Mountaineers.

Along the way to winning for the third time in four games, West Virginia (13-8) also got quality performances from post players Jimmy Bell Jr. and James Okonkwo.

Bell gave WVU a second double-figure scorer with 15 points, and did so about as efficiently as he could by making 5-of-7 field-gaol attempts and all five of his foul shots.

Bell accounted for the game’s first two field goals in a contest the Mountaineers never trailed in.

“When I saw those first two drop, I thought I was going to have a good game,” Bell said. “I’ve been working on my touch over the last week. It’s all coming together for me.”

Okonkwo, who played a pivotal role Wednesday in the Mountaineers’ 76-61 win at Texas Tech, was again a key factor against the Tigers. The 6-foot-8 sophomore made his only shot and 4-of-5 free throws and contributed six points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks over 15 minutes of a reserve role. 

“Those are big-time numbers for him. He helps us defensively and he helps us on the glass,” Stevenson said. “He’s probably one of the best athletes I’ve ever played with and he’s just now tapping into the potential.”

Down the stretch, the Mountaineers utilized a lineup of both primary point guards, Kedrian Johnson and Toussaint, alongside Stevenson, Okonkwo and Bell.

Between the victories over Texas Tech and Auburn, WVU head coach Bob Huggins hinted he felt the Mountaineers could go to a lineup that featured both Bell and Okonkwo.

With starting forwards Emmitt Matthews Jr. and Tre Mitchell both struggling for a second straight game against the Tigers, Huggins opted for Toussaint and Okonkwo to play with three starters in the late stages.

Jan 21, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers forward James Okonkwo (32) grabs a rebound during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

“I like it. We’re so comfortable with having Tre out there,” Stevenson said. “He’s a big, but more of a finesse and perimeter guy who’s so versatile that he can get to the block and score as well. When you have James out there, it’s a different look. He’s super athletic.”

Okonkwo, a native of Maidenhead, England, has played extensively in the last three games, and each is among the most productive performances of his career to this point.

In a home loss to Texas on January 21, Okonwko shot 3 for 3 and finished with six points, for rebounds and one block. He then contributed five points, a career-high 10 boards and two blocks in Lubbock, before continuing his recent string of strong play against Auburn.

“The biggest thing is his teammates are developing confidence in him more and more,” Huggins said. “That really helps James. James came over here from England, didn’t know anybody and talked funny and really didn’t know anything about basketball. As he matures as a player and he matures as a person, he’s just going to continue to get better and better.”

The 6-10, 285-pound Bell has started all 21 games for West Virginia in his first season in Morgantown, has been up and down since the Mountaineers began Big 12 play. His best conference performance thus far came January 18 in a win over TCU, when Bell finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and a pair of steals in his second double-double this season. Over the next two games, Bell attempted only five shots and totaled five points and 11 rebounds, but he bounced back in a big way against Auburn with his second 15-point effort over the last two weeks, while adding three steals.

“I always thought Jimmy could score down low,” Huggins said. “It was other people who said, ‘he’s not going to be able to score for you.’ When you have a body like that and shoulders that wide, all you have to do is be able to look at the rim and you’re going to score some points. The biggest problem that the majority of bigs have is they never look where they’re shooting. They’re too busy looking at where the defender is, where they are on the floor or whatever instead of putting their eyes on the rim.” 





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