West Virginia was tested by Bethune-Cookman for long stretches of Saturday’s contest at the WVU Coliseum.
A 14-3 spurt over a stretch of 4-plus minutes in the second half allowed the Mountaineers to separate themselves from Wildcats on the way to an 84-61 victory.
“The flow got really ugly at times tonight,” WVU head coach Darian DeVries said. “Some of that was foul trouble again, just getting guys in different spots. We got off to a great start, building a 20-point (lead), so I was really happy about that. From that point on, until really the last five minutes of the game, we just got stagnant. But the flow, it’s a lot of free throws and things, but that’s on us. Just a lack of discipline defensively, where we have been pretty good. We got a little stretched out, maybe a little too aggressive.
“Like I told the guys, part of the game plan was trying to limit some guys, and we weren’t quite as connected defensively, which put us on islands a little bit more which led to some of those fouls.”
A driving layup from Trey Thomas brought Bethune-Cookman to within 45-39 with 16:04 remaining.
The Mountaineers (8-2) countered with a Jonathan Powell three-pointer for a nine-point lead, and it marked the start of a stretch that allowed WVU to pull away.
Amani Hansberry’s layup with 15:09 left put West Virginia on top by double figures, and guard Javon Small converted a follow-up bucket to make it 52-39.
Small scored again two possessions later to make it 54-41, and Eduardo Andre’s bucket from close range with 13:02 remaining upped the advantage to 15. The lead grew to 17 not long after when Small converted all three of his free-throw attempts.
The Wildcats (2-8) got to within 11 on a Thomas jump shot that made it 63-52 with 7:16 left, but WVU put to rest any thought of a late rally by rattling off the next four points on two Small free throws and a Sencire Harris basket in the paint.
Already playing without starting forward Tucker DeVries for a second straight game, WVU lost freshman guard KJ Tenner to an apparent ankle injury with 12-plus minutes left in the matchup. Tenner did not return.
The Mountaineers held a 41-30 halftime lead on the strength of 15 for 29 shooting from the field through 20 minutes.
Small led all players with 27 points and made all 11 of his free-throw attempts.
“The biggest thing right now is that second ball handler and play-maker,” DeVries said. “As the game went on, it’s like, senior guard Javon Small has to have the ball a lot right now. So, when we had Tucker out there, it was them splitting it a little bit more. Javon could rest and be a little more of a spot up guy, get off the ball and let the defense lose him some. So, just having that second guy that can create and make
plays for others is probably the thing right now that we have to continue to grow and improve on.”
Hansberry added 16 points and six rebounds. Powell, a freshman, made his first collegiate start and scored 14 points.
Harris added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
“Sencire Harris made some nice plays tonight, where he was able to get in the paint and make some plays for himself,” DeVries said. “A couple nice floaters, a couple nice kick-outs for three. That was encouraging to see.”
WVU made 20-of-22 foul shots.
The Wildcats shot 36 percent and had only seven assists, but won the rebounding battle, 39-35.
Brayon Freeman led four Bethune-Cookman players in double figures with 14 points. The others were: Daniel Rouzan (13), Thomas (12) and Reggie Ward Jr. (12).
WVU is out of action until December 22 when it welcomes Mercyhurst.