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West Virginia State University Athletics

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MBB2324 Pittman
Photo: Todd Griffith
92
West Liberty WL 15-4,9-2 MEC
98
Winner West Virginia St. WVSt 13-5,9-3 MEC
West Liberty WL
15-4,9-2 MEC
92
Final
98
West Virginia St. WVSt
13-5,9-3 MEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
West Liberty WL 41 51 92
West Virginia St. WVSt 51 47 98

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

WVSU outlasts No. 17 West Liberty to knock off second nationally-ranked opponent in a row

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State men's basketball (13-5, 9-3 MEC) won its seventh-straight contest against No. 17 West Liberty (15-4, 9-2 MEC) by a final score of 98-92 on Wednesday night at the Walker Convocation Center. The Yellow Jackets have now taken down two nationally-ranked opponents in their last two games. They are now just one game back from sharing first place in the MEC standings with both Charleston and West Lib.  

Fifth-year forward Anthony Pittman led all players on the court in both scoring and rebounding. He posted 29 points alongside nine boards. He was fouled often and made 17-of-18 shots from the charity stripe. Fellow forward Arthur Cox also came close to a double-double with 17 points and eight rebounds. Three other Yellow Jackets scored in double-digits including Mahzi Thames (14 points), Kahari Rogers (14 points) and Nate Mims (13 points).

The Yellow Jackets rushed out to a 15-4 lead at the first media timeout of the game. West Liberty chucked up and missed four three-point attempts in the opening five minutes. Meanwhile, State stuck to high-percentage shots and converted on 7-of-12 field goals. Arthur Cox and Anthony Pittman combined for 10 points while Miguel Martinez drained one of his signature three-pointers. 

Between the 15- and nine-minute marks, Nate Mims dropped nine points on the Hilltoppers to help his team to a 14-point advantage, 26-12. He sank four free throws, hit a jumper and knocked down a trey during the six-minute stretch.

West Lib was able to pull back within eight points, 30-22, around the seven-minute mark on the heels of a 10-4 run. The single-digit deficit did not last long since the Yellow Jackets responded with a 10-4 run of their own. Pittman was sent to the free throw line three times and made all six of his shots from the charity stripe. His last made free throw capped the run and restored State's 14-point lead, 40-26, on the other side of the five-minute mark.

The Hilltoppers made three of their four total first-half treys in the time that remained. Their last three-pointer of the opening half was made with 30 seconds to go and cut their deficit to nine points, 50-41. Cox drew a foul with a fraction of a second left and made a single free throw to give WVSU a 10-point advantage, 51-41, at halftime.

The Yellow Jackets increased their lead to 15 points, 62-47, in the opening five minutes of the second half. State continued to make a higher percentage of its shots, shooting 4-of-8 from the floor and 1-of-2 from three-point range. Meanwhile, West Lib shot 2-of-7 from the floor with both of their baskets being from behind the arc.

The Hilltoppers came out of the first commercial timeout and launched a 14-2 run to nearly close the gap. State still clung to a three-point lead, 64-61, with 10:27 remaining after West Lib's comeback attempt.

The Yellow Jackets pumped the brakes on the comeback with six unanswered points in less than a minute. Pittman was responsible for all six of those points which included four free throws and a jumper. The short spurt gave WVSU a nine-point cushion, 70-61, to work with.

An even 15-15 run occurred over the ensuing five minutes to keep State's nine-point lead intact at the final media timeout.  Kahari Rogers made the floater that restored the nine-point advantage, 85-76, right before play was halted.

The Hilltoppers once again cut State's lead down to three points, 90-87, with two-and-a-half minutes to go. Then, as the clock ticked down to two minutes, Pittman was fouled shooting a jumper near the top of the key. West Lib's John Korte fouled out and was hit with a technical to give Pittman four chances at the charity stripe. He made 3-of-4 shots to put WVSU up by six, 93-87, late.

The Hilltoppers came back within three points, 95-92, again when Christian Montague drove in the lane for a layup with 44 seconds to go. Three-point misses were traded by the teams in the closing seconds before Rogers grabbed the last rebound of the contest and was fouled. Montague was hit with a technical this time. Rogers made 3-of-4 free throw attempts to give the game its final score.  

State held one of the best shooting teams in the conference, and the nation, to a 45 percent conversion rate from the floor and a 27 percent clip from three-point range. The Yellow Jackets were fouled profusely and made the Hilltoppers pay by making 34-of-40, or 85 percent, of their free throws.

WVSU will travel to Wheeling on Saturday, Feb. 3 for a 4:00 p.m. clash next.
 
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