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West Virginia State University Athletics

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MBB2324 Mims
Photo: Todd Griffith
86
Winner West Virginia St. WVSt 14-5,10-3 MEC
78
Wheeling WHL 5-14,2-11 MEC
Winner
West Virginia St. WVSt
14-5,10-3 MEC
86
Final
78
Wheeling WHL
5-14,2-11 MEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
West Virginia St. WVSt 42 44 86
Wheeling WHL 29 49 78

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

Men's Basketball matches eight-game win streak from last season by beating Wheeling on the road

WHEELING, W.Va. – After five of West Virginia State's top seven scorers from last season transferred, and another one graduated, the Yellow Jackets were questioned if they could match the impressive run that brought them to national prominence last season. Well, State answered that question with its eighth-straight victory, matching the win streak at the start of last season, against Wheeling on Saturday afternoon at the McDonough Center. The men's basketball team hung on to win the game by a final score of 86-78 to accomplish the remarkable feat.

WVSU improves to 14-5 overall and 10-3 in league play with the win. Meanwhile, Wheeling drops to 5-14 on the season and 2-11 in the MEC with the defeat. State is now tied for second place with West Liberty in the league standings after the Hilltoppers fell to Charleston.

Sophomore guard Nate Mims posted a season-high 28 points, while shooting 4-of-7 from three-point range, to lead State in scoring. Fifth-year forward Anthony Pittman dropped 17 points on the Cardinals, alongside seven boards and four steals, in 23 minutes on the court. Mahzi Thames and Miguel Martinez both scored in double-figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.

Wheeling went up 6-2 in the opening two minutes before State dropped 12 unanswered points on the Cardinals. Miguel Martinez and Anthony Pittman combined for nine points during the nearly four-minute span in which Wheeling was held without a basket. Martinez started the run with a three-point bucket and Pittman ended it by sinking a pair of free throws to put WVSU up 14-6 around the 14-minute mark.

The Cardinals were able to tie the score at 20-apiece around the eight-minute mark. They made 4-of-5 shots from behind the arc to close the eight-point gap established by the Yellow Jackets six minutes into the game.

Before the five-minute mark of the first half, State reestablished an eight-point lead, 30-22, with a 10-2 run. During the less than two-minute run, Nate Mims knocked down three treys to put his team back on top.

The Yellow Jackets went on another 10-2 run in the final three minutes of the first half to increase their advantage. Mims connected on another shot from beyond the arc to cap the run and give WVSU a 13-point cushion, 42-29, at halftime.

The first 10 minutes of the second half was played close to even. Wheeling outscored State by six points to cut the lead to seven points, 62-55, at the second commercial timeout. Pittman ensured his team kept the lead by picking up 10 points during the opening half of the second stanza. He was unable to help his team see the game out after being ejected following a foul.

The lead shrunk to three points, 72-69, by the five-minute mark. Mims made a layup before the final media timeout to keep the lead from changing.

The Cardinals cut the lead to one point, 74-73, on the other side of the four-minute mark to make the Yellow Jackets sweat. State responded with seven unanswered points, including a three-point play by Mims, to go up eight, 81-73, with less than two minutes remaining.

In the last two minutes of the contest, WVSU locked in on defense and held Wheeling to five points. Meanwhile, Thames banked a pair of layups to keep the Cardinals at a comfortable distance towards the end.

The Yellow Jackets will travel to Frostburg State on Wednesday, Feb. 7 for a 7:30 p.m. game to try to extend their win streak to nine games next.
 
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