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WVU Still Seeking Big 12 Road Win

Mountaineers take on Texas Tech tonight

West Virginia guard Brandon Knapper (2) shoots while defended by Oklahoma guard Miles Reynolds (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)

MORGANTOWN — It only took West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins a few minutes to go from elation to deflation following the Mountaineers’ 79-71 victory over Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum.

“I think we’re playing harder again,” Huggins explained. “I think we can beat anybody in this league if we play hard. We played awfully hard (in the) Kansas game. We played hard in this game. Now, we have to start to play hard every game. We played hard (in) the Texas Tech game, really. It hasn’t been as consistent as what it’s been in the past.”

Then, following a moment’s reflection, WVU’s veteran mentor’s mood turned somber.

“This traveling is harder,” Huggins said when asked about tonight’s game at Texas Tech. “I don’t know why we are playing the 9 p.m. game. We won’t get back until 4 or 5 in the morning and then the kids are going to be expected to be in class.”

WVU’s second meeting with the Red Raiders will be televised nationally on ESPN as the final game of the network’s ‘Big Monday’ lineup of games.

Tech handed the Mountaineers a 62-59 setback in the Big 12 opener for both schools Jan. 2 in Morgantown — the Red Raiders first win at the Coliseum in seven tries.

Junior Lamont West tallied a game-high 22 points in the loss while true freshman Derek Culver chipped in 12 points and eight boards. But, 22 turnovers and an 18-for-32 (58.3 percent) effort at the free-throw line were the Mountaineers downfall.

“I think it (shooting free throws well) is contagious for everybody,” Huggins said. “They (Oklahoma) weren’t making free throws, either. Then, we make a dumb foul in the corner, give them three free throws. They make all three free throws, and I don’t know if they missed any of them. I think they did. They missed one, maybe. I think it is. I think it’s contagious with anybody.”

If was for the Mountaineers on Saturday.

After making good on only half of their 12 opportunities from the line — 3 of 4 from Moundsville native Chase Harler — WVU made good on 16 of the 21 chances they got in the second half (76.2 percent) to hang on for their second win in league play.

Texas Tech, 17-5 overall and 5-4 in league play following a 79-63 setback at No. 11 Kansas on Saturday, will likely go with the same lineup it put on the floor in Morgantown – Jarrett Culver, Matt Mooney and Davide Moretti at the guards with Tariq Owens and Norense Odiase at the forwards.

Culver, one of the leading candidates for Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 12, scored 18 points in the two teams first meeting while Mooney (14) and Moretti (12) reached double digits.

West Virginia will again be shorthanded as juniors James ‘Beetle’ Bolden (high ankle sprain) and Sagaba Konate (knee) are still listed as doubtful for the game.

No. 14 VILLANOVA 77, GEORGETOWN 65

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Collin Gillespie hit six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points and Eric Paschall had 24 to keep No. 14 Villanova unbeaten in the Big East with a victory over Georgetown.

The Wildcats (18-4) have won 10 straight games and are 9-0 in the conference for the first time since 2009-10.

The Wildcats got rolling late at their off-campus home, the Wells Fargo Center. They are 32-3 in the building since 2012-13 — and their win percentage boosted by six straight wins over the Hoyas in Philadelphia.

James Akinjo led the Hoyas (14-8, 4-5) with 19 points. Georgetown had averaged 83.2 points on the season yet had no field goals over a 6-minute stretch late in the game.

NO. 17 PURDUE 73, MINNESOTA 63

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Carsen Edwards scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half to lead No. 17 Purdue over Minnesota.

Trevion Williams added 16 points and Matt Haarms had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Boilermakers (16-6, 9-2 Big Ten). Purdue moved into a three-way tie with Michigan and Michigan State for the conference lead.

Amir Coffey scored 22 points, Daniel Oturu had 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench, and Jordan Murphy contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Gophers (16-6, 6-5).

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