The West Virginia men’s basketball team added a win to their record in the first-ever meeting with Colorado Sunday afternoon. The win didn’t come without a fight as the Mountaineers began to lose their lead late in the second half.
Although Colorado made it onto the board first, freshman guard Jonathan Powell responded with a three-pointer leading to a 10-point run early in the half. The Mountaineers shot at 50% compared to the Buffaloes’ 48%.
During the first half, the Mountaineers had 13 rebounds, five steals, and five turnovers. The Buffaloes had 15 rebounds, three steals, but struggled offensively with 11 turnovers. West Virginia’s Powell and fifth-year center Eduardo Andre each scored 10 points.
Although the Mountaineers led the second half, the team struggled with consistent fouls as the Buffaloes creeped closer. West Virginia fouled Colorado 17 total times in the final 20 minutes allowing them 24 points off of free throws. Both Andre and sophomore guard Sincere Harris fouled out of the game.
Despite the fouls, West Virginia managed to keep the lead, ending the game with a score of 78-70. Senior guard Javon Small led the Mountaineers with 26 total points.
The Mountaineers now have an overall record of 12-3 (3-1 in Big 12) and will continue their road trip as they take on No. 12 Houston Wednesday evening.
