Big 12 Basketball: WVU falls, OK State rises heading into conference tournament

Previous Games: 89-94 loss vs. Baylor, 76-67 win vs. TCU, vs. Oklahoma

The Mountaineers had a shot at spoiling the plans of Baylor and staying in the hunt for their first Big 12 Championship. West Virginia will have to wait another season as they fell to the Bears in Morgantown.

West Virginia did quite a bit of what you would expect to win. Taz Sherman had a lights-out night, the Mountaineers outrebounded the Bears and made 28 free throws. However, they were not able to overcome 13 made 3’s from the Bears and two players finishing with 20 points.

A key for Kansas in their win over Baylor was the usage of David McCormack. West Virginia did not go to Culver near enough as he missed all of his three attempts from the field. He was effective from the free throw line, hitting nine of his 10 free throws.

Even with the loss, West Virginia was still in prime position to finish second in the conference and reach as high as a potential two seed in the NCAA Tournament.

After a solid 12 points against the Bears, freshman Jalen Bridges exploded for a season-high, 22 points and 12 rebounds in the Mountaineers’ nine-point win against TCU.

West Virginia did not shoot the ball well at all and turned the ball over 13 times. However, 26 made free throws, and outrebounding the Horned Frogs was a significant factor in the decision of the game.

The Mountaineers attempted a new change within the lineup against Oklahoma State. Bob Huggins decided to start Sherman and Osabuohien and have Culver and McNeil come off the bench.

Let’s just say that plan worked into Oklahoma State’s plans well. McNeil was 3-13 off the bench, and West Virginia was out-rebounded, because of just 20 minutes from Culver. After a 22 point performance against TCU, Bridges took just three shots and McBride had just 12 points.

After carrying a five-point led into the break, West Virginia was playing from behind for the majority of the second half.