Game Day Vitals
- West Virginia Mountaineers (20-7, Big 12 9-5, NCAA RPI 15) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (19-8, Big 12 8-6, NCAA RPI 18)
- Series Record: ISU leads series 5-2
- Last meeting: WVU 81 ISU 76, Hilton Coliseum, February 2, 2016
- Location: WVU Coliseum (Capacity: 14,000) Morgantown, West Virginia
- Vegas Lines: WVU (-6), O/U 157
- Date: Monday, Feb 22, 2016, 9:00 pm ET
- Television: ESPN
- Online Streaming: WatchESPN
- Radio Affiliates
Opponent Information
- Iowa State Cyclones (19-8, Big 12 8-6, NCAA RPI 18)
- Head Coach: Steve Prohm, first year at ISU, career 123-37
- Last Result: defeated TCU 92-83 in Ames, IA
- Official Iowa State Athletics website
- SB Nation Iowa State site: Wide Right & Natty Lite
Interwebs
The Riot Ball, like the Riot Bowl has one real reward. And that is booze dispensed in the most carefree of ways. Most stories have a hero and a villain. Our story only has varying degrees of heroism. There's something on the line tonight, and we'll get to that shortly. But for now, let's all take a moment to pause and recognize those willing to put their liver on the line in the name of fun.
Game Preview
The Iowa State Cyclones (#17/17) are in Morgantown tonight to square off against the West Virginia Mountaineers (#14/12). The Mountaineers are looking to sweep the Cyclones for the first time since joining the Big 12 conference.
The Mountaineers are coming of consecutive losses to Texas in Austin and Oklahoma in Morgantown. They are currently locked in a three-way tie at 9-5 for second in the conference with Baylor and Oklahoma. They sit two full games behind perennial conference bully Kansas. Iowa State is just a game behind that knot, sitting at 8-6 and 19-8 overall.
The Mountaineers were successful in Ames earlier this season largely because they were able to force Georges Niang into eight turnovers, a highly uncommon stat line for the senior leader of Steve Prohm's squad. In order to secure the sweep and get off the current slide, Coach Huggins' team will have to keep the Cyclones uncomfortable in transition and win on the offensive glass. If they cannot do the "things we do," they have little hope of keeping up with ISU on the offensive end.
There is still some question as to the health of both Jaysean Paige (ankle, who did play Saturday) and Daxter Miles, Jr. (hamstring, who did not). Huggins sounded rather pessimistic earlier today about Miles ability to play at all. The questions about Paige seem more to do with how effective he can be and for how many minutes.
I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately, but if the Mountaineers have any chance at winning this year's Big 12 regular season conference championship, they have to win this game. The Cyclones cannot be taken lightly and the crowd should provide a boost. I think that either Teyvon Myers or Esa Ahmad, two players who have been asked to do more lately, will have something of a breakout game tonight.
Prediction
WVU 83
ISU 77