West Virginia wins at home again, beats Iowa State 76-61

Five players in double figures usually equals a win, and it did on Wednesday night in Morgantown. West Virginia dismantled Iowa State 76-61 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.

Jordan McCabe drove to put the Mountaineer’s first two-points off the glass thirty sceonds into the game, giving his team the lead 2-0. West Virginia would never trail in this game.

Bob Huggins’ game plan revolved around putting the ball on the floor and going to to the basket. McCabe’s first drive was a sign of things to come as the Mountaineers were aggressive going to the basket early in the game with Jermaine Haley and Emmitt Matthews joining him attacking the basket in the early going.

WVU would go up 17-6 on an Oscar Tshiebwe dunk with 15:06 remaining in the first half. The Mountaineers would not only never trail in this game, but they would not see the lead dip under double-figures for the final 35:06 of the game.

The second half was more of the same with West Virginia leading by more than 20 for much of the second half, cruising to a victory, beating the Cyclones 76-61.

West Virginia returns to action on Saturday against Oklahoma.

Stats that Matter

Emmitt Matthews had an active game finishing with 12 points, four rebounds and an assist, steal and block. This was Matthews first double-digit scoring effort since December 14 against Nicholls State.

Five Mountaineers ended the game in double figures. Derek Culver (12), Oscar Tshiebwe (16), Matthews (12), Jermaine Haley (11), Chase Harler (14).

In what has become commonplace, West Virginia out-rebounded Iowa State 46-28 overall and 18-9 on the offensive glass. The most surprising underlying stat is Culver only had three of those 46 rebounds.

Tshiebwe recorded his eighth double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.