Reenergized WVU Downs Kent State
Sherman leads Mountaineers with 27-point game
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The only score that matters is the one showing when the game clock strikes zero and, after a lackluster first half performance on Sunday, those words have never been truer for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Behind a 27-point performance from Taz Sherman, the Mountaineers were able to bounce back and earn their sixth-consecutive win, downing Kent State 63-50.
Sherman scored 15 of his points in the second half, serving as one of many spark plugs for West Virginia (9-1). Along with nine points from Sean McNeil, WVU shot an improved 50% from the field and 50% from the 3-point line to help gain an edge and turn things around.
West Virginia, who opened the game by going out in front by a few points, struggled to shake the mid-major Golden Flashes during the first half -- an unlikely threat who entered the day ranked in the bottom half of the Mid-American Conference in offense.
"These Sunday afternoon, 4 o'clock games are kinda hard to create energy," Sean McNeil said. "It's almost winter break and there's not a whole lot of energy in it, so we gotta create and we came out flat."
A handful of miscues were to blame for WVU's inability to run out ahead, but the team's continuing struggles at the free throw line quickly moved front and center.
Despite entering halftime holding a slim 25-22 lead, the Mountaineers shot 33.3% from the line in the first half.
After setting a season-low against Connecticut on Wednesday, WVU doubled down by ending the day shooting 54% -- definitely not the worst of the season, but objectively less than ideal.
Sherman, often relied on for his scoring ability, went 7-of-13 from the line -- self-proclaimed as one of the worst performances of his collegiate career.
"They all felt good coming out of my hands, that's the one thing I can really hope for," Sherman said. "I haven't really missed that many free throws since I had a triple-overtime game in junior college, I shot like 28. Missing six out of 28 is not that bad, but missing six out of like 12, 13ish, that's terrible. I'm always typically around 85% for my career. This was a bad performance by me."
Overall, the Mountaineers held the edge across the stat sheet, but the performance left much to be desired according to head coach Bob Huggins. He likened the team's overall performance to the group's play in the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic earlier this season, where the Mountaineers picked up their first -- and, to date, only -- loss of the year.
"We didn't have energy," Huggins said. "We didn't pass the ball ... Today we were right back where we were in Charleston. Not taking care of the ball, forcing things. We don't run offense, we just do not run offense."
Huggins also noted that the Golden Flashes had crafted an edge before the two teams stepped on the court.
"I don't think they [the Mountaineers] gave Kent State the respect they deserved," Huggins said. "That's a good team ... they were more ready to play than we were, I'll put it that way."
West Virginia faces its first true road game of the season the next time the Mountaineers hit the floor. They're set to face the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Saturday, with the tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast through the CBS Sports Network.
NO. 2 BAYLOR 57, NO. 6 VILLANOVA 36
WACO, Texas (AP) -- James Akinjo had 16 points with seven rebounds and second-ranked Baylor defensively dominated No. 6 Villanova, a victory that's likely to put the defending national champion Bears in the top spot in the new poll.
The Bears (9-0) never trailed in their first nonconference home game ever against a top-six opponent, this one a rematch of an NCAA Sweet 16 game last March in Indianapolis. This Big East/Big 12 Battle matchup featured the teams that won three of the last five NCAA titles.
Villanova (7-3) shot only 22% (12 of 54) and had several extended scoring droughts while being held to its fewest points in 689 games under coach Jay Wright, who is in his 21st season.
Adam Flagler had 10 points as Baylor, which won its 15th game in a row dating to last season, shot 39% (22 of 56) and was held under 69 points for the first time this season. Jeremy Sochan had nine points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.
Justin Moore had 15 points for the Wildcats.
NO. 1 PURDUE 82, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 72, OT
NEW YORK (AP) -- Trevion Williams had a season-high 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and a career-best nine assists to help Purdue rally past North Carolina State in overtime in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.
Jaden Ivey added 22 points for the Boilermakers (9-1), who had to rally from 13 down midway through the second half. Purdue never led in regulation, taking its first lead Sasha Stefanovic's 3-pointer 15 seconds into the extra period.
Stefanovic also hit a driving layup with 21.5 seconds left to force the overtime, ultimately helping Purdue bounce back from a last-second loss at Rutgers in the program's first-ever week atop the AP Top 25.
Freshman Terquavion Smith scored a season-high 21 points for the Wolfpack (7-3), who had a prime chance to earn the program's first win against a top-ranked opponent in nearly nine years.
NO. 16 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 73, LONG BEACH STATE 62
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Isaiah Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Southern California pulled away at the beginning of the second half on its way to beating Long Beach State.
The Trojans (10-0) continued their best start since the 2016-17 season, when they opened 14-0. Drew Peterson added 15 points and Max Agbonkpolo had 11 points for USC, and Mobley had his fourth double-double in five games.
Joel Murray led Long Beach State (3-7) with 14 points. Colin Slater added 12 points and Romelle Mansel had 10 points, including three dunks in the second half, and seven rebounds.
NO. 17 IOWA STATE 47, JACKSON STATE 37
AMES, Iowa (AP) -- T.J. Otzelberger became the first Iowa State coach to win his first 10 games with the team, guiding the Cyclones past Jackson State.
Iowa State (10-0) ended last season with 18 straight losses. The Cyclones beat Jackson State last Dec. 20, then didn't win again in finishing 2-22.
Aljaz Kunc led Iowa State with 12 points and Gabe Kalscheur added 11.
Jonas James scored 11 points for Jackson State (2-7).
MARYLAND 70, NO. 20 FLORIDA 68
NEW YORK (AP) -- Donta Scott scored on a leaning shot in the post with 16.8 seconds left, No. 20 Florida missed its final-play 3-pointer and Maryland beat the Gators in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.
Eric Ayala and Fatts Russell each scored 19 points for the Terrapins (6-4), who shot 49% and hit 8 of 13 3-pointers to snap a three-game skid. It was Maryland's first win in two tries under interim coach Danny Manning, who took over Dec. 3 after Mark Turgeon departed in a decision the school said was mutual.
Tyree Appleby scored 15 points on five 3-pointers, including one against Russell with 1:14 left that pushed the Gators (7-3) to a 66-65 lead. Florida also got a tying layup from Anthony Duruji with 43.5 seconds left, setting up Scott's tough shot against Myreon Jones in the post for the win.
The Gators also got 15 points from Phlandrous Fleming Jr.
NO. 23 SETON HALL 77, RUTGERS 63
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Bryce Aiken scored 22 points and Jared Rhoden had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead Seton Hall past Rutgers in the Garden State Hardwood Classic.
Kadary Richmond added 12 points for the Pirates (9-1), and Alexis Yetna had 10 points and seven rebounds. Myles Cale also chipped in with 10 points.
Caleb McConnell had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights (5-5), who were coming off a thrilling win Thursday night at home over No. 1 Purdue on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Ron Harper Jr. from just inside half court.
Harper was held to 10 points in this game. Eugene Omoruyi added 13 points and six rebounds for Rutgers.