West Virginia vs. Colorado Preview and Game Thread

The West Virginia Mountaineers (11-6, 2-2 Big 12) return to Morgantown on Saturday to host the Colorado Buffaloes (12-5, 2-2) for the first visit in program history by Colorado to WVU Coliseum.

West Virginia looks to bounce back after a 77-48 loss Tuesday night at No. 7 Houston. Freshman forward DJ Thomas paced the Mountaineers with 16 points, knocking down a career-high four 3-pointers, while senior guard Honor Huff, the team’s leading scorer, was held to 13.

Defense continues to be West Virginia’s identity. The Mountaineers rank seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 63.2 points per game.

Huff leads WVU with 17.2 points per game and tops the Big 12 with 66 made 3-pointers. Senior forward Chance Moore is second on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game and leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 5.6 rebounds per contest. Senior forward Brenen Lorient rounds out WVU’s trio of double figure scorers, averaging 10.3 per game.

Colorado enters after suffering consecutive losses for the second time this season, falling at home to Texas Tech before dropping the opening game of its current road swing at Cincinnati.

The Buffaloes have thrived at the free-throw line, leading the Big 12 in free-throw percentage (78%) while ranking third in attempts (413).

Colorado’s balance has been a strength all year. The Buffaloes have placed at least four players in double figures in 13 of 17 games, including each of the first nine. They have also had four games with five players scoring in double figures.

Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson leads Colorado in scoring at 16.1 points per game. Junior guard Barrington Hargress averages a team-best 4.6 assists and is second in scoring at 13.6 per game. Sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik contributes 13.4 points per contest, while junior forward Bangot Dak leads the team with 7.7 rebounds and averages 11.4 points, rounding out four Buffaloes in double figures.

Saturday marks the third all-time meeting between the programs, with the series tied 1-1.

GAME THREAD

U16 Timeout: Senior forward Treysen Eaglestaff leads all scorers with seven points to help push the Mountaineers to an early 13-6 lead.

U12 Timeout: Short period between the two breaks as West Virginia has maintained its seven-point advantage 17-10. Eaglestaff now has nine points.

U8 Timeout: Colorado closed the gap to three but Eaglestaff buried his second three of the evening West Virginia holds a 26-20 advantage. The Mountaineers are dominating the glass 13-3.

U4 Timeout: The Buffaloes refuse to go quietely and have cut the WVU lead to three, 28-25. The Mountaineers are shooting 54.5% (12-22) from the field, but have struggled from the behind the arc, hitting just 3-11.

HALFTIME: West Virginia leads 36-29. The Mountaineers finish the half shooting 55.6% (15-27) from the floor, but 3-13 from three. WVU holds a +12 rebounding advantage. Colorado is 12-26 (46.2%) from the field and 2-10 from three-point range.

U16 Timeout: WVU is up 40-36. The Mountaineers are 1-6 from the floor this half.

U12 Timeout: Colorado took a brief one-point lead but a 5-0 WVU run regained the Mountaineers lead and hld an an one-point edge, 47-46.

U8 TImeout: WVU leads 55-49. Eaglestaff has 22 points.

U4 Timeout: West Virginia is holding on to a seven-point margin, 65-58. The Mountaineers are holding the Buffaloes to 37.5% (9-24) shooting from the field.

FINAL: West Virginia 72, Colorado 58. Eaglestaff finishes with 22 points, Huff with 14 and Lorient puts in 12.

GAME THREAD

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