SB Nation Pittsburgh - West Virginia Vs. Miami: Mountaineers Blow Lead, Lose 79-76https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2010-12-05T02:53:32-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16160812010-12-05T02:53:32-05:002010-12-05T02:53:32-05:00West Virginia Vs. Miami: WVU Loses 79-76
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<p>Sports Network | December 4, 2010</p>
<p>Coral Gables, FL (Sports Network) – <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26312/malcolm-grant">Malcolm Grant</a> led all scorers with 26 points, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/miami-hurricanes">Miami Hurricanes</a> rallied for a 79-76 non-conference win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a> at the BankUnited Center.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52232/reggie-johnson">Reggie Johnson</a> added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Hurricanes (6-2), winners of four straight. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25606/adrian-thomas">Adrian Thomas</a> scored 13 off the bench behind 4-of-7 shooting from the perimeter, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99807/durand-scott">Durand Scott</a> finished with 11 points for the Hurricanes.</p>
<p>For West Virginia (5-2), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52524/darryl-bryant">Darryl Bryant</a> scored 20 and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101435/casey-mitchell">Casey Mitchell</a> added 18 points as the Mountaineers dropped their first true road game of the year. Kevin Jones and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26363/john-flowers">John Flowers</a> scored 14 and 13, respectively.</p>
<p><span class="caps">WVU</span> claimed a 35-33 halftime lead on the strength of 14-of-17 shooting at the foul line in the opening half.</p>
<p>Miami trailed by 13 with 12 minutes to play, but the Canes charged back behind 53.6-percent shooting in the second half, then sank four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win.</p>
<p>Miami knocked down 8-of-16 threes and went 19-of-25 at the charity stripe for the game.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2010/12/5/1855999/west-virginia-vs-miami-wvu-loses-79-76Charlie Wilmoth2010-12-04T04:19:21-05:002010-12-04T04:19:21-05:00West Virginia Vs. Miami: Mountaineers Face A Former Big East Foe On The Road
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<p>The great thing, to me, about college basketball is that they play a lot of games. Once the season gets rolling, there's no stopping it. Every three or four days, it's time to lace 'em up. So as the season picks up steam, I get more and more excited until they play every day (or other day) in March and hopefully April. Early in the season, Mountaineer fans are treated to a variety of interesting non-conference match-ups, and today is no different. This afternoon, WVU heads into the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida to face a former Big East foe, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/miami-hurricanes">Miami Hurricanes</a>.</p>
<p>Now, this might not have the same excitement as if the football teams squared off, but it's great that Bob Huggins has the team on the road in the ACC this early in the season. While not the cream of the conference, the 'Canes are 5-2 and are coming off a 13-point victory against Huggins' boy Andy Kennedy and Ole Miss. How will they stack up against Big East competition? The Hurricanes lost by nineteen two weeks ago at Rutgers. I guess that speaks for itself.</p>
<p>So far, the Mountaineers' haven't been the dominating rebounding team they should be and a lot of possessions have resembled bad volleyball games. The Hurricanes' 6-foot-10 center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52232/reggie-johnson">Reggie Johnson</a> could pose problems for the big men. Averaging a double-double, Johnson leads the way for the 'Canes down low, and Huggins will probably defend him with a blend of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26363/john-flowers">John Flowers</a>, Kevin Jones and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26351/cam-thoroughman">Cam Thoroughman</a>. If the Mountaineer big men can push him away from the basket, then Johnson shouldn't be able to do too much damage.</p>
<p>Shooting guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101435/casey-mitchell">Casey Mitchell</a> will be counted on to continue his hot shooting streak because, frankly, he's carrying the load. He's downed more than 25 points in each of the last four games, a feat that hasn't been seen around these parts in a long time. His game off of the bounce shows amazing growth, and right now he's the only Mountaineer who can ring the bell in multiple ways. While Mitchell's scoring outburst in Puerto Rico was shocking, by now it's simply expected to happen. For now, and for the rest of the season, when the Mountaineers need points, the ball needs to be in Mitchell's hands.</p>
<p>Kevin Jones is improving his shooting touch, and I expect him to move downhill the rest of the year, so I'm not worried there. What this contest in Miami represents at this early juncture is a great opportunity for a third option to step up for the Mountaineers. Before the season, I was convinced that scorer would be <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101439/deniz-kilicli">Deniz Kilicli</a>, but it's obvious right now that The Turk is still a project. John Flowers can score, but he makes such a difference in the rebounding/defense/general hustle game, I don't really care if he does anything else. What the Mountaineers need is a focused and persistent Truck Bryant. If Truck can get into the paint and attack the basket, then the Hurricane defense will be forced to open up. When that happens, everything gets easier for everybody.</p>
<p>Despite not being the key point of the contest, I'm still watching <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124652/kevin-noreen">Kevin Noreen</a>. I'm a sucker for freshmen who probably shouldn't even be in the game. He and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101437/danny-jennings">Danny Jennings</a> seemed to be both auditioning for the role of back-up forward and each brings great hustle to the court when they get a chance. If one of them can turn into an every game contributor, then the Mountaineers might have found the third option that they've been looking for.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, here's to Huggins for loading the early season schedule with big conference programs. I expect the Mountaineers to come back north with a victory, and hopefully a few more answers.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/12/4/2325607/west-virginia-vs-miami-mountaineers-face-a-former-big-east-foe-on-theAaron Hawley