The West Virginia Mountaineers (16-13, 5-11 Big 12) will try to overcome one of the nation’s top scoring defenses when they head to face the No. 23 Iowa State Cyclones (17-11, 8-8 Big 12) on Monday.
West Virginia was edged out by the Kansas Jayhawks 76-74 at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, their fourth straight loss away from home. Erik Stevenson was the top scorer in defeat with 23 points. Tre Mitchell added 20 points and seven rebounds. The Mountaineers remain eighth in the Big 12 Conference.
Iowa State lost their third in a row on Saturday at James H. Hilton Coliseum, falling to the Oklahoma Sooners 61-50. Gabe Kalscheur tallied 12 points to lead the team in scoring in defeat. With 10 points, Tamin Lipsey also played a part. The Cyclones remain fifth in the Big 12 Conference.
The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After winning the only previous season game against Iowa State 76-71 at WVU Coliseum on February 8, West Virginia will be looking for a season sweep. Kedrian Johnson led the Mountaineers with 22 points, while Emmitt Matthews Jr. contributed 20 points. Jaren Holmes had 18 points in the losing effort.
Stevenson is averaging 14.9 points per game to lead the Mountaineers in scoring this season. Meanwhile, Mitchell is grabbing 5.4 rebounds per game, and Johnson is dishing 3.0 assists. Holmes (13.0 ppg) and Kalscheur (12.3) have powered the Cyclones on offense.
Osun Osunniyi is averaging 4.1 rebounds per game, and Lipsey is recording 4.6 assists. Holding opponents to 62.0 points per game, the Cyclones are one of the stingiest scoring defenses in the country (19th). The Cyclones have had success in recent games between the teams at James H. Hilton Coliseum, winning six of the last 10.
In the last 10 games, West Virginia is 5-5 with an average margin of +1.5 (75.5-74.0). Iowa State has gone 3-7 over the last 10, allowing 68.0 points per game on average while scoring only 64.2 (-3.8 margin). The Cyclones are averaging 68.3 ppg for the full season while allowing 62.0.
MOUNTAINEERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Seth Wilson: 3.0 | 6.2 | -3.2
Points per game:
Joe Toussaint: 5.0 | 9.4 | -4.4
Rebounds per game:
Emmitt Matthews Jr.: 5.0 | 3.6 | +1.4
Jimmy Bell Jr.: 3.8 | 5.4 | -1.6
CYCLONES HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Aljaz Kunc: 14.0 | 9.7 | +4.3
Caleb Grill: 4.0 | 13.2 | -9.2
Points per game:
Caleb Grill: 2.2 | 8.5 | -6.3
Rebounds per game:
Tamin Lipsey: 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3
Assists per game:
Jaren Holmes: 2.4 | 3.2 | -0.8
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
Iowa State (-225)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
