West Virginia Hosts Cincinnati in Key Big 12 Matchup
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The West Virginia Mountaineers return to Hope Coliseum on Tuesday night for a crucial Big 12 clash against the Cincinnati Bearcats, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. and national television coverage on ESPN2. Both teams are seeking their first conference win after opening Big 12 play with losses last week.
Mountaineers Seek to Bounce Back from Road Defeat
West Virginia (9-5, 0-1) is looking to rebound after an 80-59 loss to third-ranked Iowa State last Friday. The Cyclones seized control of the game in the first half, fueled by a remarkable 52% shooting performance from beyond the arc, including eight 3-pointers from Milan Momcilovic, who led all scorers with 26 points.
Despite the setback, the Mountaineers received a strong performance from Chance Moore, who stepped into the starting lineup in place of the injured Brennen Lorient, contributing 17 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting. Freshman forward DJ Thomas added 10 points off the bench. However, the 59-point output represented a season low for West Virginia.
Bearcats Battle in Close Loss to Houston
Cincinnati (8-6, 0-1) also faced a tough test in their Big 12 opener, falling 67-60 to eighth-ranked Houston after a hard-fought contest at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats and Cougars were tied at 60-60 with 3:52 remaining following a dunk by Moustapha Thiam, but Houston closed the game on a 7-0 run.
Day Day Thomas paced Cincinnati with 15 points, while Thiam contributed 13 points and Baba Miller added 11 points and eight rebounds. Miller is a consistent force for the Bearcats, averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 11.3 rebounds per game. Thomas averages 13 points per game, and Thiam contributes 11 points and 6.9 rebounds. Notably, guard Jizzle James has rejoined the team after a three-week absence, and Sencire Harris, a former Mountaineer, scored in 18 minutes of action, continuing to showcase his defensive prowess.
Defensive Matchup Key to Tuesday’s Outcome
Cincinnati’s defensive strength is a focal point heading into Tuesday’s game. The Bearcats are limiting opponents to 65.6 points and 39.3% shooting, a significant advantage compared to West Virginia, which allows 61.6 points and 40.4% shooting.
“Baba Miller and (Thiam) allows them to pressure the ball and kind of funnels people into shot blocking, which allows them to guard the 3 at a pretty high clip,” a senior official stated on Monday. “They have one of the best 3-point defenses in the country and a lot of that is kind of a by-product of their size and versatility.”
The West Virginia coaching staff emphasizes the importance of ball movement to unlock Cincinnati’s defense. “Ball movement is the best prescription for attacking Cincinnati’s defense,” the official continued. “That can be challenging because they are not going to let you move it, but you’ve got to try and get the ball side-to-side, get some reversals, get paint touches and ultimately get good rim decisions when you get into the paint.”
Mountaineer Leaders Look to Spark Offense
Despite a quiet performance at Iowa State, where he scored just 6 points on 1-of-9 shooting, senior guard Honor Huff remains West Virginia’s leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points per game. Moore is now averaging 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds. The status of Lorient remains uncertain as he continues to progress through concussion protocol.
Tuesday’s game marks Cincinnati’s 12th appearance in Morgantown and ninth in the Coliseum. West Virginia holds an 8-3 record against Cincinnati in the facility and a narrow 13-12 overall advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1941. The two programs regularly competed from 2006-2012 as members of the Big East Conference, and this will be their sixth meeting as Big 12 rivals.
“We’re excited to be back home in Hope Coliseum for a conference home opener,” the official added.
Fans can tune into the Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage with Tony Caridi, Brad Howe, and David Kahn beginning at 6 p.m. on stations throughout West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com, the Varsity Network, and the WVU Gameday apps. Tickets are still available for purchase through the Mountaineer Ticket Office at WVUGAME.com.
