Big run in first half lifts Mountaineers to win over Horned Frogs

Javon Small delivered 23 points and 10 assists to lead West Virginia to a 73-55 Big 12 Conference victory over TCU on Tuesday in Morgantown, W.Va. Joseph Yesufu contributed 14 points and six rebounds off the bench as the Mountaineers (17-11, 8-9 Big 12) avenged an earlier defeat to the Horned Frogs (15-13, 8-9) and won for just the fourth time in their last 11 games. Defensive specialist Sencire Harris scored a career-high 13 points for West Virginia, which used its disruptive on-ball pressure to force 14 TCU turnovers and harass the Horned Frogs into 39.2 percent shooting from the floor and 3-of-14 from 3-point range (21.4 percent). Small made 6 of 11 attempts from beyond the arc and Yesufu made 4 of 8 as the Mountaineers shot 51.9 percent from the floor and made 11 of 26 from 3-point range (42.3 percent). West Virginia coach Darian DeVries reveled in the Mountaineers' defensive intensity in the second half when 6-foot-11 Eduardo Andre sprawled on the floor to recover a loose ball and called a quick timeout. With the play, DeVries bolted from the sideline, helped Andre off the floor and slapped him up to show his approval. Trazarien White scored 11 points to lead TCU, which is 7-0 in Big 12 games decided by five or fewer points and 1-9 in the rest of its conference tests. After failing to score in the first 3 minutes, West Virginia went on an 18-0 spree to take the lead for good. Harris started the run with a layup and finished it with two more baskets. Small added a 3-pointer as the Mountaineers pulled ahead 18-5. In a dry spell that lasted more than eight minutes, TCU missed 10 straight shots and committed four turnovers. Late in the half, West Virginia scored six straight points to earn its biggest lead of the game at 42-20. TCU retaliated with the final seven points of the period to make it 42-27. TCU whittled the deficit further to open the second half as White drilled a 3-pointer. Two triples by Small and one by Hansberry helped West Virginia regain control and hike its lead to 57-37. TCU made one last run as Jace Posey powered for two three-point-plays in a 10-0 burst to cut the deficit to 62-53 with 5:33 left before Yesufu quelled the uprising with a 3-pointer. --Field Level Media