Okani

All three games went into overtime. All three games were against nationally recognized and nationally ranked teams.

Three straight overtime games. With no off-days in between.

The completely revamped Mountaineers first defeated Gonzaga 86-78, lost to Louisville 79-70 and lastly stopped Arizona, 83-76.

WVU’s record was 5-2 overall, with a soon-to-be stretch of winnable home games against Georgetown, North Carolina Central, Bethune-Cookman and Mercyhurst on the immediate horizon.

Harris

In the marathon win over Gonzaga, the Mountaineers got 31 points and seven rebounds from Javon Small, who played 43 minutes in the 45-minute game.

Tucker DeVries played 42 minutes, scoring 16 points and getting six rebounds. Amani Hansberry added his 19 points and eight rebounds as WVU outscored the Zags, 40-32, in the second half to force the overtime.

Sencire Harris played 41 minutes. West Virginia helped itself immeasurably by making 23-of-26 free throws.

In the loss to Louisville, Small scored 26 points and Hansberry had 19 points. Small played 43 minutes, Hansberry logged 34 minutes and with DeVries in foul trouble, Toby Okani played 36 minutes. The Mountaineers did not get to the foul line as often, but still made 9-of-12 attempts.

A third-straight overtime game followed and West Virginia prevailed for a third place finish in the eight-team event.

DeVries

Arizona failed to handle DeVries, who scored 26 points or Okani, who totaled 20 points.

Small had 14 points, leaving him with a three-game scoring average of over 23 points a game in the event.

Hansberry scored another 13 points.

Players and their minutes played against Arizona showed Small (43 minutes) Okani (39 minutes), Hansberry (38 minutes). DeVries (36 minutes) and Harris (32 minutes). West Virginia converted 17-of-22 free throws.

After some rest, the Mountaineers play the Hoyas in WVU Coliseum, tonight at 7 p.m. Then come three more pre-conference games against lesser opponents, before the Mountaineers begin Big 12 play against always formidable Kansas. That first conference game comes on Dec. 31, in Lawrence, Kan. at the Allen Fieldhouse at 2 p.m.

Hansberry

Following last season’s near-disaster grind through the winter with an interim coach, West Virginia’s completely revamped roster seems to have restored dignity and competitiveness to Mountaineer men’s basketball.

Nobody is predicting infallibility for this team as it chases wins in the 16-school Big 12 Conference, but being competitive is much different than what transpired during the 2023-2024 season of 23 losses.

Small