In a stunning upset, the West Virginia Mountaineers ended the No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones’ national-best 12-game winning streak with a thrilling 64-57 victory on Saturday night. Amani Hansberry added 12 points for the Mountaineers (13-4, 4-2 Big 12), who beat a ranked team for the fourth time this season.
Small Comes Up Big on Jerry West Day
On a day honoring Mountaineer legend Jerry West, who passed away last June at age 86, it was fitting that another diminutive guard stole the show. Javon Small scored 12 of his game-high 27 points in the final two minutes to lead West Virginia to the signature win.
We got the win for Jerry. We threw the throwback jerseys on. Yeah, it was Jerry West Day.
– Javon Small
Cyclones Stymied Down the Stretch
After Tamin Lipsey gave Iowa State its last lead at 43-41 with 7:35 remaining, the high-octane Cyclone offense sputtered. ISU was held to just 14 points the rest of the way as West Virginia ratcheted up the defensive intensity. The Cyclones shot a season-low 35% from the field and committed 14 turnovers.
Huggins’ Crew Wins Hustle Stats
Bob Huggins’ team appeared to be outhustling the Cyclones all over the court. The Mountaineers held distinct advantages on the offensive glass (14-7) and in second-chance points (17-6). Their physical, relentless style clearly bothered ISU, which prefers a fast-paced, free-flowing attack.
- Offensive Rebounds: WVU 14, ISU 7
- Second-Chance Points: WVU 17, ISU 6
- Points off Turnovers: WVU 19, ISU 9
DeVries Heaps Praise on Small
Mountaineers coach Darian DeVries did not mince words when discussing his star guard’s performance:
He’s the best guard in the country. He’s something special.
– Darian DeVries
A Season-Defining Win?
This victory could prove to be a launching pad for West Virginia’s NCAA Tournament aspirations. Beating the second-ranked team in the nation, in such dramatic fashion, significantly boosts the Mountaineers’ resume. With Small leading the charge and a physical, hard-nosed identity, WVU looks poised to make noise in a loaded Big 12.
For Iowa State, the question becomes how they respond to this setback. Will the Cyclones’ magical run be derailed? Or will this re-focus a team with national title ambitions? ISU still sits atop the conference standings at 5-1, with key matchups against Kansas and Texas looming.
One thing’s for certain – the Big 12 race just got even more compelling. And if Javon Small keeps playing like a man possessed, West Virginia might just crash the party come March.
