On Saturday afternoon, the West Virginia University (WVU) Mountaineers men’s basketball team secured a win against the Kansas State Wildcats, putting an end to their recent losing streak.
Although their previous game against TCU was postponed, they suffered a defeat to Texas in their previous match, which ended their eight-game winning streak.
Despite the Mountaineers’ failure to cover the spread at West Virginia sportsbooks, they managed to secure their 12th victory of the season, marking their first win within the Big 12 conference.
Looking to stay competitive within the conference, WVU is set to host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Tuesday night.
According to PointsBet Sportsbook WV, the Mountaineers are favored in this matchup against the Cowboys, with a -3 point spread.
Mountaineers Beat KSU To Reach 12-2
As WVU headed into halftime on Saturday, it seemed like they were on track for their second consecutive loss in conference play. Trailing by a score of 40-27, it appeared that an upset was in the works, disappointing their home fans.
Sean McNeil, the senior guard, single-handedly prevented Kansas State from securing a win with an exceptional display. He outscored all players on the court, amassing an impressive 26 points, while also grabbing five rebounds.
McNeil showcased impressive shooting accuracy throughout the game, successfully sinking nine out of his 15 shots, including four remarkable three-pointers. Additionally, he displayed his consistency at the free-throw line by making all four of his attempts, with the final two crucial ones coming during a high-pressure moment in the game.
Despite not having his best showing, Taz Sherman still contributed with 14 points as usual. Meanwhile, Kedrian Johnson managed to reach double digits with 11 points, making him the only other Mountaineer to do so.
In addition, Johnson contributed significantly in various aspects, securing six rebounds, distributing three assists, executing a steal, and blocking a shot.
McNeil’s three-pointer with approximately eight minutes left finally gave WVU the lead. The team maintained their advantage until the end, securing a conference victory against a team they were expected to defeat.
Kansas State’s overall record falls to 8-6, accompanied by a winless 0-3 record against the Big 12 conference.
Before facing Oklahoma State on Tuesday, the Mountaineers boost their overall record to 12-2 and their conference record to 1-1.
WVU Basketball Odds At WV Sportsbooks
Tonight at the WVU Coliseum, the team led by head coach Bob Huggins aims to clinch their 13th victory as they face off against Oklahoma State.
So far, the Cowboys have a record of 8-5 as they step foot into the Mountain State.
Despite facing challenges in their recent games, the Cowboys managed to secure a victory against Texas in their last outing. The 13-point win at home is expected to boost the team’s morale, especially after suffering losses in four out of their last five games.
After experiencing two consecutive cancellations or postponements, OSU suffered an 11-point defeat against No. 6 Kansas.
Texas had been performing exceptionally well until it encountered OSU, but it made a strong recovery afterwards. OSU limited the Longhorns to a mere 51 points, resulting in their third loss of the season.
When WVU played in Austin and lost by 15, it was a clear difference from their current performance. Despite shooting well throughout the game, they struggled to contain Texas on defense. The Longhorns effortlessly scored 74 points, resulting in a comfortable victory.
A significant portion of OSU’s scoring comes from two guards, namely junior Avery Anderson III and senior Bryce Williams. Both players consistently contribute over 11 points per game and also make notable defensive contributions.
Anderson and Williams rank 26th and 38th in the country, respectively, in steals per game, with each player responsible for over two steals every night.
The moneyline for WVU is -145 on DraftKings Sportsbook WV, while Oklahoma State has odds of +125.
Due to the close nature of the game, with only a few possessions determining the outcome, rebounding could play a crucial role. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, who have struggled in this aspect throughout the season, this could spell trouble.
Although not exceptional at rebounding, the Cowboys manage to secure a spot within the top 100, specifically tied for 86th place.
Currently, WVU ranks 263rd out of 358 schools in rebounding, placing them quite low on the list.
Additional WVU Vs. OSU Odds
If the Mountaineers fail to demonstrate progress in their performance inside the paint as the year progresses, they will likely struggle to maintain a consistent winning record in the competitive Big 12 conference.
Those contemplating placing bets on this match have a few alternative choices beyond the conventional game lines.
It is worth noting that DraftKings has assigned WVU a moneyline odds of -145 for leading at halftime, while the spread stands at -1.5. Additionally, Oklahoma State is offered at +115 to have a lead at halftime on the online sportsbook.
Certainly, the overall game total remains a favored option. Currently, this particular matchup stands at 135 points, with the first-half total settling at 63.5.
On the online sportsbook, you will find a few intriguing props that might grab your attention. One of these props offers odds of +950 for the game to go into overtime. Additionally, DraftKings allows you to bet on the opposite outcome, with the option of “no” at -4000.
Last season, WVU did not experience any overtime games, but they had two in the previous year. Surprisingly, OSU has already been part of two overtime matches this season, emerging victorious against Oral Roberts and Cleveland State.
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