Sean McNeil scored 16 points as No. 10 West Virginia pulled away from Kansas State 65-43 on Saturday in Big 12 play at Morgantown, W. Va. The Mountaineers outscored Kansas State 39-21 in the second half.
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins won his 898th career game of his career and is fifth all-time in Division I victories. He is two behind North Carolina's Roy Williams after the Tar Heels defeated Florida State on Saturday.
McNeil had four of West Virginia's six three-pointers.
It was the first of four straight home games to close the regular season for West Virginia (17-6, 10-4 Big 12). Derek Culver was the only other Mountaineer in double figures with 11 points. Gabe Osabuohien had an interesting stat line. He didn't attempt a shot from the field or the line, but he had seven rebounds and three assists.
Kansas State (7-19, 3-14) was led by Davion Bradford with 11 points. They had to play without leading scorer Nijel Pack (eye). Mike McGuirl was held to 10 points, partly because of foul trouble.
West Virginia used a 7-0 spurt at the start of the second half to open a comfortable cushion. The Mountaineers forced four Kansas State fouls and five K-State missed shots in just over two minutes of action.
West Virginia kept K-State at bay, never letting the Wildcats get within six points in the second half. A 17-0 run gave West Virginia its largest lead at 59-34.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half. The Mountaineers shot just 33.3 percent (9-of-27) in the opening half, but that was better than the Wildcats, who were just 7-of-28 (25 percent). Both teams also had problems hanging onto the ball. Kansas State had 11 first-half turnovers, two more than the Mountaineers.
Matthews and McNeil led West Virginia with eight points apiece. Bradford led the Wildcats with seven.
Kansas State never led, but after trailing by nine midway through the half, the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run to keep it close. West Virginia went to halftime with a 26-22 lead.
--Field Level Media
Kansas State | West Virginia | |
Davion Bradford 11 | Scoring | Sean McNeil 16 |
Mike McGuirl 4 | Assists | Emmitt Matthews Jr. 3 |
Antonio Gordon 7 | Rebounds | Gabe Osabuohien 7 |
Davion Bradford 3 | Free Throws Made | Taz Sherman 6 |
Dajuan Gordon 1 | Steals | Miles McBride 3 |
N/A | Blocks | Jalen Bridges 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Kansas State | 43 | 29.4 | 3-19 | 10-15 | 11 | 32 | 0 | 5 | 18 |
West Virginia | 65 | 41.5 | 6-20 | 15-17 | 11 | 31 | 8 | 9 | 15 |