(Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, BGS)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–Nathan Adrian ended a slump with 22-point performance on Tuesday night as No. 10 West Virginia University pummeled No.1 Baylor 89-68 in front of a sellout crowd of 14,632 at the Coliseum.
As the buzzer sounded, thousands of fans rushed the court and sang John Denver’s “Country Roads” after the Mountaineers defeated the top team in the country.
Jevon Carter tallied 17 points and had five steals for WVU. Brandon Watkins and Tarik Phillip each added 11 points.
Terry Maston, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Al Freeman each scored 10 for the Bears.
“Press Virginia’s” pressure defense gave Baylor fits all night.
The Mountaineers forced the Bears (15-1, 3-1 Big 12) to turn the ball over a season-high 29 times, leading to 29 points. WVU had 15 steals.
(Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, BGS)
“I have to say, this team on film, they have been impressive,” Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “But in person, definitely the best pressing team coach Huggins has had.”
The Mountaineers continued where they left off after the first half. WVU (14-2, 3-1) started the second half with an 11-3 run and kept pouring it on.
Adrian’s 3-pointer put the Mountaineers up 55-43 with 13:54 left.
WVU wasn’t done yet. With 8:15 remaining, Carter stole the ball from Manu Lecomte and Daxter Miles found Carter for the easy breakaway layup to put the Mountaineers ahead 62-45.
WVU’s biggest lead was 26 points before Huggins started going through several members of his bench.
The Bears looked disorganized from the start and the Mountaineers came out blazing.
(Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, BGS)
Adrian’s jumper with 14 seconds left gave the Mountaineers a 39-32 edge at the half.
Baylor’s size dominated WVU down low as the Bears outrebounded the Mountaineers 41-32.
WVU shot 48 percent from the floor and 45 percent from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers made 14-of-23 from the charity stripe.
Baylor shot 45 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3 and 61 percent from the free throw line.
“There was no one in our locker room that didn’t think we shouldn’t win,” Huggins said. “My hope is we get to the point where it’s expected, you know, rather than celebrating.
WVU will travel to Texas on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
