Men's Basketball: WVU Wins European Opener
August 12, 2004 05:28 PM | General
August 12, 2004
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| Gansey |
ALMERE, HOLLAND – Junior Mike Gansey scored 22 points in his Mountaineer debut to lead West Virginia to an 80-67 victory over the Dutch National Team Thursday night in Almere, Holland.
Gansey, a 6-foot-4 forward from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, hit 4-of-6 three-point shots in his first game in a WVU uniform after sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules. Gansey played 30 minutes off the bench and also recorded seven steals and grabbed five rebounds.
Gansey was one of four Mountaineers in double figures. Junior guard Johannes Herber scored 14 points, while junior Patrick Beilein had 13 and senior Tyrone Sally finished with 11 points.
West Virginia led early at 8-4 before the Dutch National Team went on an 11-0 run to take a 15-8 lead with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter (international games consist of four, 10-minute quarters). The Mountaineers responded with a run of their own by putting together a 28-7 run to take a 36-22 lead with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter. The Mountaineers held the Dutch National Team scoreless for 6:12 during that stretch. WVU led 44-31 at halftime.
The Mountaineers extended their lead to 17 at the 4:08 mark in the third quarter with a 56-39 lead and held on for a 64-50 lead at the end of three quarters.
West Virginia held its biggest lead of the game at the 6:42 mark in the fourth quarter with a 19-point lead at 73-54. The Dutch National Team cut the WVU lead to 10 with 3:43 remaining, but the Mountaineers finished with a 7-4 run to end the game.
The Mountaineers shot the ball well from three-point range despite the line being nine inches longer than the NCAA line. WVU shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from three-point range, led by Gansey's four three-pointers. Overall, the Mountaineers shot 49.5 percent from the field (30-of-61).
Senior D'or Fischer led the Mountaineers on the boards with 11 in addition to four points. The Dutch National Team out-rebounded WVU, 42-40. West Virginia also forced 24 steals on the night.
"I thought our defense was exceptional against a tough, physical team," said WVU Head Coach John Beilein. "We were choppy at times, especially early in the game, but I like how we responded after getting down early. I thought this was a good basketball game for everyone on our squad."
Sophomore Frank Young scored six points for WVU off the bench. Junior Kevin Pittsnogle and sophomore Nick Patella added four points while junior J.D. Collins added two.
West Virginia will return to action Friday night against the same Dutch National Team. The Mountaineers will depart Holland on Saturday and travel to the Czech Republic. WVU will play the Czech Republic National Team on Monday and Tuesday.
