Ahmad's Career-High 30 Propels WVU on Saturday

Saturday, November 24

Morgantown, W.Va.

2:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

3-2

Valparaiso

3-3

Valparaiso

West Virginia

Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

November 24, 2018 04:27 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score WVU-Valpo Box Score WVU-Valpo Quotes Updated WVU Men's Basketball Stats (3-2)Game Photos

By: John Antonik

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Esa Ahmad's career-high 30 points and Sagaba Konate's career-best 26 powered West Virginia to an 88-76 victory over Valparaiso here at the WVU Coliseum Saturday afternoon.

"They're both capable, we just need them to be more consistent until we can get these freshmen a little more knowledge of what college basketball is all about," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said.

Twenty four of Konate's 26 came in the second half, at one point the forward pouring in 13 points during a four-minute stretch to help West Virginia extend its three-point halftime lead to five on his straight-away 3, and then to seven on his driving layup the next time down the floor.

Freshman Emmitt Matthews Jr.'s second try from close to the basket gave the Mountaineers their first double-digit advantage at 11 with 6:42 remaining.

WVU's biggest lead was 14 on Ahmad's jumper with 1:02 left.

Derrik Smits, the son of former NBA standout Rik Smits, led Valpo with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The Crusaders (3-3) hit 9-of-20 from behind the 3-point arc and were shooting better than 70 percent from the floor midway through the second half before cooling off down the stretch.

Huggins started freshman Brandon Knapper in place of injured starter James "Beetle" Bolden and he played a good portion of the game at point guard. Knapper and freshman Jordan McCabe did a solid job holding on to the basketball as the Mountaineers committed a season-low seven turnovers, 11 fewer than the 18 they were averaging heading into today's game.

"And only one in the second half, and that was at the end of the game when Knap tried to split those two guys," Huggins said.

Ahmad did most of the damage in the first half as West Virginia built an early nine-point advantage, 14-5.

But then Valpo, trailing 18-10, went on an 11-2 run to take a 21-20 lead on Ryan Fazekas' jumper, and led by two, 26-24, on Deion Lavender's 3.

Ahmad answered with two free throws to tie the game, and more free throws from Emmitt Matthews Jr., Konate and West built the lead back to five with 2:57 remaining.

Konate grabbed 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double, his first of the season.

Ahmad hit 12-of-15 from the floor and was also 5-of-6 from the free throw line.

"When we needed to run stuff I thought we ran things pretty good," Huggins said. "The curl to Esa worked really good."

Huggins said on his postgame radio show that it was his decision not to play forward Wesley Harris during today's game.

WVU outscored Valpo 17-7 at the line and had a 35-28 edge on the glass to move past .500 for the first time this season at 3-2.

"We're banged up," Huggins said. "We've got to get healthy so we can have a full roster and play the guys who have some experience."

Huggins said he doesn't know what the timetable is for Bolden's return because he's experience swelling on his shooting elbow.

"That's the worst place you can get swelling," Huggins said.

The Mountaineers remain at home on Wednesday night to face an outstanding Rider team that has all five starters back from last year's team that won 22 games and finished tied for first in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

That game will tip off at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised locally on AT&T Sportsnet.

"Monday and Tuesday we've got to do a great job getting ready for Rider," Huggins said. "They're good. They were 43 in the RPI a year ago and lost in the conference championship and didn't get into the NCAA Tournament, which is a crime. And they have everybody back so it's going to be a heck of a game."