Small, Powell Lead WVU Basketball Past Bethune-Cookman

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Javon Small led with 27 points, Jonathan Powell scored 14 in his first career start and WVU basketball defeated Bethune-Cookman 84-61 inside the WVU Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

Powell, starting in place of the injured Tucker DeVries, got off to a hot start by scoring eight points in the first eight minutes as the Mountaineers dominated in the early goings.

Sincere Harris’s floater with 8:44 to play capped off an 11-point run and put WVU up 26-10. Later, a three-pointer and mid-range jumper by Small put WVU up by 20, 37-17, with less than five minutes before halftime.

The rest of the first half was defined by fouls as the Mountaineers were whistled on three straight defensive possessions at one point. Bethune-Cookman took the opportunity to cut into the lead, closing the half on a 13-4 run to trail just 41-30 at the break.

Momentum stayed with BCU after halftime as the Wildcats began the second half on a 9-4 run that cut WVU’s lead all the way down to six, 45-39.

A Powell three-pointer stopped the bleeding and kicked off an 11-2 run by the Mountaineers that put them back up by 15, 56-41, with 13 minutes to play.

West Virginia maintained a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the contest as the Wildcats never put together a run to threaten again. Powell’s three-pointer with 2:14 left was the dagger as WVU went up 76-57.

Small’s 27 points led all scorers, backed up by 16 from Amani Hansberry. Powell finished with 14 in his first college start and Sencire Harris chipped in 12.

Rebounding was a problem throughout the game for the home team. Bethune-Cookman held a 39-35 overall advantage and it took until five minutes into the second half for WVU to collect its first offensive rebound or second-chance point.

Brayon Freeman’s 14 points paced the Wildcats.

The Mountaineers play just once over the next two weeks, welcoming Mercyhurst into the Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. in the team’s last non-conference game before Big 12 play.

For a related story, what options do WVU basketball have without Tucker DeVries?