The West Virginia Mountaineers are back in the national rankings and set for a tough Big 12 test as Arizona State comes to Morgantown for a Wednesday night showdown.
No. 22 West Virginia (15-4, 5-2 Big 12) welcomes the Arizona State Sun Devils (17-2, 4-2 Big 12) to the Hope Coliseum on January 21, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Mountaineers have been strong in conference play, picking up key wins over then-ranked Iowa State and most recently an 84-76 road victory at Cincinnati. WVU’s only Big 12 losses have come against No. 19 Texas Tech and No. 9 TCU. The Mountaineers returned to the AP Top 25 this week for the second time this season, checking in at No. 22.
Offensively, West Virginia features balance, with four players averaging 12 or more points per game. Jordan Harrison continues to lead the way, scoring in double figures in four straight contests and pacing the team with 93 assists on the season. Kierra Wheeler has been a consistent presence as well, averaging 13.7 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game, including a 17-point performance at Cincinnati.
Arizona State enters Morgantown after rebounding from a blowout loss to TCU with a 67-51 win over Kansas. The Sun Devils own conference wins over Utah and Colorado and are led by guard Gabby Elliott, who averages 16.3 points per game and has scored 10 or more in seven straight outings. McKinna Brackens, the UNLV transfer, adds 14.3 points per game and leads ASU on the glass at seven rebounds per contest.
Wednesday also marks a homecoming for Fairmont, West Virginia native Marley Washenitz. The two-time WV state player of the year at Fairmont Senior High returns to the Hope Coliseum in her final collegiate season after spending three years at Pitt.
U92 The Moose will provide live coverage, with Sports Director Quinn Robie on play-by-play and Brett Berner as color analyst. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with Brayden Laslo, Crystal Hanes, John Douchette, and Richard Turkovich.
The broadcast can be heard on 91.7 FM, online at u92themoose.com, on Alexa-enabled devices, and via the TuneIn app.