West Virginia closed out its preseason schedule Wednesday night with a commanding 98-55 victory over Division II Wheeling University at Hope Coliseum, a performance that served as a final tune-up before the regular season begins. The Mountaineers used a dominant second half and a rebounding advantage to secure the win, though head coach Ross Hodge noted that the game exposed specific defensive lapses that need addressing before Monday's opener.
This exhibition wasn’t just about the final score; it was a laboratory for Coach Hodge to test his rotation and defensive versatility. By playing nine different players for double-digit minutes and getting all 13 available athletes into the game, West Virginia used the matchup to build depth. However, the ease of the victory masks a struggle with Wheeling's "five-out" offensive style—a perimeter-oriented approach that forced WVU's big men to move away from the paint, a challenge Hodge admitted the team didn't handle cleanly early on.
Freshman Backcourt Takes the Lead
The scoring load was distributed widely, with 11 of the 13 players finding their way onto the scoresheet. Freshman point guard Miles Sadler led the way with a game-high 15 points, while his backcourt partner Finley Bizjack added 14. Both, along with Joson Sanon, logged 24 minutes each, signaling a trust in the younger core to manage the tempo of the game.
The efficiency gap between the two programs became a chasm in the second half. After a 45-28 halftime lead, West Virginia shifted into a higher gear, outscoring the Cardinals 53-27 after the intermission. The Mountaineers shot a blistering 72% from the floor in the second half, contributing to an overall field goal percentage of 57.8% (37 of 64).
While the offense hummed, the defense provided a mixed bag. Hodge pointed out that the team’s intensity on the ball was lacking in the opening stretches, allowing Wheeling to move the ball with too much ease. This “chasing” effect is a common symptom of preseason rust, but it’s a detail Hodge wants corrected before they face high-major competition.
“Our intensity level on the ball wasn’t good enough to start the game, and I thought they moved the ball too easily and were able to kind of pinpoint it and we were chasing a little bit behind the ball,” Coach Ross Hodge explained.
The Battle on the Boards
If there was one area where West Virginia completely overwhelmed Wheeling, it was the rebounding. The Mountaineers more than doubled up the Cardinals on the glass, finishing with 43 rebounds to Wheeling’s 21. This physical dominance allowed WVU to control the pace and limit Wheeling’s second-chance opportunities, effectively neutralizing any momentum the Division II squad tried to build.
| Statistic | West Virginia | Wheeling University |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 98 | 55 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 21 |
| FG Percentage | 57.8% | Not Specified |
For Wheeling, the night featured a bit of family history. Kwynsie Pittsnogle, son of former WVU star Kevin Pittsnogle, hit two 3-pointers for the Cardinals. Levon Jacobs led the Wheeling effort with 13 points, but the team struggled to keep pace with a Mountaineer squad that connected on 10 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc.
From Preseason Lessons to Regular Season Stakes
The victory over Wheeling is the latest entry in a preseason designed to expose weaknesses. It follows a matchup against Glenville and a much tougher test on October 18, where WVU suffered a 90-81 overtime loss to Maryland. That loss provided a glimpse of how the team handles high-pressure, late-game scenarios; the Wheeling win provided a look at how they handle a specific tactical style of play.
The transition from “exhibition mode” to “competition mode” happens this coming Monday night. West Virginia opens its regular season at Hope Coliseum against Niagara of the Metro Conference. This matchup brings an intriguing coaching angle, as Niagara is led by former Duke star player Greg Paulus, now in his seventh season at the helm of the Purple Eagles.
For the fans and the community, the stakes shift from developmental to definitive. The opener tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Tickets are currently available through the Mountaineer Ticket Office at WVUGAME.com.
The Mountaineers enter Monday with a polished offense and a dominant interior presence, but the question remains whether they can tighten the perimeter defense enough to stop the “pinpoint” passing that plagued them against Wheeling.
