MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University is set to wrap up its first week of the season with a Sunday afternoon matchup against Lehigh at Hope Coliseum. The Mountain Hawks are looking to bounce back after a 91-52 win against Division III Valley Forge, where freshman guard Andrew Urosevic made a notable impact, scoring 23 points. This comes after Lehigh began its season with a 75-57 defeat to second-ranked Houston, despite a strong performance from Nasir Whitlock, who contributed 12 points in the latest game.
Lehigh, ranked eighth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, has history against West Virginia, having met the Mountaineers five times before and losing all matches. This will mark Lehigh’s fourth visit to Morgantown. Veteran coach Brett Reed, in his 19th season at the helm, has seen a fair share of success, guiding the team to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2012, and achieving multiple 20-win seasons, with the last coming in 2019.
On the other side of the court, the Mountaineers improved to 2-0 after edging out Campbell 73-65, with a standout performance from a guard who scored a game-high 23 points. West Virginia struggled with shooting efficiency, hitting 40.4% of their shots and facing a slight disadvantage on the boards, being outrebounded 40-36 by the Camels. Co-coach Hodge emphasized the importance of handling pressure in close games, stating that the team is working hard defensively while also focusing on settling into their offense.
Hodge’s consistent lineup has seen the utilization of key players who have shown promise early in the season, with expectations for continued growth. The Mountaineers are aware that while they celebrate their wins, there remains room for improvement as they look towards practice days ahead of their next game.
For those interested in attending, tickets for the contest are still available at WVUGAME.com. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+, with pregame radio coverage beginning at 2 p.m. on the Mountaineer Sports Network. This exciting matchup is sure to bring anticipation and enthusiasm from the Morgantown crowd.