Stevenson lifts WVU by Sooners
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MORGANTOWN -- It's Erik Stevenson's world and he's only letting us live in it.
With West Virginia's season having reached critical mass with a 2-7 Big 12 record and with little wiggle room left if they want to avoid spending March at home, the Mountaineers put it all together and buried Oklahoma, 93-61, in what was unquestionably their best performance of the season.
And it was Stevenson, the well-traveled senior guard who has never made it to the NCAA Tournament and hungers for the moment when he can go to the dance, who put the Mountaineers on his back and carried them to a much-needed laugher.
He broke his career high of 31 points, set last week against Auburn, as he poured in 34 points and was so "on" that at one point, as he ran by the TV table, he said to the announcers "Forty!"
Late in the game the crowd picked up on it with a "We Want 40!" cheer.
As it was he might have gotten it if the game were closer, but Coach Bob Huggins let him enjoy a good bit of the second half from the bench, enjoying the scene.
Over his last four games, since scoring 7 against Texas, Stevenson is averaging 24.3 points a game while shooting 46.4% from the field and 42.9% from 3.
"He took good shots, makeable shots for him," coach Bob Huggins said.
It was an amazing performance but Stevenson says he wants more.
"I'm not satisfied with this," he said. "I'll enjoy this but the season isn't over."
That's the point Huggins has been trying to get across to his team.
"A lot of it was the fact that they understand if we are going to do what they want to do, which is continuing to advance in the league, have a chance to win in the conference tournament and not just get into the NCAA Tournament but to advance in it, we are going to have to get things straightened out," Huggins said.
With a sellout crowd of 14,022 rockin' and rollin' from the introductions, Stevenson gave them one of the best individual basketball shows since the days of Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley.
He took Oklahoma over his knee early and spanked them and sent them off to bed early as he poured 23 points through the hoop IN THE FIRST HALF.
He hit five of the 7 3-point shots hit by halftime and was so hot that you thought the soles of his sneakers might melt right out there on the court. He threw up 14 first-half shots and hit 9 of them and was 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
Stevenson finished with 13 baskets in 27 attempts, hitting 6 of 11 from 3 with 2 of 4 from the free throw line. He wasn't just a scorer, though, grabbing off 6 rebounds with 2 assists and 2 steals.
And, on the bench and in time outs, he pushed his teammates.
"He was great in the huddle. He can get on them at times, very encouraging with them," Huggins said.
This was a message game and it had inspiration in a place you might not think of looking.
"I think everyone is tired of losing, to be honest with you," Huggins said, speaking of his team, his fans and the entire state. "My dear friend, Bill Stewart had some great sayings and one was 'leave no doubt.' Thank you, Stew."
Stevenson had a partner in crime in guard Keedy Johnson, coming off a 2-point performance in the midweek loss at TCU as he has fought through an ankle problem. He scored with 16 total points, 13 of them coming in the first half as he and Stevenson's combining for 36 points were 6 MORE than the entire Oklahoma team could muster.
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the night was the play of the two back up big men in James Okonkwo and Mo Wague. Okonkwo had some spectacular blocks while also putting up a double-double with 10 points and rebounds.
Wague's athleticism and drive, which had soaring into the rafters and diving onto the floor, finished the night with four points, five rebounds, an assist and three blocks, all of which had the crowd roaring.
And while Oklahoma was in the process of losing its fifth straight Big 12 games, you can't overlook the fact that they buried No. 2 Alabama last week in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge.
Now this is going to sound ridiculous, but the biggest shot Stevenson made in the game came early in the second half with WVU ahead by 22 points.
See, the Mountaineers have blown a number of second half leads this season and when Oklahoma came out of the dressing room and scored 4 quick, easy points, there were some fans looking at each other.
As WVU took possession, OU played tight defense. As the shot clicked toward zero, Stevenson had the ball, a defender in his face. He was off balance but had choice but to throw it up.
He did. It was high enough to shoot down a spy balloon but came straight down through the basket.
End of the Sooner rally as Stevenson scored WVU's first eight points of the half to stretch the lead to 29.
From then on it was simply a matter of how many points Stevenson would score and how much would WVU win by.