File photo WVU was without Brenen Lorient in Friday night’s loss at No. 3 Iowa State due to an injury.

MORGANTOWN — Just under a day before West Virginia men’s basketball faced off against No. 3 Iowa State, the Mountaineers received news they’d be without one of their best players and rebounders, forward Brenen Lorient. Lorient averaged 10.7 points per game and was second on the team, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Lorient had been dealing with an injury and is listed day-to-day.

“When you’re coming and playing on the road against a top-three team in the country, you certainly want to have every bullet in your chamber,” head coach Ross Hodge said. “B-low is probably our best athlete, one of our best rebounders, another just a secondary playmaker, like we talked about.”

Lorient’s absence was felt, especially on the glass. The Mountaineers were outrebounded 35-23, and Iowa State had 12 offensive rebounds.

There was a point with under eight minutes to play in the first half when Iowa State went on a 12-2 run to take the lead. From then on, the Cyclones didn’t look back, winning 80-59.

“Disappointed in some things, in particular our inability to rebound the ball in the first half and then to execute defensively,” Hodge said.

Joshua Jefferson got the offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer and put it back in for the score. He was also fouled for a 3-point play. Jefferson had 10 rebounds on the night and recorded a triple-double. WVU allowed Iowa State to record 11 second-chance points.

“We just gave them too many second-chance points,” Hodge said. “(Blake) Buchanan, Jefferson had a put-back and-1. You just can’t give a team with that level of talent and offensive efficiency second chances. They don’t need second opportunities.”

It was 21-21 before that big run. If the Mountaineers played a little bit better on the glass in those final minutes, it would’ve been closer, and maybe the second half would’ve been more competitive.

“I’m pretty sure in that four-minute stretch, there were probably three or four opportunities we had to grab the ball and couldn’t, and then and-1, tip-in, (Tamin) Lipsy late clock three, (Jamarion) Batemon’s threes, all those were off second chance points,” Hodge said. “You don’t give up second-chance points, you’re down five at the half, the game just feels a little different than your uphill climb.”

Without Lorient, the Mountaineers had to favor a small-ball lineup, which ultimately hurt because there wasn’t enough size in the paint for boards.

However, guard Chance Moore, who started in place of Lorient, made use of his start. He tried to cover in rebounds and points, leading in both categories with 7 off the glass and 17 points. Just without Lorient to help out, WVU was heavily undersized.

Seven-foot center Harlan Obioha couldn’t really do much either. He tried, but just had two points and two rebounds.

Hodge was sure turnovers would’ve been the problem heading into the game. Iowa State has one of the best turnover margins in the country. The Mountaineers were pretty conscious of that and only turned the ball over 12 times. Iowa State did score 17 points off those, though. But it was more the rebounding and second-chance points that were more of a problem.

There isn’t an update on whether Lorient will be ready for the Mountaineers’ first home game of 2026 against Cincinnati. He’s still day-to-day.

“Don’t know if he would’ve impacted how it ended, ultimately, but he’s a good player,” Hodge said. “He’s one of the two guys that actually been in games of this magnitude, and probably our best individual defender as well. I think that’s what separates good teams from great teams. [Iowa State] had to play three games without maybe the best point guard in the country. They still find a way.”