Box Score
By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
December 7, 2002
Morgantown, WV – Tyrone Sally scored a career-high 20 points and senior Chaz Briggs gave West Virginia a big spark off the bench to help the Mountaineers to a 64-54 win over UNC Greensboro Saturday at the WVU Coliseum.
“Although it wasn't the prettiest game, there were still a lot of positives that came out of it,” said West Virginia coach John Beilein. “We realized if we take care of the ball, we can still win the game regardless of our shooting percentage.”
West Virginia used a 17-9 second half run to turn a seven-point halftime deficit into a one-point lead at 40-39 with 12:39 to go. Keying the run was Sally, who scored four points and produced a steal during an eight-minute stretch.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore also drained a crucial three-point basket with 4:56 left to turn away another Spartan run and give West Virginia a 10-point lead at 59-49.
“Tyrone had a great outing and really shot the ball well,” said Beilein. “I think Tyrone has also either tied or led our team in rebounding in every game so far, and we really need that when we put out such a small lineup.”
Briggs came off the bench to score nine points and grab seven rebounds, including one off a missed free throw leading to a Patrick Beilein three-point basket that gave WVU a four-point lead at 48-44.
Drew Schifino also reached double figures with 15 for the Mountaineers, now 4-1.
“I thought that West Virginia did some things in the second half to give us problems,” said UNCG coach Fran McCaffery.
West Virginia's biggest lead was 11 at 56-45 with 8:29 to go following a Josh Yeager three-point basket.
West Virginia jumped out to a 12-3 lead before cold shooting helped the Spartans get back into the game. During an eight-minute stretch from 14:24 until Greensboro tied it up at 16, the Mountaineers converted just two-of-nine field goal attempts – both coming on Schifino layups.
UNCG capitalized with a pair of layups by Luke Boythe, a jumper by Ronnie Taylor and a three-point basket from Jay Joseph.
The Spartans took its first lead of the game at 18-16 on another jumper by Joseph and finished the half on a 12-7 run to take a seven-point advantage into the locker room.
Joseph led UNCG, now 3-3, with 13 points.
West Virginia held the Spartans to just 40.4 percent from the field including 28.6 percent from three-point distance (four-of-14). The Mountaineers held a 37-35 rebounding edge.
WVU had a solid 19-to-12 assist-to-turnover ratio but struggled from the free throw line once again, hitting just four-of-17 for an abysmal 23.5 percent.
“When you shoot four-of-17 from the line and still win a game you know you have a good team,” said McCaffery.
Schifino did hit the front end of a one-and-one with 30 seconds to expand the Mountaineers' lead to eight.
“I'll tell you, a come-from-behind win is never an ugly win,” said Beilein.
“I was very impressed with West Virginia's team. From watching them play on film and tonight, Coach Beilein's system is working and the players are following him well,” added McCaffery.
The Mountaineers are idle for a week for final examinations before resuming play next Saturday at home against Wofford. That game will tip off at 4 p.m.
UNCG will travel to New York on Tuesday to face Syracuse, tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
