Schifino helps WVU earn ticket to New York
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Sophomore Drew Schifino doesn’t care how the rest of the regular season Big East games go. He’s just happy to be going to New York. “We don’t have to wait and see if Rutgers beats Syracuse. I’ve never been to New York, so I’m happy to play on national television in the Big East Tournament.”
Schifino led the Mountaineers with 19 points as West Virginia clinched a tournament bid with its 71-67 win over Virginia Tech Saturday.
The Mountaineers (14-14, 5-11 Big East) snapped a five-game losing streak despite being outrebounded 50-28, and yielding 20 second chance points to the Hokies.
“This game was very typical of all the games we’ve lost lately,” said Mountaineer coach John Beilein. “However, this time we made a couple of key baskets and played great defense down the stretch.”
Virginia Tech (11-18, 4-12) gave up an 11-point second half lead, to lose for the seventh time in their last eight games and fail to qualify for the Big East tournament for the second-straight year.
The Hokies shot 36 percent (22-of-61) from the field and 50 percent (17-of-34) from the free throw line compared to West Virginia’s 43 percent (22-51) from the floor and 68 percent (15-22) at the foul line.
“I give WVU credit but we just needed to make our free throws,” said Virginia Tech Coach Ricky Stokes. “This game comes down to missed free throws. It’s a tough loss and a tough way to loss the season.”
After trailing at halftime 34-33, West Virginia took its first lead of the second half on a Johannes Herber four-point play with 12:22 remaining to put the Mountaineers up 49-47. Herber ended the game with 10 points.
Virginia Tech responded with a 16-3 run, led by Bryant Matthews with seven points, to take its largest lead of the game, 63-52, with 7:16 remaining.
Matthews led Tech with 24 points. Forward Terry Taylor finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Then the Mountaineers then went on a 19-4 run.
Schifino, who led West Virginia in scoring for the 21st consecutive game, hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to tie the score at 64. Two Tyrone Sally free throws with 2:36 left gave the Mountaineers the lead for good at 66-65.
Tech had 23 offensive rebounds compared to West Virginia’s five.
Kevin Pittsnogle had 18 points for the Mountaineers.
Carlos Dixon had 11 points for the Hokies.