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West Virginia puts tumultuous offseason behind, beats Missouri State 67-59 in opener

AP
Nov 06, 2023

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) Quinn Slazinski scored 18 points, Jesse Edwards had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and West Virginia overcame a terrible start to beat Missouri State 67-59 in their season opener Monday night.

Seth Wilson scored all 11 of his points in the second half for West Virginia.

The Mountaineers led 57-46 before Missouri State went on an 8-0 run. Chance Moore scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left to pull the Bears within 61-59. But Missouri State didn't score again.

Alston Mason added 15 points for Missouri State.

West Virginia jumped ahead 15-4 to open the game, then went the final 14 minutes of the half without a field goal, missing 21 straight shots to trail 30-24 at halftime.

West Virginia finally moved on from a tumultuous offseason in which coach Bob Huggins received a three-game suspension for using a homophobic slur on a Cincinnati radio station in May. Huggins resigned a month later following a June drunken driving arrest. Josh Eilert was named interim coach and the roster underwent a shakeup with only four players returning from last season's roster.

The NCAA denied waivers for two players to play immediately, and Eilert kicked Jose Perez off the team in an academic disagreement. Forward Akok Akok continues to recuperate after collapsing during an Oct. 27 exhibition game. Guard Kerr Kriisa was suspended for nine games on Oct. 31 for accepting impermissible benefits when he was at Arizona.

West Virginia had just eight scholarship players available for Monday's game.

West Virginia hosts Monmouth on Friday. Missouri State hosts Oral Roberts next Monday.

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1st Half
MOSU
Bears
30
WV
Mountaineers
24

Time		Play	Score
20:00		N.J. Benson vs. Jesse Edwards (Mountaineers gains possession)
19:36		Josiah Harris misses three point jump shot
19:34		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
19:23		Donovan Clay misses two point layup
19:21		N.J. Benson offensive rebound
19:15		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
19:13		N.J. Benson offensive rebound
19:06		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
19:04		Kobe Johnson defensive rebound
18:39		Donovan Clay shooting foul (Quinn Slazinski draws the foul)
18:39		Quinn Slazinski misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:39	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-1
18:22		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
18:20		Seth Wilson defensive rebound
18:13		Seth Wilson misses two point layup
18:11		Matthew Lee defensive rebound
18:05	+2	Alston Mason makes two point layup	2-1
17:43		Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:41		N.J. Benson defensive rebound
17:34		Quinn Slazinski blocks Chance Moore's two point layup
17:32		Quinn Slazinski defensive rebound
17:23		N.J. Benson shooting foul (Quinn Slazinski draws the foul)
17:23	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 1 of 2	2-2
17:23	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-3
17:00		Matthew Lee turnover (bad pass) (Seth Wilson steals)
16:57		N.J. Benson blocks Seth Wilson's two point layup
16:55		Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
16:54		Alston Mason shooting foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
16:54	+1	Jesse Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	2-4
16:54	+1	Jesse Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-5
16:39	+2	Donovan Clay makes two point layup (N.J. Benson assists)	4-5
16:05		Josiah Harris misses two point layup
16:04		Josiah Harris offensive rebound
16:02		Josiah Harris misses two point layup
16:00		Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
15:58	+2	Jesse Edwards makes two point layup	4-7
15:50		Alston Mason misses three point jump shot
15:48		Josiah Harris defensive rebound
15:44	+2	Kobe Johnson makes two point layup	4-9
15:22		Matthew Lee misses two point layup
15:20		Seth Wilson defensive rebound
15:11		Kobe Johnson misses two point layup
15:09		Kobe Johnson offensive rebound
15:05	+3	Josiah Harris makes three point jump shot (Kobe Johnson assists)	4-12
14:39		N.J. Benson offensive foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
14:39		N.J. Benson turnover (offensive foul)
14:39		TV timeout
14:24		Cesare Edwards personal foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
14:07	+2	Jesse Edwards makes two point layup (Seth Wilson assists)	4-14
14:07		Cesare Edwards shooting foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
14:07	+1	Jesse Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 1	4-15
13:52		Cesare Edwards misses three point jump shot
13:51		Mountaineers defensive rebound
13:37		Quinn Slazinski misses two point layup
13:35		Cesare Edwards defensive rebound
13:26		Alston Mason misses two point layup
13:24		Quinn Slazinski defensive rebound
13:16		Seth Wilson misses three point jump shot
13:14		Damien Mayo Jr. defensive rebound
13:09		Chance Moore misses two point layup
13:07		Cesare Edwards offensive rebound
13:07	+2	Cesare Edwards makes two point tip layup	6-15
12:42		Ofri Naveh misses two point jump shot
12:39		Bears defensive rebound
12:20		Ofri Naveh personal foul (Matthew Lee draws the foul)
12:16	+2	Matthew Lee makes two point layup (N.J. Benson assists)	8-15
11:57		Quinn Slazinski turnover (lost ball) (Damien Mayo Jr. steals)
11:55		Matthew Lee misses two point jump shot
11:53		Chance Moore offensive rebound
11:53	+2	Chance Moore makes two point layup	10-15
11:30		Seth Wilson misses two point layup
11:28		Seth Wilson offensive rebound
11:24		Seth Wilson turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Bey steals)
11:24		Quinn Slazinski personal foul (Tyler Bey draws the foul)
11:24		TV timeout
11:11		Patrick Suemnick personal foul (N.J. Benson draws the foul)
11:09	+2	Tyler Bey makes two point layup (Matthew Lee assists)	12-15
10:42		Jeremiah Bembry misses two point jump shot
10:40		Matthew Lee defensive rebound
10:32	+3	Chance Moore makes three point jump shot (Donovan Clay assists)	15-15
10:06		Jesse Edwards misses three point jump shot
10:04		Chance Moore defensive rebound
9:57		Raphe Ayres misses three point jump shot
9:55		Mountaineers defensive rebound
9:39		Donovan Clay blocks Josiah Harris's two point layup
9:37		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
9:33		Tyler Bey misses three point jump shot
9:31		Jeremiah Bembry defensive rebound
9:25		Raphe Ayres shooting foul (Quinn Slazinski draws the foul)
9:25	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-16
9:25	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-17
9:14		Donovan Clay misses two point layup
9:12		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
8:47		Ofri Naveh misses two point layup
8:45		Chance Moore defensive rebound
8:38		Chance Moore misses two point layup
8:36		Tyler Bey offensive rebound
8:35	+2	Tyler Bey makes two point layup	17-17
8:14		Quinn Slazinski turnover (lost ball) (Matthew Lee steals)
8:08	+2	Alston Mason makes two point layup (Matthew Lee assists)	19-17
8:04		Mountaineers 30 second timeout
8:04		TV timeout
7:54		Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot
7:52		Damien Mayo Jr. defensive rebound
7:35		Alston Mason misses two point hook shot
7:33		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
7:21		Jesse Edwards turnover (traveling)
7:08		Donovan Clay misses two point hook shot
7:06		Quinn Slazinski defensive rebound
6:39		Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot
6:37		Damien Mayo Jr. defensive rebound
6:29		Kobe Johnson shooting foul (Tyler Bey draws the foul)
6:29		Tyler Bey misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:29	+1	Tyler Bey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-17
6:13		Josiah Harris misses three point jump shot
6:11		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
6:03	+2	Damien Mayo Jr. makes two point layup	22-17
5:35		Quinn Slazinski misses two point layup
5:33		Quinn Slazinski offensive rebound
5:32		Donovan Clay blocks Quinn Slazinski's two point layup
5:39		Jump ball. Donovan Clay vs. Quinn Slazinski (Bears gains possession)
5:29		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
5:21		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
5:19		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
5:04		Seth Wilson misses two point jump shot
5:02		Josiah Harris offensive rebound
4:55		Cesare Edwards shooting foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
4:55	+1	Jesse Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-18
4:55		Jesse Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:53		Mountaineers offensive rebound
4:51		Seth Wilson misses two point jump shot
4:49		Chance Moore defensive rebound
4:19		Jesse Edwards blocks Matthew Lee's two point layup
4:17		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
4:01		Quinn Slazinski turnover (lost ball) (Chance Moore steals)
3:52	+2	Chance Moore makes two point layup	24-18
3:47		Quinn Slazinski misses three point jump shot
3:45		Josiah Harris offensive rebound
3:44		N.J. Benson shooting foul (Josiah Harris draws the foul)
3:44		TV timeout
3:44	+1	Josiah Harris makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-19
3:44	+1	Josiah Harris makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-20
3:28		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
3:26		Tyler Bey offensive rebound
3:25		Jesse Edwards blocks Tyler Bey's two point layup
3:21		Mountaineers defensive rebound
3:05		Jesse Edwards misses two point layup
3:03		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
2:57		Quinn Slazinski shooting foul (Chance Moore draws the foul)
2:57	+1	Chance Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-20
2:57		Chance Moore misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:57		Josiah Harris defensive rebound
2:41		Kobe Johnson misses two point layup
2:39		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
2:34		Bears 30 second timeout
2:11		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
2:09		Quinn Slazinski defensive rebound
1:44		Chance Moore shooting foul (Quinn Slazinski draws the foul)
1:44	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 1 of 3	25-21
1:44	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 2 of 3	25-22
1:44	+1	Quinn Slazinski makes regular free throw 3 of 3	25-23
1:28	+3	Alston Mason makes three point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	28-23
1:14		Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot
1:12		Tyler Bey defensive rebound
1:06		Alston Mason turnover (bad pass) (Jesse Edwards steals)
0:51		Seth Wilson misses two point jump shot
0:50		Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
0:50		Donovan Clay personal foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
0:50	+1	Jesse Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-24
0:50		Jesse Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:50		Tyler Bey defensive rebound
0:26	+2	Matthew Lee makes two point jump shot	30-24
0:03		Kobe Johnson misses two point jump shot
0:01		Tyler Bey defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MOSU
Bears
29
WV
Mountaineers
43

Time		Play	Score
19:50	+3	Seth Wilson makes three point jump shot (Kobe Johnson assists)	30-27
19:29	+3	Chance Moore makes three point jump shot (Alston Mason assists)	33-27
18:58	+2	Seth Wilson makes two point jump shot	33-29
18:25		Jesse Edwards blocks Alston Mason's two point layup
18:24		Bears turnover (shot clock violation)
17:56	+2	Jesse Edwards makes two point layup (Kobe Johnson assists)	33-31
17:50		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
17:48		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
17:20	+2	Kobe Johnson makes two point jump shot	33-33
16:45		Matthew Lee misses two point jump shot
16:43		Kobe Johnson defensive rebound
16:33	+3	Quinn Slazinski makes three point jump shot (Josiah Harris assists)	33-36
16:30		Bears 30 second timeout
16:30		TV timeout
16:11	+3	Cesare Edwards makes three point jump shot (Donovan Clay assists)	36-36
15:48	+2	Quinn Slazinski makes two point jump shot	36-38
15:21		Cesare Edwards misses three point jump shot
15:19		Mountaineers defensive rebound
15:19		TV timeout
14:53		Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot
14:51		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
14:44		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
14:42		Seth Wilson defensive rebound
14:24		Alston Mason personal foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
14:19		Seth Wilson misses two point layup
14:17		Seth Wilson offensive rebound
14:16		Seth Wilson misses two point layup
14:12		Tyler Bey defensive rebound
14:07		Donovan Clay misses two point layup
14:05		Chance Moore offensive rebound
14:04		Jesse Edwards shooting foul (Chance Moore draws the foul)
14:04	+1	Chance Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-38
14:04	+1	Chance Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-38
13:48	+3	Ofri Naveh makes three point jump shot (Quinn Slazinski assists)	38-41
13:38	+2	Chance Moore makes two point jump shot	40-41
13:23		Quinn Slazinski misses three point jump shot
13:21		Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
13:20		Tyler Bey personal foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
13:13	+3	Seth Wilson makes three point jump shot (Jesse Edwards assists)	40-44
12:55		Tyler Bey misses two point layup
12:53		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
12:46	+3	Seth Wilson makes three point jump shot (Kobe Johnson assists)	40-47
12:45		Bears 30 second timeout
12:19		Matthew Lee misses two point jump shot
12:17		Ofri Naveh defensive rebound
11:53		Chance Moore blocks Kobe Johnson's two point jump shot
11:53		Chance Moore defensive rebound
11:53		Jump ball. Chance Moore vs. Kobe Johnson (Bears gains possession)
11:53		TV timeout
11:42	+3	Alston Mason makes three point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	43-47
11:24		Patrick Suemnick misses three point jump shot
11:22		Matthew Lee defensive rebound
10:58		Alston Mason misses three point jump shot
10:56		N.J. Benson offensive rebound
10:36		Donovan Clay misses two point layup
10:34		Patrick Suemnick defensive rebound
10:13		Seth Wilson misses three point jump shot
10:11		Patrick Suemnick offensive rebound
10:06	+2	Patrick Suemnick makes two point layup	43-49
10:06		Seth Wilson personal foul (Matthew Lee draws the foul)
9:48		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
9:46		Ofri Naveh defensive rebound
9:44		Damien Mayo Jr. personal foul (Ofri Naveh draws the foul)
9:29		Ofri Naveh misses three point jump shot
9:28		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
9:28		Jesse Edwards personal foul (Donovan Clay draws the foul)
9:13		Chance Moore turnover (traveling)
8:59	+2	Patrick Suemnick makes two point hook shot (Seth Wilson assists)	43-51
8:46	+3	Alston Mason makes three point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	46-51
8:28		Chance Moore blocks Seth Wilson's two point layup
8:26		Mountaineers offensive rebound
8:15		Alston Mason shooting foul (Ofri Naveh draws the foul)
8:15	+1	Ofri Naveh makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-52
8:15		Ofri Naveh misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:15		Cesare Edwards defensive rebound
7:48		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
7:46		Mountaineers defensive rebound
7:46		TV timeout
7:18		Jeremiah Bembry misses two point jump shot
7:16		Alston Mason defensive rebound
7:08		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
7:07		Mountaineers defensive rebound
6:50	+3	Quinn Slazinski makes three point jump shot (Jesse Edwards assists)	46-55
6:26		Josiah Harris blocks Cesare Edwards's two point dunk
6:24		Cesare Edwards offensive rebound
6:19		Official timeout
6:03		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
6:00		Bears turnover (shot clock violation)
5:46	+2	Kobe Johnson makes two point layup	46-57
5:24		Donovan Clay misses two point layup
5:22		Quinn Slazinski defensive rebound
5:13		Donovan Clay personal foul (Quinn Slazinski draws the foul)
5:05		Ofri Naveh offensive foul (Matthew Lee draws the foul)
5:05		Ofri Naveh turnover (offensive foul)
4:55	+3	Chance Moore makes three point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	49-57
4:16		Mountaineers turnover (shot clock violation)
4:11		Official timeout
4:11		TV timeout
4:06	+2	Tyler Bey makes two point dunk (Donovan Clay assists)	51-57
3:36		Kobe Johnson misses two point layup
3:34		Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
3:32		Jesse Edwards misses two point layup
3:30		Chance Moore defensive rebound
3:06		Tyler Bey misses two point jump shot
3:04		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
2:45		Tyler Bey blocks Quinn Slazinski's two point jump shot
2:43		Donovan Clay defensive rebound
2:36		Kobe Johnson blocks Alston Mason's two point layup
2:34		Bears offensive rebound
2:31	+3	Chance Moore makes three point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	54-57
2:20		Mountaineers 30 second timeout
2:04	+2	Jesse Edwards makes two point hook shot (Quinn Slazinski assists)	54-59
1:44		Ofri Naveh personal foul (Matthew Lee draws the foul)
1:32		Jesse Edwards personal foul (Donovan Clay draws the foul)
1:28	+2	Alston Mason makes two point jump shot	56-59
0:56	+2	Kobe Johnson makes two point layup	56-61
0:42	+3	Chance Moore makes three point jump shot (Alston Mason assists)	59-61
0:41		Bears 60 second timeout
0:31	+2	Quinn Slazinski makes two point layup	59-63
0:27		Chance Moore misses three point jump shot
0:25		Quinn Slazinski defensive rebound
0:20	+2	Josiah Harris makes two point dunk (Ofri Naveh assists)	59-65
0:13		Josiah Harris personal foul (Chance Moore draws the foul)
0:13		Chance Moore misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:13		Chance Moore offensive rebound
0:09		Tyler Bey misses three point jump shot
0:07		Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
0:05		Alston Mason personal foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
0:01	+2	Josiah Harris makes two point dunk (Ofri Naveh assists)	59-67
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Josiah Harris makes two point dunk (Ofri Naveh assists)