Penguins’ 3-point shooting cold in loss

Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.VA.

James “Beetle” Bolden and Esa Ahmad each scored 15 points to lead West Virginia over Youngstown State 106-72 on Saturday.

It took no time at all for the offense to get started for the Mountaineers (5-2), as Bolden scored 11 points in the first five minutes, leading WVU on a 16-5 opening run.

“Our ball movement and our movement in general is a lot better,” said West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins, who earned his 850th victory.

While YSU (3-6) remained solid shooting the ball at times, it relied too much on pulling up beyond the arc. Of 69 shot attempts, 36 were of the 3-point variety. The Penguins made just nine of them.

“Too much,” Youngstown State head coach Jerrod Calhoun said of YSU’s reliance on the 3-point shot.

Sagaba Konate added with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for WVU.

Lamont West, Wesley Harris and Brandon Knapper all scored 10 points for WVU. It was a career high for Knapper.

Garrett Covington led the Penguins with 20 points. Naz Bohannon added 10 rebounds.

COUNTRY ROADS TO YOUNGSTOWN

The Penguins traveled with two guys with connections to the Mountain State.

Calhoun coached Fairmont State for five seasons, leading them to an NCAA Division II national championship game in 2017.

Redshirt freshman walk-on Geoff Hamperian also made the trip for the Penguins. He is a native of Morgantown.