MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, Javon Small led the West Virginia Mountaineers to a commanding 86-43 victory over Iona on Wednesday evening. Small showcased his shooting ability by scoring 23 points, which included five successful three-pointers. Tucker DeVries contributed 13 points to the winning effort, while Johnathan Powell and Amani Hansberry added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Hansberry also collected nine rebounds, further affirming his presence on the court. In addition to his scoring, Small contributed five rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
The game started with an explosive performance from the Mountaineers, as Powell executed a dunk and hit two three-pointers, propelling West Virginia to a 10-0 run that brought their lead to 21-7 less than seven minutes after tip-off. Following this surge, both DeVries and Powell sank more three-pointers, leading the Mountaineers to a subsequent 12-0 run. In a striking turnaround, West Virginia increased their lead from 11-7 to a commanding 39-17 over the course of just eight minutes.
By halftime, the Mountaineers held a solid 45-22 advantage. The dominance continued in the second half as they extended their lead to 30 points after KJ Tenner drilled back-to-back jumpers with just over 12 minutes remaining. A further 11-0 scoring spree pushed the score to 77-36 with four and a half minutes left on the clock.
West Virginia’s shooting was exceptional, hitting 65% from the field in the second half and finishing the game with an overall field goal percentage of 52%. They also excelled from beyond the arc, making 15 of their 31 three-point attempts. In stark contrast, the Iona Gaels struggled offensively, managing only eight field goals in the first half and six in the second half, culminating in a dismal 24% shooting performance for the game.
For Iona, James Patterson was the standout scorer with 12 points, while Luke Jungers chipped in with 10. This defeat continues a rough start for the Gaels, who now stand at 1-4 in the current season.