MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a thrilling matchup, West Virginia’s Javon Small made a crucial play early in the second half, halting his dribble just shy of the 3-point line against Iowa State’s Curtis Jones. As the shot clock dwindled, Small pivoted searching for a teammate before deciding to take a contested shot that banked in, igniting the enthusiastic sellout crowd. This game showcased the rivalry between two of the Big 12’s leading scorers.
Curtis Jones, having emerged as one of the league’s top scorers recently, had a strong first half and seemed poised to take bragging rights. However, Small turned the tide in the matchup, erupting for 18 points over the final stretch of the game, leading the Mountaineers to a 64-57 victory against the second-ranked Cyclones.
“He’s definitely their engine,” commented Iowa State’s head coach T.J. Otzelberger, acknowledging Small’s key role in the game. “We knew that coming in. He’s playing at a level that’s as high as anybody in the league, truthfully.” Small ended the game with 27 points, putting him at the top of the scoring chart in the Big 12, while Jones, averaging 17.8 points, contributed 18, struggling in the second half with only seven points.
Small emphasized that he didn’t focus on individual rivalries, saying, “I don’t ever go into a game thinking about that. The only thing I’m thinking about is just winning.” Despite facing moments of uncertainty, especially with Iowa State leading by four points late in the game, Small managed to find a breakthrough.
Blocked by Jones and Tamin Lipsey at the key, Small spun between them and launched a floater just before the shot clock expired. This play kicked off his incredible finish that also included a three-pointer, a dunk, two layups, and a series of free throws. Now, he is being considered alongside Jones as potential candidates for player of the year in the conference.
West Virginia’s head coach, Darian DeVries, expressed strong support for Small, who transferred from Oklahoma State and has been instrumental in the Mountaineers’ overcoming injuries. “I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” remarked DeVries. “I think he’s an elite-level competitor, an elite-level leader.”
Jones, who had mostly come off the bench this season, stepped up to a starting position due to forward Milan Momcilovic’s hand injury. He had been on a scoring spree, averaging nearly 25 points in his previous three games, including a stunning overtime win against Texas Tech and a victory over the ninth-ranked Kansas at home.
Following the loss, Jones reviewed the statistics and grimaced at the performance: the Cyclones recorded just four assists and an abysmal 1-for-17 from beyond the arc. “That’s not really a recipe for success,” said Jones, who also struggled with his shooting, going 1-of-6 from three-point range. “They did a good job of defending.” While Iowa State managed to hit 44% of their field goals, they fell a staggering 28 points below their average scoring. DeVries attributed this to their defensive strategy, limiting Jones’s opportunities for open shots.
“We put a lot of focus on him not getting a lot of space,” DeVries explained. “He still got 18. That’s how good he is.” Jones initially shot 5 of 8 in the first half, but couldn’t keep that momentum going. The defeat marked the end of Iowa State’s impressive 12-game winning streak, expected to influence their ranking in the upcoming AP Top 25 poll.
“He carried us through some of those difficult moments,” Otzelberger noted about Jones. “We’re going to continue to count on him moving forward, and I know he’ll continue to step up for us.” This matchup was the only scheduled meeting this season between the two teams, though Small and Jones could potentially meet once again during the league tournament in March.
