BECKLEY, W.V. -- The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's basketball team outlasted West Virginia Tech in a hard-fought battle at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, earning a 76-68 victory.
With the win, SMWC improved to 16-3 on the season and 6-1 in conference play, while WVU Tech fell to 11-7 overall and 2-5 in the conference. The Pomeroys will return to action on Saturday, January 25 when they travel to Alice Lloyd (Ky.) for a 1 p.m. (ET) matchup inside River States Conference play.
Key Contributors for St. Mary-Woods:
- Taeron Hogg led the charge for SMWC, scoring a game-high 23 points, including 4 three-pointers. He also contributed 3 rebounds and 1 steal.
- Shon Tupuola was dominant on the glass, pulling down 17 rebounds and adding 13 points in an all-around effort.
- Greg Jenkins added 13 points, 3 steals, and 4 assists, while Greg Johnson chipped in 10 points, including 2 three-pointers.
Game Summary:
SMWC took a slim 36-34 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half with a solid performance, shooting 47.5% from the field and 76.9% from the free-throw line. Despite a strong effort from WVT, which shot 50.0% from the floor, the visitors managed to hold onto their lead and secure the win.
The game saw a total of just one lead change, but the teams were closely matched throughout the contest. SMWC enjoyed its largest lead of 14 points with just over 10 minutes remaining in the second half. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes, but St. Mary-Woods' free-throw shooting and rebounding efforts ultimately proved to be the difference.
The Pomeroys jumped out to an early lead with quick scores from
Greg Jenkins and
Caleb Iheukwu, both of whom were involved in the team's early offensive surge. The first half saw several lead changes and key turnovers on both sides. As the game wore on, Hogg's shooting and Tupuola's rebounding helped the visitors stretch their lead, with Hogg knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers and converting several crucial layups in the paint.
WVU Tech fought back valiantly in the second half, with Martin's 3-pointer and Adam Seams' fastbreak layup keeping the game close. However, SMWC held firm, securing the win with efficient free throw shooting and defensive stops in the final minutes.
Tupuola's dunk late in the game helped to extend the Pomeroy's lead, and Jenkins sealed it with some clutch free throws.
