It’s not often you play a team that has never made the NCAA tournament, but West Virginia did just that on Thursday night, squaring off against the Elon Phoenix. The Phoenix would have difficulty rising at the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic in Charleston, South Carolina.
West Virginia came into the game second in the nation in turnovers forced, forcing 28.5 per contest with Kedrian Johnson leading the nation in steals with 5.5 per contest.
The Mountaineers opened the game with a Johnson three-pointer off of a Taz Sherman assist and would never trail. Elon unexpectedly hung around for much of the first half, until the West Virginia imposed their offensive will and extended their largest first half lead to 35-20 on a Dimon Carrigan free throw with 6:25 to go in the first stanza.