No. 15 West Virginia holds off South Dakota State 79-71

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- — West Virginia faced South Dakota State in its own backyard at the Bad Boys Mowers Crossover Classic just 50 miles from campus, but with no fans in the building due to COVID-19 restrictions, it felt like a neutral site for both teams.

Miles McBride scored a career-high 23 points and No. 15 West Virginia held off South Dakota State 79-71 on Wednesday night.

McBride, selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman team last season, was 9 for 19 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free throw line for the Mountaineers in the opener. He added three assists and two steals.

“The main part of my game is pull-up jumpers and trying to get to the foul line,” McBride said. “I just relied on that and the shots went in today.”

Sean McNeil added a career-high 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Summit League Player of the Year Douglas Wilson led South Dakota State with 17 points. South Dakota native Noah Freidel had 16.

West Virginia built the lead to 12 points in the second half when McNeil hit a 3-pointer. The Jackrabbits cut it to four with just under two minutes to play on Wilson’s 3-point play, but could get no closer. Freidel missed a three-pointer with just over a minute to play.

West Virginia led the nation last year in offensive rebounds at 15.5 per game. They had 17 against South Dakota State, but were outrebounded 41-39.

“The way they play, it leads to a lot of long rebounds because everything is so much penetration and kick and shooting threes,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. “It’s a different kind of rebounding than what we’re used to.”

South Dakota State led 19-14 on Wilson’s 3-point play with 10 minutes to play in the first half. West Virginia battled back and took the lead for good on a McNeil 3-pointer with just over six minutes to play in the half.

South Dakota State will face the loser of the Utah State vs. VCU game on Thursday night.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia’s long front line seemed to be too much for South Dakota State to overcome.

HE SAID IT

“We actually had to do a lot of scouting, and obviously we didn’t do a very good job on the last one,” Huggins said about scouting Texas A&M, who dropped out of the tournament due to COVID-19 complications, Northern Iowa, whose game was moved against West Virginia in the tournament, and then finally South Dakota State. “They’re a lot better than I think our guys thought they were.”

STAR WATCH

West Virginia’s Oscar Tshiebwe was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. He picked up two fouls in the first four minutes and another early in the second half and was a non-factor all night, finishing with seven points and three rebounds. At halftime, Tshiebwe was just 1-for-1 from the field with two points and one rebound.

NEW FACES

This was the first meeting ever between West Virginia and South Dakota State. It’s the first time West Virginia has played a game in the state of South Dakota.

UP NEXT

West Virginia advanced to the semifinals Thursday against VCU, an 85-69 winner over Utah State in the late game.

South Dakota State will face Utah State on Thursday night.