Pioneer Basketball Travels South to Face Nationally Ranked West Virginia State

1/16/2023 5:16:00 PM

By: Lex Shaffer

Glenville, W.Va. - Glenville State Men's Basketball team hits the road to face the No. 15 West Virginia State Yellow Jackets. The Pioneers enter Wednesday night's contest on a three-game winning streak and are (8-2) in their last ten. However, GSU will be facing a formidable West Virginia State team that has only lost to West Liberty this season.

Game Information

January 18, 2023 | 7:30 PM | Walker Convocation Center
Glenville State (10-6, 6-4 MEC) | No. 15 West Virginia State (15-1, 9-1 MEC)
Watch Here | Live Stats

A Look at Your Pioneers

Glenville State is (2-3) in the last five against the Yellow Jackets but is (3-2) in the last five in Institute, W.Va. The Pioneers faced the West Virginia State back in November to open conference play but lost to WVSU 104-90. Since then Coach Caldwell's squad is (9-4) and with a win over the No. 24 Falcons of Fairmont State.

The Pioneers in their last time out cruised past the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan 100-53. It would be a group effort for GSU with seven different players in double figures. Glenville shot lights out in the winning effort shooting over 50% from the field and 47% from three.

While on average Glenville State is shooting 35% from three. Since the beginning of December, the Pioneer's three-point shooting has jumped to 42.8%. GSU continues to be a top offensive-rebounding team. Through 16 games the Pioneers are averaging 9.6 offensive rebounds per contest. With Glenville State active on the offense glass GSU has had the third-best rebounding margin in the conference.

GSU By the Numbers

16: The Pioneers hit a season sigh of three-pointers last game versus West Virginia Wesleyan.
15: De' Anter Petree led the Pioneers in scoring and went 5-8 from beyond the arc.
18.9: Jordan Turbo Smith has averaged the third most points in the MEC
41: Jordan Turbo Smith has produced the most amount of steals in the conference.
65: Jacquez Yow has made the fourth most free throws in the MEC.

A Look at West Virginia State

Since the first time both squads played redshirt junior Anthony Pittman has returned and played a total of eight games. In the eight contests this season Pittman has produced three double-doubles. The Charleston W.Va. native has got it done on both ends for the Yellow Jackets averaging 13.3 points per game and grabbing just shy of 10 rebounds per contest.

In West Virginia State's last time out they defeated the Battlers of Alderson Broaddus 82-79. Heading into the half the Yellow Jackets trailed AB by four but WVSU's improved shooting in the second half helped West Virginia State defeat the Battlers. Dwaine jones led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 19 points and also grabbed three rebounds. Noah Jordan was close behind with 14 points and eight rebounds.

As a team, West Virginia State has been the best team in the MEC at getting to the free throw line. On average the Yellow Jackets attempt 27.7 per game while making a conference-high 19.6 per contest. WVSU has defended the three at a high level this season. Through 16 games on average opponents are shooting 28.9& from three which is first in the conference and 12th in the nation.

The Yellow Jackets By the Numbers

6: Malik Whitaker has produced the most double-doubles during the 202-23 campaign in the MEC.
15: Both Noah Jordan and Malik Whitaker have produced the sixth most blocks in the conference
4.5: The Yellow Jackets average the highest amount of blocks per game in the MEC
91.6: West Virginia State has the sixth-best scoring offense in the nation.
40.5: The Yellow Jackets rank 18th in the nation for rebounds per game.

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