Terriers set for test with Mountaineers

Dec 22, 2014 - 3:34 PM Morgantown, WV (SportsNetwork.com) - With a four-game win streak on the line, the Wofford Terriers will take to the road to face the West Virginia Mountaineers in a non-conference battle at WVU Coliseum Monday.

After a loss to Stanford to open the 2014-15 season, Wofford has won nine of its last 10 games, including the last four in a row. The Terriers took down Charleston Southern, 64-58, in their most recent outing.

West Virginia sits at 10-1 entering this contest with the No. 22 ranking in the country in tow. The Mountaineers have won three straight games since a tight 74-73 setback against LSU earlier this month. WVU took down NC State, 83-69, in its most recent outing.

These two programs have met on the court three times in history, and West Virginia has taken all three of those decisions. At WVU Coliseum, the Mountaineers are 2-0 all-time. The last time these teams met was back in 2005, when West Virginia won, 61-41.

Wofford only held a one-point lead (27-26) at halftime over Charleston Southern in the team's last outing, but the Terriers exploded offensively in the second half that allowed them to gain a double-digit lead. Eric Garcia tallied 15 points to lead his Wofford squad, while Spencer Collins chipped in with 11 points and Jaylen Allen netted 10. Wofford shot 42.9 percent from the floor in the win, which included a dismal 4-of-20 mark from 3-point range.

The Terriers have prided themselves on playing stellar defense this season, as they allow opponents to score just 58.0 ppg on 40.9 percent shooting from the floor. Meanwhile on the other end of the court, Wofford is netting 68.4 ppg on 46.1 percent shooting, led by Karl Cochran's 13.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 36 assists and 24 steals. The senior has been dominant for the Terriers in just about every statistical category. Collins checks in behind Cochran in scoring at 11.4 ppg as the only other Wofford player in double-figure scoring.

Both West Virginia and NC State shot the ball well from the floor in the Mountaineers' win over the Wolfpack Saturday. NC State connected on 55.6 percent of its tries from the floor, while West Virginia hit on 53.4 percent. But the Mountaineers made 31 attempts from the field to NC State's 20, which was the difference maker. Juwan Staten had 24 points and six assists to lead the team, while Devin Williams tallied 16 points and eight boards and Jaysean Paige netted 11 before fouling out.

West Virginia's offense has exploded this season, and enters the game against Wofford netting 78.8 ppg on 41.8 percent shooting. Although opponents are shooting 45.8 percent from the field this season against the Mountaineers, they are only scoring 62.6 ppg. Staten leads the team in scoring with 15.8 ppg, adding in a team-best 47 assists to his resume. Jonathan Holton checks in at 11.5 ppg, and Williams adds in 10.7 ppg. Holton (7.5 rpg) and Williams (7.2 rpg) are ranked one-two on the team in rebounding this season for the Mountaineers.