MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Javon Small scored 12 of his 27 points in the final two minutes to lead West Virginia to a 64-57 win over No. 2 Iowa State on Saturday night, ending the Cyclones’ national-best 12-game winning streak.
Amani Hansberry added 12 points for the Mountaineers (13-4, 4-2 Big 12), who beat a ranked team for the fourth time this season.
West Virginia fans stormed the court and joined the players in singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” on a day when the school celebrated the life of NBA great Jerry West, who died this past June at age 86.
“We got the win for Jerry,” Small said. “We threw the throwback jerseys on. Yeah, it was Jerry West Day.”
Curtis Jones scored 18 points to lead Iowa State (15-2, 5-1). Keshon Gilbert added 13 points and Josh Jefferson had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Tamin Lipsey gave Iowa State its last lead, 43-41, on a layup with 7:35 left. The Cyclones were limited to 14 points the rest of the game.
The Cyclones committed 14 turnovers, attempted just seven free throws and appeared to be outhustled for loose balls all over the court.
The Mountaineers, meanwhile, maintained a physical defensive intensity throughout the game and held the Cyclones to their lowest point total of the season and 28 points below their average.
Small was active throughout it all, and that was not lost on Mountaineers coach Darian DeVries in his postgame media availability.
“He’s the best guard in the country,” DeVries said. “He’s something special.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
