Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Late Night Madness on October 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Men's Basketball
vs Late Night Madness
6:30 PM
Providence College Athletics
Wednesday, January 30
Morgantown, W.Va.
7:00 PM ET
Providence College
81
at
89
West Virginia
Men's Basketball Falls To West Virginia, 89-81
1/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 30, 2002
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia played Wednesday night like a team with nothing to lose.
The Mountaineers had lost nine consecutive games, tying a school record set during the 1936-37 season, and were without head coach Gale Catlett, who took a leave of absence to fight an undisclosed infection.
Coached by Catlett's nephew, fifth-year assistant Drew Catlett, the Mountaineers (8-11, 1-6 Big East) pieced together their best all-around game in more than a month to defeat Providence 89-81.
Chris Moss scored 26 points and Chaz Briggs added 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead West Virginia.
"The players are excited, but we are only 1-6," Drew Catlett said. "It's good to break the streak, but there is a lot left to do. We have to win every game we can."
"This is probably more emotional for me because I am related to (Gale) and I love him so much. Most of what I learned about basketball I know from him."
The student section at the Coliseum chanted "Drew Catlett" at the end of the game as the players came off the floor and were hugged from the coach.
"He was pretty wound up," Briggs said of Catlett. "I think he gave us energy. Usually when we make mistakes, we look at Gale. Tonight we just played."
West Virginia led most of the first half and answered every Providence run.
Providence (12-10, 3-5 Big East) went on an 8-2 run to take its first lead, 31-30, with 6:32 left in the first half. Abdul Mills hit the third of a game-high five 3-pointers, and Ryan Gomes added 3.
West Virginia (8-11, 1-6) answered Providence's run with a 9-3 run of its own to go ahead 39-34. The Mountaineers led 48-43 at halftime
Mills and Gomes finished with 17 points each. Point guard John Linehan scored 18 to lead the Friars.
"I don't believe in catching them at a good or bad time," Providence head coach Tim Welsh said. "They got life early, and I am sure they played for their coach. That's the 'X' factor, playing for him. They played their heart out."
"I do not like preparing for their teams and it is because of Gale," Welsh said. "They are very well coached. I wish him the best. He is a class coach, a very well-respected coach among peers. I hope they get him back soon."
West Virginia point guard Jonathan Hargett, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago, played 24 minutes and scored 17 points.
Providence scored 15 of the first 24 points in the second half to reclaim the lead, then went on a 6-0 run to extend its lead to 71-64. It was the Friars' biggest lead of the game and their last.
West Virginia answered with a 13-1 run that included 10 consecutive points to reclaim the lead, 77-72. Moss started the run by hitting two free throws, and the Mountaineers applied full court pressure that led to a pair of transition baskets by Tyrone Sally. Briggs added 3 points.
The Mountaineers then outscored Provide 35-25 as they hit 19 of 26 free throws.
Providence, which was outrebounded 41-31, managed just 10 points in the final eight minutes as WVU shifted between 2-3 zone and man defenses.
"We stressed playing relaxed," said Lionel Armstead, who scored 14 points for West Virginia. "This is how we felt early in the year, when we were getting some wins."
West Virginia backup point guard Jay Hewitt did not play. He severely sprained an ankle in practice and will be out two weeks.
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