We Like Mike!

We Like Mike!

By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com January 21, 2006 PHOTO GALLERY | BOX SCORE | JAY'S INSTANT ANALYSIS MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – There’s a guy named Mike Gansey playing college basketball for West Virginia University and if you haven’t heard of him, then it’s about time you came out of your cave. West Virginia's Mike Gansey drives for two of his game-high 24 points to help the Mountainers to a 60-56 victory over UCLA Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion. AP photo No. 18-rated UCLA certainly found out about him Saturday afternoon. Gansey’s 24 points carried the No. 12-rated Mountaineers to a 60-56 victory over the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. "I loved the way we responded," said West Virginia coach John Beilein. "When you a win a game like we did at Oklahoma where we just had everything clicking and they had a bad day -- but we didn't have to battle back with situations like we had to deal with today. "I loved the idea that they came back and we didn't give in." Gansey showed his all-around game, driving to the basket for easy lay ups, coming off picks to hit contested 3s and dumping the ball underneath to wide open cutters for easy baskets. But it was his defense that won the game for WVU. Gansey had four steals including the biggest one of the game with 2.5 seconds left when he picked the pocket of UCLA guard Jordan Farmar with West Virginia leading by only three, 59-56. The senior was fouled by Farmar on the play and coolly stepped to the line to make one of two to give the Mountaineers enough cushion to pull off another historic road victory. "Our defense wound up winning the game for us," Beilein said. West Virginia (14-3) took control of the game early in the first half and led by as many as 20, 47-27, on a Kevin Pittsnogle lay in with 15:20 left in the second half. But the Mountaineers went ice cold, missing all of their field goal attempts during a 10-minute span that allowed the Bruins to go on an 18-5 run and get back into the game. "We just missed some shots," Beilein said of UCLA's big second-half run. "Patrick (Beilein) came off the bench and shot the ball well in the first half and they just really guarded us (in the second half). We had a couple of turnovers and I thought we pressed a couple of times." A pair of Farmar free throws cut West Virginia’s lead to four, 56-52, before Gansey ended West Virginia’s cold spell with a deep rainbow from well behind the 3-point arc to give the Mountaineers a seven-point, 59-52 lead with 4:47 left. WVU had two chances to build its lead but as it did in a one-point loss to Texas, was unable to make front end of 1-and-1 free throws. Joe Herber missed the first 1-and-1 with 2:51 left and J.D. Collins was unsuccessful on another try with 1:48 remaining. In both instances West Virginia was able to withstand good shot attempts by UCLA and secure rebounds. With 41 seconds remaining and seven seconds separating the shot and game clocks, UCLA coach Ben Howland opted to play defense instead of fouling. The strategy nearly worked when the Mountaineers were called on a shot-clock violation when Darris Nichols’ tip in was ruled just after the clock expired. That set up Gansey’s steal. "We had a foul to give and what he was trying to do was foul but he got the ball clean," Beilein said. After shooting 57 percent in the first half, West Virginia’s marksmanship was off considerably in the second half, finishing the game 22 of 49 for 44.9 percent. The Mountaineers were 6 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half and finished the game 7 of 18 for 38.9 percent. Gansey was nearly perfect, making 7 of his 8 shot attempts including 3 of 3 from 3-point range. He was also 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Three West Virginia players finished with 8: Pittsnogle, Patrick Beilein and Frank Young. Guard J.D. Collins became the first WVU player to foul out this season in the game. "Darris Nichols had to play a lot of minutes at the end and he almost had a Lorenzo Charles type of lay up when the clock went out," Beilein said. "Our guys will compete and play hard." Farmar led the Bruins (15-4) with 22 on 7 of 15 shooting. Darren Collison and Ryan Hollins added 11 each. UCLA had a tough time figuring out West Virginia’s switching defenses converting only 19 of 53 for 35.8 percent. The Bruins were 5 of 24 from 3 for 20.8 percent. It was West Virginia’s first trip to UCLA since 1968 when the No. 1-ranked Bruins behind All-American Lew Alcindor beat the Mountaineers, 95-56. WVU, led by its All-American Jerry West, defeated UCLA 87-73 in 1959. West, the General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, was at the game Saturday along with legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. "This is a great trip for us," said Beilein. "We've had a few good wins and this ranks right up there with some of the other ones." Beilein has now won 13 times against nationally ranked teams in his four-plus seasons at West Virginia. "This had kind of a March feel to it and I guess this is what these so-to-speak made-for-TV games are about," Beilein said. West Virginia’s victory at UCLA completed a banner day for Big East basketball on Saturday. Earlier this afternoon, Georgetown knocked off No. 1-ranked Duke in Washington, D.C. Saturday's win against UCLA was West Virginia's 12th in a row. "I know our fans have got to be pleased with the team but our thoughts and prayers go out to the familes of the miners," Beilein said. "The team knows about it and we just keep praying for all those miners everywhere all year long." The Mountaineers will take the red-eye flight back to Morgantown later tonight. West Virginia remains outside of league play facing Marshall on Wednesday night in the Toyota Capital Classic in Charleston. There are no tickets remaining for the game.