MORGANTOWN — Erik Stevenson’s spot on the WVU men’s basketball roster is on thin ice, according to Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins.
For a second-consecutive game, Stevenson — WVU’s leading scorer at 14.1 points per game — was whistled for a technical foul and eventually fouled out.
The Mountaineers (10-4, 0-2 Big 12) lost both games on the road against Kansas State and Oklahoma State, and have lost 11-consecutive conference road games dating back to last season.
“We’ve got some guys — I know one for sure — the next time it happens, he will no longer be a Mountaineer,” Huggins said, referring to Stevenson, after Monday’s 67-60 loss against the Cowboys. “We’re not doing that.”
Stevenson’s technical foul against the Cowboys came right after he had nailed a third-consecutive 3-pointer to give WVU a 53-51 lead with 7:19 remaining in the second half.
After making the shot, Stevenson was backpedaling to the other side of the court and possibly made some type of hand gesture toward former Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart, who was sitting courtside.
That was the explanation Huggins said he received from the referees.
Stevenson fouled out of the game less than two minutes later on an offensive foul and Oklahoma State outscored WVU, 13-5, to seal the victory.
Against Kansas State, Stevenson picked up a technical foul early in the second half when he fouled Markquis Nowell, who landed hard on the floor under the basket.
It’s not clear why Stevenson was called for a technical on the play, but he did immediately go over to Nowell and grabbed his arm to try and help him up without actually helping him up.
WVU led that game by 11 points at the time, but ended up losing in overtime. Stevenson fouled out of that game with 1:25 remaining in regulation.
Huggins referred to both moments as “look-at-me” plays, rather than Stevenson worrying more about the game and his team.
“He hurts our team when he does that,” Huggins said. “You don’t have that right. I don’t care who you are, what you are or who you think you are, you don’t have that right to hurt your team and hurt your teammates.
“For what? Look at me, look at me? Who cares about you? Do what you’re supposed to do.”
Stevenson is a self-admitted talker on the court and is often seen talking with referees after disagreeing with a call.
In the postgame press conference, one reporter referred to Stevenson as having a fiery personality.
Huggins wasn’t buying that.
“Kenyon Martin was a fiery guy,” Huggins shot back. “Kenyon Martin didn’t do stupid things to get technicals and hurt his team. Pete Micheal was a fiery guy. I’ve had a lot of fiery guys, but I haven’t had any hurt their teammates. That’s not right.”
The Mountaineers, ranked No. 24 in the country last week, are now trying to climb out of the Big 12’s cellar.
They face No. 3 Kansas on Saturday. The Jayhawks have won the last three meetings by an average of 21 points per game and have won eight of their last nine games against WVU.
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