MORGANTOWN — Taz Sherman became the 55th member of the 1,000-point club at West Virginia on Monday night.
Sherman needed 17 points and he reached exactly that with 2:11 remaining in the first half with a deep 3-pointer, in the Mountaineers’ 77-67 loss against TCU.
The senior guard from just outside of Houston, had family in attendance at the game and he finished with 23 points to give him 1,006 for his career.
“I knew I was close, but that’s not really on my mind,” Sherman said. “What’s on my mind is winning. I don’t care if I was close to 1,000 or 2,000, we just need to win.”
With WVU trailing 40-30 with 4:59 left in the first half, Sherman got scorching hot and scored 10 of the Mountaineers last 12 points in the first half.
It came with a tough drive to the basket, as well as hitting a jumper on an inbounds play, before knocking down two 3-pointers that pulled WVU to within 43-42 at the half.
Nothing from McNeil
WVU senior guard Sean McNeil finished 0 for 5 shooting, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range and he did not score.
It’s the first time since Jan. 29, 2020 — against Texas Tech — that McNeil was held scoreless in a game.
“He hasn’t shot it well in practice of late,” WVU head coach Bob Huggins said. “You go through those spells where you don’t shoot it very well. I think a lot of it has gotten in his head. We try not to talk to him about it very much.”
Battle of the boards
TCU came into the game as the No. 1 team in the Big 12 in rebounding, as well as offensive rebounding.
The Horned Frogs finished with a 42-24 advantage on the glass, with Emanuel Miller grabbing eight for the Horned Frogs.
TCU played the game without forward Eddie Lampkin, who injured his right knee against Baylor last Saturday.
Lampkin, a 6-foot-11 sophomore is the 10th leading rebounder in the Big 12, but the Horned Frogs were still able to dominate on the glass without him.
WVU’s leading rebounder was Pauly Paulicap with six.
“I don’t ever remember getting out-rebounded 42-24, ever,” Huggins said. “Not at Walsh College. Not at Akron. Not at Kansas State. I don’t ever remember getting beat that bad.”
News and notes
Former WVU standout Jevon Carter was released by Brooklyn on Monday, after the Nets signed veteran guard Goran Dragic.
Carter came to the Nets this season after a trade with the Phoenix Suns during the 2021 NBA Draft.
Carter played in 46 games with one start for Brooklyn this season. He averaged 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 33.3% from the field.
He signed a three-year guaranteed contract in 2020 while with the Suns. If Carter clears waivers and isn’t signed by another team, Brooklyn will be on the hook to pay him his remaining salary this season, as well as an additional $3.9 million for next season.
WVU freshman Jamel King scored the first points of his college career with a 3-pointer with 2:26 remaining in the game.
Sherman’s big night saw him go 10 of 19 from the field, but he also committed a game-high five turnovers.
TWEET @bigjax3211
