Mountaineers Gear Up for Fierce Showdown with Cougars at Fertitta Center

As the West Virginia Mountaineers prepare to face off against the Houston Cougars at the Fertitta Center, fans are eager for what promises to be a riveting encounter. The upcoming game, scheduled for January 6th, will test the mettle of WVU following their recent performances.

The Mountaineers have shown a mixed bag of results in their past games. On December 31st against Ohio State Buckeyes, they put up a valiant effort but fell short in overtime with a score of 75-78. Despite this setback, there were positive takeaways; WVU demonstrated resilience and an ability to score under pressure with 10 points in overtime and an impressive total rebound count of 47.

In contrast, on December 23rd against Toledo Rockets at home, WVU showcased their offensive prowess by securing a commanding victory with a scoreline of 91-81. Their shooting was particularly effective that day; they boasted a field goal percentage of 52 and excelled from the free-throw line with an accuracy rate of 79 percent.

However, it's worth noting that just two days prior on December 21st versus Radford Highlanders, WVU had struggled despite playing at home. They narrowly lost by one point (65-66), which highlighted some concerns about consistency in tight games.

Looking ahead to the clash with HOU, it's clear that if WVU can channel their performance from the Toledo game rather than those closer contests like against Radford or Ohio State Buckeyes – they stand a good chance of coming out on top. The key will be maintaining high shooting percentages while tightening up defensively to avoid giving away easy points.

Houston Cougars are no pushovers and will demand top-tier play from WVU across all fronts. With both teams having strong rebounding stats – each pulling down 47 rebounds in their last respective games – controlling the boards will be crucial for establishing dominance.

WVU fans should expect an intense battle where every possession counts and where execution under pressure could very well decide the outcome. It's these types of games that can define seasons and showcase true grit.

Mark your calendars for January 6th at 2:00 PM when West Virginia takes on Houston at Fertitta Center in Texas. Fans won't want to miss this showdown and can catch all the action live on ESPN+ over the internet.