Miles McBride, Taz Sherman help No. 17 WVU top No. 23 Kansas

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Miles McBride scored a career-high 29 points, Taz Sherman had a career-best 25 and No. 17 West Virginia beat No. 23 Kansas, 91-79, on Saturday.

The Mountaineers (13-5, 6-3 Big 12) never trailed and got off to a good start in a challenging stretch where they will play six straight ranked opponents.

Kansas (12-7, 6-5) lost its fifth straight road game. The Jayhawks couldn’t rely on a barrage of 3-pointers as they did in beating West Virginia at home Dec. 22, as Kansas went 7 of 20 from long distance Saturday.

McBride also had seven rebounds and eight assists. Derek Culver had 19 points and nine rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season.

Trailing by 10 at halftime, Kansas forced several turnovers to tie it. But McBride and Sherman were dominant, combining to score 33 points in the second half while shooting 10 of 15.

McBride broke out of a mini-slump that saw him held to nine points in the previous two games. The sophomore hit a 3-pointer with 14 minutes, 15 seconds left to put West Virginia ahead to stay.

Emmitt Matthews made a 3-pointer, and Sherman followed with a three-point play to put West Virginia ahead 84-71 with 2:30 left. The Mountaineers made five of their last seven shots.

Marcus Garrett led the Jayhawks with 18 points. David McCormack added 17 points and nine rebounds, and Jalen Wilson had 16 points and 14 rebounds.

The Mountaineers made 50% (32 of 64) of their field goals. They also forced 18 turnovers.

Every time coach Bob Huggins beats Kansas, he gets a $25,000 contract bonus he donates to cancer research in his late mother’s name.

West Virginia plays at No. 13 Texas Tech on Tuesday. The Mountaineers beat the Red Raiders, 88-87, in Morgantown on Jan. 25.