R
E
C
O
R
D
ASSISTS OPPONENT
DATE
Steve Berger 16 Pitt Ron Williams 15 Davidson Levi Phillips 13 Virginia Tech Ricky Ray 13 Syracuse Jevon Carter 12 Fordham Juwan Staten 12 TCU Tim Lyles 12 Syracuse Bob Hummell 12 Richmond A WVU player had 11 assists 26 times.
12-9-89 3-4-67 2-16-74 2-17-64 12-23-2017 1-24-2015 1-13-2001 12-6-69
Single Game Steals PLAYER
STEALS OPPONENT
Drew Schifino Jevon Carter Mike Boyd Darryl Prue Ralph Holmes Elton Scott Damian Owens Ralph Holmes Harry Moore
11 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8
DATE
Arkansas-Monticello 12-1-2001 American 11-15-2017 UNC Charlotte 12-21-90 George Mason 11-29-86 South Carolina 12-22-52 Villanova 1-23-99 Georgia 12-20-97 Maryland 12-13-52 Washington & Lee 2-15-52
Single Game Blocked Shots PLAYER
BLOCKS OPPONENT
Sagaba Konate D’or Fischer D’or Fischer D’or Fischer Sagaba Konate Sagaba Konate John Flowers Joe Alexander D’or Fischer D’or Fischer Marcus Goree Marcus Goree
9 9 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
American Rhode Island Boston College James Madison Kentucky Baylor Oakland Prairie View A&M St. Bonaventure IUPUI Bowling Green Robert Morris
DATE 11-15-2017 3-19-2004 1-24-2004 11-24-2003 1-27-2018 1-9-2018 11-12-2010 11-18-2007 12-7-2004 12-17-2003 12-18-99 11-27-99
Levi Phillips Bob Hummell Mike Boyd Mike Boyd Bob Huggins Levi Phillips Ron Williams
TOS OPPONENT 12 11 10 10 10 10 10
Villanova New Mexico Kentucky UNC Charlotte Villanova Washington Davidson
DATE 2-2-74 12-30-69 11-20-91 12-21-90 3-4-77 12-27-73 3-4-67
Single Game Minutes Played PLAYER
MINS OPPONENT
Mark Catlett 55 Virginia Tech Wil Robinson 55 Virginia Tech Curtis Price 55 Virginia Tech Russel Todd 54 Virginia Tech Greg Jones 54 Virginia Tech Devin Ebanks 53 Pitt Ricky Robinson 53 Rhode Island Jermaine Haley 52 TCU Chase Harler 51 TCU Kevin Jones 51 Pitt Marsalis Basey 51 Rhode Island Darryl Bryant 50 Kansas State Darris Nichols 50 Louisville Pervires Greene 50 Rhode Island Greg Jones 50 Ohio State Warren Baker 50 Manhattan Jerome Anderson 50 Davidson Warren Baker 50 Davidson Ron Williams 50 Davidson
DATE 1-26-72 1-26-72 1-26-72 2-2-83 2-2-83 2-12-2010 2-24-94 2-26-2019 2-26-2019 2-12-2010 2-24-94 12-8-2011 3-8-2007 2-24-94 12-30-80 2-27-74 2-3-73 2-3-73 1-7-67
O
K
In the annals of West Virginia basketball, the uniform number that stands head-and-shoulders above all others is 44. In just seven seasons of action, that number produced five All-America awards, two Pro Hall of Fame inductions, three WVU Sports Hall of Fame members and these numbers: 4,096 points, 2,152 rebounds and 565 assists. The first player to wear 44 was Joe Stydahar in 1936. Known better for his exploits on the gridiron, Stydahar held his own on the basketball court, scoring 608 points in four seasons. He wore 44 during his final season of basketball, in which he only played three games. Stydahar was a football third-team All-American in 1935, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. The next player to wear 44 was and still is the most famous Mountaineer to ever don the Gold and Blue -- Jerry West. In three seasons from 1958-60 (freshmen were not allowed to play varsity ball), West put up numbers that have stood as Mountaineer records for more than 35 years. His 2,309 career points and 1,240 career rebounds are school records that may stand eternally. Since West’s career ended in 1960, no one has come closer than 450 points and 170 rebounds to his respective marks. In all, West holds 17 school records. He was an unanimous All-American in both 1959 and 1960 and was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 and the WVU Hall of Fame in 1991. WVU retired his No. 44 on Nov. 26, 2005.
ROD THORN
Single Game Turnovers PLAYER
O
JERRY WEST
Single Game Assists PLAYER
B
The third and final Mountaineer to wear 44 was Rod Thorn, among the best players in West Virginia history. Taking the reins from West, Thorn continued what is referred to as the “Golden Era” of Mountaineer basketball. From 1961-63, Thorn scored 1,785 points (No. 5 all-time), grabbed 912 rebounds (No. 7 all-time) and dished out 304 assists (No. 11 all-time). Thorn was an All-American in 1962 and 1963 and was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. WVU retired his No. 44 on Feb. 29, 2020.
WHO’S WORN 44? Years Player G Ast Avg Reb Avg Pts Avg 1936 Joe Stydahar 3 -- -- -- -- 2 0.7 1958-60 Jerry West 93 261 2.8 1,240 13.3 2,309 24.8 1961-63 Rod Thorn 82 304 3.7 912 11.1 1,785 21.8 Totals 178 565 3.2 2,152 12.1 4,096 23.0
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