Valparaiso comes up short in road loss against W. Virginia
Valparaiso’s Matt Lottich was encouraged.
But he didn’t sound like a coach thrilled with the notion of a moral victory Saturday in the Crusaders’ 88-76 loss at West Virginia .
“Our energy was a lot better than the last time we played,” Lottich said of Wednesday against Southern Illinois Edwardsville. “We competed hard. But the message to the guys in the locker room, it’s one where we have to try to find ways to win games like this.”
Valparaiso (3-3) challenged West Virginia (3-2) for much of the game — a nonbracketed offshoot of the Myrtle Beach Invitational — before the Mountaineers pulled away down the stretch.
Derrik Smits led four players in double-figure scoring for the Crusaders with 20 points. The 7-foot-1 junior center added seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.
Ryan Fazekas had 15 points, Markus Golder 13 and Bakari Evelyn 10.
Deion Lavender contributed 10 assists, the first time a Valparaiso player has reached double digits in that category since 2007. He had zero turnovers against West Virginia’s traditionally tenacious defense, and also added five points and six rebounds.
Javon Freeman chipped in wtih nine points, the first time in six career games the freshman guard didn’t crack double figures.
The Crusaders showed signs of improved shooting, hitting 53.6 percent (30-for-56) against the Mountaineers, including 45 percent (9-for-20) from 3-point range.
Jaume Sorolla was in uniform for the first time this season, having been sidelined with an ankle injury. But the junior center still did not make his debut.
Lottich has been trying to take a big-picture approach.
“He ’s n o t e n t i re l y ready,” Lottich said of Sorolla. “He could’ve played, but I don’t want him to tweak it and to lose him for a more extended period of time.”
Esa Ahmad scored 30 points for West Virginia, shooting 12-for-15. Sagaba Konate had 26 points, including 24 in the second half, and 10 rebounds. The 6-8 junior forward shot 5-for-8 from 3-point range, including 5-for-7 in the second half. He entered the game 4-for-12 this season.
“He hadn’t been shooting a lot of threes — they put him back on the block last game and that’s where we thought he’d be,” Lottich said of Konate. “I was willing, and the staff was willing, to live with him taking threes.
“Unfortunately, he rose up and hit five in the second half. We had to pick our poison.”
The Crusaders trailed by nine points with fourplus minutes elapsed before Lavender’s 3-pointer gave them a 26-24 edge with six minutes left in the first half.
Freeman’s basket tied the score at 49-49, but Konate’s 3-pointer gave West Virginia the lead for good at 52-49 with 16:08 left.
“In the second half, we were hitting shots and scoring, but we couldn’t stop them,” Lottich said. “We’re close, but we’re not there yet. We’re going to continue to grind.”
Valparaiso remains on the road, traveling to play UNLV (4-1) in Wednesday’s Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge.
Lottich believes the Crusaders have the talent to win such games against the Rebels and Mountaineers.
“We executed very well in a tough environment,” Lottich said. “I was more happy with the fight, the effort and the togetherness. Our team took a positive step forward in that regard.”