Latest news with #Eilert
Reuters
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
West Virginia slips by Josh Eilert's Utah Utes
March 5 - Javon Small delivered 18 points and several key plays down the stretch as West Virginia topped its interim coach from last year, Josh Eilert, in a 71-69 victory over Utah on Tuesday in Salt Lake City. Amani Hansberry contributed 12 points and six rebounds as the Mountaineers (18-12, 9-10 Big 12) enhanced their chances of gaining an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament after opening the day in the No. 48 spot in the NET ratings. West Virginia got 12 points from Joseph Yesufu and 10 from Jonathan Powell, with each hitting a key 3-pointer in the final eight minutes. The Mountaineers also got the best of Eilert, who coached them to a 9-23 record last year after the departure of coach Bob Huggins. Eilert moved into an interim job again last week when Utah fired Craig Smith. The win also keeps West Virginia alive to finish in the top eight in the Big 12 and earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament next week. Gabe Madsen scored 23 points and Mike Sharavjamts added all 12 of his points in the second half for the Utes (16-14, 8-11). Ezra Ausar scored nine of his 11 points at the free throw line for Utah. West Virginia trailed by eight points in the second half before rallying. In the closing minutes, a seven-point run by the Mountaineers was decisive. Small drained an NBA-length 3-pointer and followed with an alley-oop feed to Eduardo Andre for a slam dunk that put the Mountaineers up for good, 63-58, with 2:52 left. Small also made a driving shot off glass with 37 seconds left that kept West Virginia in front, 68-64. In their final home game this season, the Utes got off to a blistering start. They made their first four 3-point attempts, including three by Madsen as Utah roared to a 19-7 lead. The Mountaineers answered with a 10-point run, capped by triples by Yesufu and Powell to make it 19-17. West Virginia made six straight shots late in the first half, including 3-pointers by Small and Hansberry, to take a 30-29 lead at the break. Early in the second half, 3-pointers by Jake Wahlin and Sharavjamts started and finished an 8-0 run that gave the Utes a 44-36 lead. The Mountaineers responded behind Hansberry, who muscled for a three-point play and added a triple that put them up 54-52 with 6:55 left.
Associated Press
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Utah runs away from Arizona State in 2nd half, earn first win under interim coach Eilert, 99-73
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ezra Ausar scored 25 points and Utah put up 58 points in the second half to pull away from Arizona State to earn its first win under interim coach Josh Eilert, 99-73 on Saturday. Eilert took over the program for the final three games of the regular season after the school fired Craig Smith on Monday. It's the second straight season Eilert finishes the year as interim coach. He was interim coach at West Virginia a year ago. Arizona State held a 43-41 halftime lead after freshman Joson Sanon hit 4 of 5 3-point attempts to score 20 points. Alston Mason scored at the basket to give the Sun Devils their final lead, 52-51 with more than 15 minutes left, but Ausar hit two free throws, Keanu Dawes scored at the basket and Gabe Madsen knocked down a 3 to put the Utes up by six. Sanon converted a three-point play with just under 12 minutes left to get ASU within five, 63-58, but it did not score again until Basheer Jihad hit two free throws with 6:44 left to make it 76-63. Utah (16-13, 8-10 Big 12) hit 10 of 25 from behind the arc while shooting 56.5% from the field. Ausar was 11 of 14 from the free-throw line and the Utes were a combined 19 of 27. Mike Sharavjamts hit 3 of 6 from deep and finished with 14 points and Michael Madsen added 13 points. Sanon finished the game hitting 11 of 20 from the field to lead Arizona State (13-16, 4-14) with a career-high 28 points. Jihad added 16 points and Mason contributed 13. Utah closes out the regular season at home against West Virginia on Tuesday and Saturday at No. 25 BYU. Arizona State plays at No. 22 Arizona Tuesday and hosts No. 10 Texas Tech Saturday. ___
