Bridges leads No. 6 West Virginia past TCU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Redshirt freshman Jalen Bridges set seasons highs with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 6 West Virginia to a 76-67 victory over TCU on Thursday night.

The Mountaineers (18-7, 11-5 Big 12) bounced back from an overtime loss to No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday, sweeping the regular-season series from TCU.

Derek Culver, who had 18 points and 14 rebounds in last week's win over the Horned Frogs, scored 17 points Thursday after being held without a field goal against Baylor.

Sean McNeil added 14 points for the Mountaineers.

Jaedon LeDee scored a season-high 18 points for the Horned Frogs (12-12, 5-10). Kevin Samuel and Mike Miles had 12 points apiece. Leading scorer RJ Nembhard fouled out with five points, ending his streak of 20 straight games in double figures.

West Virginia built a 16-point lead in the first half and coasted down the stretch.

LeDee scored nine points over a four-minute stretch, Nembhard and Miles hit 3-pointers, and Taryn Todd’s driving layup pulled TCU within 53-46 with 7:36 remaining. But the Horned Frogs got no closer.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia: The Mountaineers had lost three of their previous four games at home. They can finish in second place in the conference, just ahead of No. 13 Kansas, with a win in the regular-season finale Saturday.

TCU: The Horned Frogs couldn't overcome a terrible start. TCU went more than nine minutes between field goals in the first half, shot 18% (4 of 22) from the floor in the first half and 38% for the game. They went 1-2 in three road games over six days.

ALMOST TO 900

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins earned his 899th career win, just behind North Carolina’s Roy Williams at 900. Bob Knight is next on the list at 902 career victories.

UP NEXT

TCU hosts No. 15 Texas on Sunday.

West Virginia hosts No. 17 Oklahoma State on Saturday.

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