By JOHN RABY
Jaysean Paige scored a career-high 34 points to lead No. 14 West Virginia to a 97-87 victory over No. 17 Iowa State on Monday night.
The Mountaineers (21-7, 10-5 Big 12) avoided their first three-game losing streak in two years and swept the regular-season series from the Cyclones (19-9, 8-7).
Tarik Phillip added a career-high 22 points for West Virginia while Devin Williams had 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Mountaineers let an 11-point first-half lead slip away early in the second half before Paige and Phillip carried them down the stretch.
Abdel Nader scored 23 points to lead six Iowa State players in double figures.
For the Mountaineers, it marked their highest-scoring output in the Big 12 this season.
Paige, who comes off the bench by design for West Virginia, made 12 of 21 shots and all nine free throw attempts. He eclipsed a 26-point performance last month against Kansas.
Phillip was no slouch, either, making 6 of 8 3-point attempts.
There were six lead changes after halftime. Phillip’s 3-pointer put the Mountaineers ahead to stay midway through the second half, and West Virginia turned up its signature pressure defense down the stretch to wear down the Cyclones, who used a six-player rotation.
Paige scored nine points over a span of 2:30 and Iowa State had no answer.
After a dunk by Jameel McKay brought Iowa State within 89-82 with 2:43 left, West Virginia scored six straight points to put it out of reach.
Matt Thomas and Georges Niang added 14 points, Monte Morris and Deonte Burton had 13 apiece and McKay scored 10 for the Cyclones
TIP-INS
Iowa State: The Cyclones shot 51 percent (31 of 61) from the field, the fifth straight game they have surpassed 50 percent. … Morris, who had 10 assists and no turnovers in the earlier meeting between the teams, had four turnovers and four assists Monday. … McKay returned to the lineup after sitting out Saturday’s game against TCU game for what the team said was a coach’s decision.
West Virginia: Guard Daxter Miles Jr. returned after missing two straight games with a strained right hamstring.
UP NEXT
Iowa State plays at Kansas State on Saturday.
West Virginia plays at Oklahoma State on Saturday.