SAN DIEGO — Jon Elmore received the star treatment from Press Virginia, and at times it made Marshall’s star point guard vanish.
Reviving the defensive game plan it used versus Oklahoma’s Trae Young in the regular season, West Virginia emphasized denying the ball to Elmore. For long stretches that left the playmaking to his teammates, who couldn’t summon up enough of a counterpunch to keep the Herd competitive in a 94-71 loss.
Held to three points in the first half, Elmore finished with 15 — finally getting loose for open shots only after West Virginia built a 20-point lead.