An already-tall task for WVU basketball got even tougher with the latest injury news for the program.
The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to square off against No. 3 Iowa State tonight on the road to open in Big 12 play. And on top of having to face one of the best teams in the nation, WVU will now have to do it without one of their top players.
On the most recent player availability report, which is a new requirement ahead of conference games this season which will see teams forced to announce their injuries, the Mountaineers had starting forward Brenen Lorient listed as out for the game against the Cyclones.
Lorient joined the Mountaineers as a transfer this season, following head coach Ross Hodge from North Texas. He has started all 13 games for the Mountaineers this season, and is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game That is good enough to place him third on the team in both scoring and rebounding.
Also listed as out on the first report is Abraham Oyeadier, who has only made one appearance and played for two minutes for the Mountaineers this season. Forward Chance Moore, who missed the first five games of the season following an NCAA eligibility ruling but has made seven appearances this season for West Virginia, is listed as probable on the report. Moore leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game, and is second on the team with 12.3 points per game.
The only player listed as out for the Cyclones is Mason Williams, who hasn't made an appearance for Iowa State this season.