West Virginia Hosts Niagara for Season Opener

The Mountaineers face the Purple Eagles in Morgantown to kick off their 2026-27 basketball campaign.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Basketball

West Virginia Hosts Niagara for Season Opener

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West Virginia opens its basketball season at home against Niagara. The Mountaineers are aiming to secure an NCAA Tournament bid following their College Basketball Crown victory in Las Vegas last season.

Why it matters

Both programs are looking to overhaul offensive production after struggling last year. West Virginia ranked last in the Big 12, while Niagara finished the season with the 359th-ranked offense nationally.

West Virginia averaged 70.6 points per game last season, while Niagara recorded an 8-22 overall record and averaged 63.9 points per game.

The players

Finley Bizjack

He is a transfer guard for West Virginia who previously averaged 17.1 points per game.

Joson Sanon

He is a West Virginia player who recorded 11.9 points per game during the 2024-25 season.

Logan Woods

He is a new transfer joining the Niagara basketball program.

Tae Blackshear

He is a transfer athlete added to the Niagara roster for the current season.

The details

West Virginia added transfers including Finley Bizjack, who averaged 17.1 points per game last year, and Joson Sanon, who averaged 11.9 points during the 2024-25 season. Niagara bolstered its roster with transfers Logan Woods and Tae Blackshear, as well as international additions Fidel Rotta and Samuele Miccoli.

The 2015-16 season saw Niagara finish with a 7-25 record.
West Virginia earned its most recent NCAA Tournament bid in 2023.
Joson Sanon averaged 11.9 points per game throughout the 2024-25 season.
West Virginia hosts Niagara on October 26, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This game marks the first opportunity for West Virginia to prove it can sustain the momentum from its College Basketball Crown championship run. A strong showing is essential for the Mountaineers to improve their standing from a preseason tie for eighth in the Big 12.

West Virginia must improve its offensive efficiency after ranking last in the Big 12 last season to remain competitive for an NCAA Tournament bid. The performance of new transfers like Finley Bizjack and Joson Sanon will be critical to shifting the team's scoring output upward.

The takeaway

The Mountaineers are leaning on a fresh roster of transfers to replace last season's stagnant offensive production. Fans should watch for how quickly these new additions integrate into the starting rotation during the season's opening weeks.