West Virginia (16-12, 7-8) lost 91-84 to Oklahoma State in an offensive thriller that went into overtime. With the loss, WVU’s tournament chances are hanging on by a thread.
WVU’s stars came to play as Treysen Eaglestaff and Honor Huff combined for 38 points. However, it just wasn’t enough, as the No. 2 Big 12 defense let up a season-high 91 points. Read more: WVU’s tournament chances dwindle in 91-84 OT loss to Oklahoma St.
First half
The Mountaineers won the opening tip, and Jasper Floyd quickly scored the first three points of the night after draining a three-pointer. Eaglestaff matched him with a three of his own on WVU’s next possession.
Anthony Roy made the first three points of the game for the Cowboys after hitting all three of his free throws. Ryasn Crotty tied it up with his own triple of the next possession. Christian Coleman and Eaglestaff hit back-to-back shots in the paint with just a little over 16 minutes to go.
Before the media timeout could ensue, both teams caught fire by combining for 13 points. Oklahoma State got the better of the two as they went up 15-14 going into the first media timeout of the half.
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The Cowboys continued to add to the scoreboard with a layup from Parsa Fallah and a long mid-range shot from Vyctorius Miller. The 12-minute media timeout followed with WVU down five.
After Miller made his free throw out of the break, Huff got WVU rolling again with a long triple. Harlan Obioha quickly followed with a layup.
Huff connected on another triple after an offensive rebound from Chance Moore to give WVU a 22-20 lead. Jaylen Curry changed that almost immediately after hitting his own three on the other end.
The Cowboys heat up
Kanye Clary added two more free throws to extend the lead. Moore and Andrija Vukovic both connected on layups to keep the lead at three in favor of the Cowboys.
Vukovic hit back-to-back shots after that, but Obioha managed to break up the threat with another layup. However, Vukovic connected on another immediately after.
WVU stormed back with a three from Huff and a dunk from LKorient that forced a timeout from Oklahoma State.
Both teams started to heat up as they matched each other shot for shot. In the closing minutes, it was the home team that started to pull away.
Curry closed out the half with a deep three-pointer to give the Cowboys a 46-33 lead going into halftime.
Second half
Coleman opened the second half with one of his two early free throws. Floyd connected on a layup for WVU after the Cowboys missed a three-pointer off an offensive rebound from the missed free throw.
Vukovic hit both of his free throws after over a minute without a point from either team. Obioha answered right away with a dunk. Huff drained a triple to bring WVU’s deficit down to single digits after Vukovic missed a tip-in from point-blank range.
Both squads began exchanging threes after that, with Miller answering with one of his own after Huff’s. Eagelstaff returned the favor on the other end right before the 16-minute media timeout.
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Eaglestaff stayed hot with a layup after the stoppage. Colman managed to respond with a dunk to put the Cowboys’ lead up to nine. Huff quickly changed that with a deep three after a steal from Eaglestaff.
Thomas connected on a free throw, and Moore followed with back-to-back makes near the rim. WVU went into the second media timeout down just one.
Out of the break, Thomas converted on a putback to give the Mountaineers their first lead of the half. Curry managed to connect on a layup to break Oklahoma State’s four-minute field goal drought. Eaglestaff took the lead right back with another three-pointer.
Constant back and forth
Clary scored five straight points to force a West Virginia timeout at the 8:19 mark. Lorient connected on a dunk and a layup, but Royhit a layup of his own to keep Oklahoma State in the lead. The Cowboys jumped out to a five-point lead after Vukovic hit two free throws and Curry scored on a coast-to-coast layup.
Lorient and Huff combined for five straight points of their own to erase the Cowboys’ lead again. Clary bounced back with a three, but Lorient and Eaglestaff both scored on shots in the paint. The lead kept flipping as Fallah took it right back for Oklahoma State with a three-pointer.
Clary matched his teammate with another three to force WVU to call a timeout with 2:56 left, down five.
After the timeout, Moore made one of his free throws and a tip-in shortly after to bring WVU’s deficit to just two just under the closing minute.
Moore than tied it up with another layup with just 19 seconds left. The Cowboys weren’t able to close it out in regulation after Clary’s half-court prayer just barely missed.
Overtime
The Cowboys won the overtime tip and went up three quick after Roy converted on an and-one opportunity. After that, both teams couldn’t buy a bucket until Fallah made one of his two free throw attempts at the 2:44 mark.
West Virginia wasn’t able to answer, instead turning the ball over and allowing Curry to hit a corner three. That forced WVU to call its final timeout of the night down 84-77.
Despite getting a good look at the basket, Moore was fouled and only converted one of his free throws out of the timeout. Huff tried to sneak a bounce pass that looked to be intended for Moore, but Clary stole it.
He missed both free throws, but after Fallah grabbed the offensive rebound, he was fouled and managed to make one of his. Huff bounced back and made both of his free throws on the other end, but WVU was still down five with just 33 seconds left.
After Floyd made a layup, Curry sank both of his attempts from the charity stripe. Lorient threw down a dunk with 10 seconds left to bring WVU down five.
The Cowboys called a timeout after that, and Fallah quickly closed out the game in fashion with a dunk.
Top performers
WVU: Chance Moore- 14 points to go with a team-high 10 rebounds. Once again, he was the most active on both ends, especially later in the game.
OK State: Kanye Clary- second on the team with 17 points. Also had a team-high six assists.
OK State: Jaylen Curry- led bench scoring with 15 points on a near-perfect 5-of-6 from the field.
What’s next
West Virginia will now turn its attention to No. 19 BYU. The Mountaineers will take on the Cougars in Morgantown on February 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
WVU will have a prime opportunity to strengthen its NCAA Tournament odds when future NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa and the Cougars come to town.
