West Virginia missed 18 free throws, turned the ball over 20 times, yet still had an opportunity to win their Big 12 opener on the road against Kansas State.
A new life was breathed into the Mountaineers as Kedrian Johnson hit a three-pointer as time expired at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell would command the final five minutes, scoring seven points and dishing out three assists in overtime alone as Kansas State beat West Virginia 82-76 to begin conference play.
West Virginia stormed out to an early lead on Saturday night in Manhattan, Kansas. The Mountaineers led 9-1 and forced an early Kansas State timeout. West Virginia would lead by as many as 14 in the first half, but the Mountaineers would then go cold from the floor as Kansas State fought their way back.
West Virginia made only two field goals from the 12:21 mark of the first half until the 3:50 mark of the first half. Kansas State would use that stretch to keep pace with the Mountaineers, trailing by five with 4:46 to play in the first.
A late flurry for West Virginia would send the Mountaineers into halftime with a 32-21 lead, but it would not last long for Bob Huggins’ team.
Nowell would score Kansas State’s first five points of the half, cutting West Virginia’s lead to seven. Nowell would eventually tie the game up as Kansas State went on a 7-0 run and took their first lead of the game at 44-42, with 12:49 to play.
Minutes later, Kansas State would take an eight-point advantage over West Virginia with 10:21 to play. The Mountaineers would answer going on an 8-0 run over the next 4:42 to tie the game back at 52-52.
Down the stretch, things would go back-and-forth. As West Virginai came up empty on their possession, Kansas State made two free throws to lead by three.
The Mountaineers would attempt a three-pointer from Tre Mitchell, before Emmitt Matthews leaped to keep the ball in play, finding Johnson who knocked in the game-tying three-pointer for West Virginia to send the game to overtime, tied at 66-66.
The Wildcats scored the first six points of overtime, and the Mountaineers never made a dent. West Virginia would never get within four points as the Wildcats would close the door with Nowell scoring the final seven points of the game for Kansas State.
Nowell finished the night with 23 points and 10 assists.
West Virginia went 4 for 18 from three-point range, while Kansas State 3 for 16.
Mitchell had a team-high 16 points for West Virginia and added 13 boards. Mohamed Wague also had a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Foul Trouble Plagues WVU
West Virginia had dudes in foul trouble all night, none were more impactful than Erik Stevenson. Stevenson picked up his fourth foul 25 seconds into the second half and played five minutes combined in the second half and overtime. The Mountaineers had Joe Toussaint, Kedrian Johnson foul out along with Stevenson and Wague.
Free Throws
The Mountaineers missed 18 free throws. West Virginia got to the foul line six times in overtime and only converted on three attempts. The bigs of Wague and Jimmy Bell went a combined 6 for 18 from the free throw line.
