Edwards returns, but WVU can’t hold on late in loss to Oklahoma State

Even as Jesse Edwards returns for West Virginia, it wasn’t enough as Oklahoma State held on late to beat the Mountaineers, 70-66.

The game was back and forth in the beginning, with each team shooting well in the first couple of minutes.

After a Pat Suemnick foul with 13:50 remaining in the first half, West Virginia center Jesse Edwards made his return, seeing his first game action since fracturing his wrist in a loss to UMass on Dec. 16, 2023.

With under 10 minutes in the first half, the Mountaineers would go on a 13-0 run to go up 27-21 with 5:28 remaining before heading into the locker room.

Ending the first half, West Virginia had a scoring drought in the last 3:15, helping Oklahoma State close the gap 33-32 in a WVU advantage.

The Mountaineers would shoot 12-25 from the field (48%) and 4-9 (44.4%) from three in the first half.

While the Cowboys shot 12-27 (44.4%) and 4-15 (26.7%) from three.

West Virginia scored 10 points off of eight OSU turnovers in the first 20.

Starting the second half, Kerr Kriisa would hit on both of his three-point attempts, putting him at 4-4 from the arc in the game with just under 18 minutes to go.

Oklahoma State would stay afloat however, going up 40-39 before the first media timeout of the second half.

The Cowboys would stay on a 7-0 run before a Noah Farrakhan jumper making the score 43-41 with 13:54 to go.

West Virginia would make a 6-0 run to regain the lead, 47-46 at the second media timeout of the half.

The Cowboys’ Brandon Garrison would throw one down ending a 9-0 Mountaineer run and a scoring drought lasting over four-and-a-half minutes for OSU, making the score 50-48 WVU.

Kriisa would continue his success from three making two more, before missing his first attempt from outside.

With just over four minutes left in the game, Oklahoma State’s John-Michael Wright connected on a three to draw the Cowboys closer, making the score 61-59 and causing West Virginia to call a timeout to regroup.

With under a minute and a half to go, Garrison would hit on both of his free throws to tie the game at 64.

Akok Akok would head to the line with 1:12 left, hitting on both of his attempts putting WVU up by two 66-64.

Then, Javon Small would hit on a three to put OSU up by one with under a minute to go, 67-66.

Kriisa would foul out with 0:26 remaining, sending Garrison back to the line making them both, putting the Cowboys up 69-66.

In the end, Oklahoma State would hold onto their lead and come out victorious as West Virginia only made one field goal in the last five minutes of the game.

Before fouling out, Kriisa had a season-high 21 points, shooting 6-8 from three.

In his return, Edwards had four points, shooting 1-3 from the field, with four rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes.

RaeQuan Battle struggled in his second-straight game as he only had two points shooting 1-6.

Garrison was the Cowboys’ leading scorer with 20 points, shooting 6-8 from the field, 8-10 from the line, with five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

WVU is yet to win a game away from Morgantown, they are now 0-8 on the road and at neutral sites.

They will host Cincinnati on Wednesday in their next contest looking to bounceback, after dropping two in a row.