Mountaineers Blow Another Lead, Gonzaga Wins 80-76

WVU let another second half lead slip away, only to fight their way back into it with just over a minute to go, but eventually Gonzaga sealed the win with a foul shout with 4 seconds to go.

The Mountaineers had a chance to put this game away about midway through the second half when they pulled out to a 10 point lead, only to have Gonzaga's best shooter Kevin Pangos shoot the Zags back into the game and eventually an 8 point lead with 2 minutes and change left on the clock. Cold shooting turned hot again and WVU was able to cut it back to 2, but it wasn't enough.

Questionable officiating is what most WVU fans will be talking about after this one. The Mountaineers were able to get Gonzaga center Sam Dower into foul trouble for most of the game but somehow, the largest man on the court only had one foul called on him all night. All told there were three players who fouled out (Stockton for GU plus Henderson and Dibo for WVU).

Eron Harris led all scorers with 23. WVU also had Terry Henderson with 15 and Juwan Staten with 17 as the only other Mountaineers in double figures. Gonzaga had four players in double figures: Dower, Karnowski, Pangos and Bell.

WVU returns to action on Saturday in Charleston against Marshall.