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The West Virginia Mountaineers (18-6, 7-4 Big 12) have fought their way back into the Big 12 title picture after handing the Oklahoma Sooners (16-7, 6-5 Big 12) their first loss at home since February 8, 2017 - which was also at the hands of the Mountaineers. Final score, 75-73.
Things couldn’t have gone any better for the Mountaineers in the first half, as they took a 50-40 lead into the locker room. The second half, however, was a bit of a different story. West Virginia shot 27% from the floor in the second half, and had to battle to hang onto the lead.
Perhaps the biggest news of the game was ESPN’s Breaking News Alert that Trae Young, who now has his own permanent statline banner on ESPN broadcasts, was suffering from some sort of illness and just wasn’t himself tonight. Young fought the sniffles to finish with 32 points and only one assist.
Lamont West led the Mountaineers with 17 points, 15 of which came of 5 consecutive threes in the first half. Sagaba Konate finished with a double-double of 14 points, 11 rebounds. Esa Ahmad also finished with 14 points, and added 5 rebounds. Jevon Carter added 10 points and 8 assists.
West Virginia returns to action on Saturday when they host the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Morgantown. That game will tip off at Noon and will be televised on ESPN.