No. 14 West Virginia misses late opportunities, falls to No. 12 Oklahoma in double overtime

West Virginia’s three-game win streak came to an end this afternoon after a 50-minute, double overtime thriller between the Mountaineers and the twelfth ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

After being holding him just two points in the last meeting in Norman, the Sooners simply did not have an answer for Derek Culver in this game. Culver accounted for eight points in the first four minutes of the game, giving the Mountaineers a 12-10 lead with 14 minutes to go. The Mountaineers would grow their lead to six points, but the Sooners responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game up at 18-18 with 7:30 remaining in the first half.

The two teams traded blows as the lead changed hands five times in a four minute span, but a steal by the Mountaineers and a half-court runner from Deuce McBride would tie the game at 31-31 at the half.

Oklahoma controlled the lead throughout the entirety of the second half and extended their lead to nine points with just 6:35 left in regulation, before a trio of threes from Sean McNeil would erase the lead and tie the game at 68-68 with 3:23 remaining.

West Virginia would take a two point lead with free throws from McBride, but Oklahoma’s Umoja Gibson tied the game back up at 72-72 with 21 seconds left.

McBride attempted two shots on the Mountaineers’ final possession in regulation but neither fell, sending West Virginia into overtime for the first time this season.

Jalen Bridges would score on a putback to even the first overtime period up at 79-79, sending the game into double OT.

Oklahoma took a four point lead in the first minute of the second session, but West Virginia responded with a 7-0 run from Culver to take a three point lead. Oklahoma would answer with a layup and a pair of made free throws to take the lead back with less than a minute to go.

The Mountaineers would get one more chance when Gabe Osabuohien forced a jump ball, giving West Virginia possession with 3.5 seconds left on the clock. McBride inbounded the ball but the Mountaineers missed two opportunities to take the lead, giving the Sooners the 91-90 win and the regular season sweep.

Culver led the Mountaineers with 29 points, 14 rebounds. McNeil finished with 21 points and Miles McBride added 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Jalen Bridges chipped in eight points, 11 rebounds, while Emmitt Matthews Jr. finished with six points.

West Virginia was slated to face second ranked Baylor twice next week but those games have been canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Bears program. The Mountaineers are currently scheduled return to action next Saturday, February 20th, when they travel to Austin to take on the No. 13 Texas Longhorns. That game will tip at 3:00PM ET and will be broadcast on ABC.