Baylor Outlasts West Virginia in a Gritty Big 12 Battle, Snapping Mountaineers’ Home Streak
There’s no sugarcoating this one for West Virginia - the opportunity was there. Back-to-back home games against struggling Big 12 teams, including a Baylor squad that had been on the road for five straight days and was coming off a loss to Cincinnati. But when the game tightened, it was Baylor that found a way to pull it out, and West Virginia that let it slip.
Let’s start with the stretch that changed everything. Baylor went ice cold in the second half - 13 straight missed shots over a 6:46 span.
That kind of drought usually spells trouble, especially on the road. But the Bears managed to squeeze out two free throws and a bucket during that dry spell, and somehow, that 4-0 run actually extended their lead.
Meanwhile, West Virginia hit a wall. A 7:20 scoreless stretch that included five missed shots and five turnovers - that’s how games get away from you.
The Mountaineers finally broke the silence coming out of the under-4 media timeout, but Baylor responded instantly with a dagger three to push the lead to eight. That sequence pretty much sealed it.
It was a tough way to end what had been a dominant home run. West Virginia came into this one riding a 16-game home winning streak, including a perfect 13-0 mark in Morgantown this season.
That’s gone now. So is their shot at a clean sweep of the first half of Big 12 play.
They close the first leg at 14-8 overall and 5-4 in the conference. If they’re going to stay in the mix, they might need to match that 5-4 mark in the second half - and that’s assuming they can hold serve in upcoming home games against Texas Tech and BYU.
Coaching Chess Match: Drew vs. Hodge
This game also gave us a compelling sideline battle. Scott Drew, who hasn’t made it past the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament since winning a national title, still showed why he’s one of the most respected minds in the game.
On the other side, Ross Hodge continues to make his case as a rising star in the coaching world. This was a matchup filled with adjustments, timely timeouts, and strategic counters.
Drew gets the win - his eighth straight over WVU and fourth in a row in Morgantown - but Hodge had his moments. He called two timeouts in key spots and got baskets after both.
He even got a third score off another timeout, showing his ability to steady the ship when things started to wobble. Hodge’s team overcame two double-digit deficits and hung in there even when their top shooter couldn’t find his rhythm.
Drew, meanwhile, had his own counterpunch. Early in the second half, he called a timeout and drew up a play that led to a score.
But it was a WVU set that really stood out - a clever piece of deception that looked like it was designed for Honor Huff to come off a screen and fire from deep. Instead, Huff laid a back screen that completely disrupted Baylor’s defense, freeing up Brenen Lorient for a dunk.
That bucket, along with the one coming out of the under-4 timeout, kept WVU within striking distance - at least for a while.
What’s Next for WVU?
This one stings, no doubt. Lorient had his best scoring game in Big 12 play, and the Mountaineers had every reason to believe they could protect their home floor once again. But the game got away from them in the second half, and now they’re left looking up in the standings.
With the second half of the conference schedule looming, the path forward is clear: defend home court, steal a couple on the road, and hope this midseason stumble doesn’t come back to haunt them. The Big 12 doesn’t offer many breathers, and WVU just let one slip through their fingers.