West Virginia Survives Scare, Rallies Past Cincinnati Behind Huff’s Heroics
For a moment, it looked like the wheels were about to come off for West Virginia. Down 14 on the road, struggling to find any rhythm offensively, and staring down the possibility of an 0-2 week with Texas Tech coming into Morgantown next - it was a dangerous spot.
But in the Big 12, it’s all about stacking wins. Doesn’t matter how clean they are, or who they come against.
Just get them. And West Virginia got one that might not have been pretty, but it absolutely counts.
The Mountaineers' comeback win over Cincinnati wasn’t just about survival - it was about resilience. Sure, Cincinnati came in under .500 and reeling, but that doesn’t make road wins any less valuable in this league.
Especially not when you’re trying to stay in the upper half of the standings. West Virginia moves to 15-8 overall and 6-4 in Big 12 play, and now they’ve got momentum heading into a key home matchup against a 16-6 Texas Tech squad that’s just ahead of them in the standings.
DJ Thomas Delivers When It Matters
Let’s talk about DJ Thomas. Coming into the game, he hadn’t hit a three in over five games - 0-for-10 during that stretch.
But when the Mountaineers needed him most, he stepped up. Two big threes down the stretch, both coming at critical moments.
That’s the kind of clutch shooting that can flip a game - and maybe even a season - on its head. His confidence never wavered, and that’s saying something in a game that saw WVU miss plenty of free throws and fall into a deep early hole.
Enter: Honor Huff
Then there’s Honor Huff. If you’re looking for the turning point, it’s him.
With West Virginia down 37-23 and just over 16 minutes to play, Huff hadn’t scored. He was 0-for-3 from the field, 0-for-2 from deep, and hadn’t made much of an impact.
But that changed in a hurry.
He snapped WVU’s 0-for-10 drought from beyond the arc with a much-needed three. Then he added two more, followed by a three-point play that capped off a personal 11-point flurry in just over four minutes. That stretch sparked a 14-3 Mountaineers run that cut the deficit from 14 to just three - and completely flipped the momentum.
Even when he missed a deep three, Huff stayed engaged. Amir Jenkins pulled down the offensive board, and Huff turned it into a layup.
He had a chance to tie it with a free throw but missed - one of several WVU left at the line. Still, the damage was done.
The comeback was on.
Eaglestaff Breaks Through
Treysen Eaglestaff had been ice-cold all game - 0-for-6 from the field - until he buried a three with 10:11 left to give West Virginia its first lead of the game. That shot capped the rally and gave the Mountaineers the belief they needed to close things out. It was also symbolic: this wasn’t a game where everything clicked, but it was one where the right players made the right plays at the right time.
A Comeback Worth Noting
That 14-point deficit? It’s the largest West Virginia has overcome in a win in four seasons.
And while the stat sheet won’t be framed - with the missed free throws and sluggish start - the win absolutely will be remembered. In a league as unforgiving as the Big 12, you take every win you can get, especially on the road.
Now, the Mountaineers head back to Morgantown with two straight road wins in their pocket, a bit of momentum, and a chance to make a real statement against Texas Tech. If they can keep channeling that second-half energy - and if Huff and Thomas continue to deliver in big moments - this team might be finding its stride at just the right time.