In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, West Virginia staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Stanford 82-77 in overtime at the 2026 College Basketball Crown. The Mountaineers, now 19-14, will advance to face the winner of the Rutgers-Creighton game in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
Stanford seemed poised to secure their 21st win of the season when Ebuka Okorie's free throws extended their lead to 67-59. But West Virginia clamped down defensively, allowing only a single basket from Jeremy Dent-Smith in the final minutes of regulation. Honor Huff was clutch, sinking three free throws to tie the game with just three seconds left, after a costly foul by Benny Gealer.
The extra session saw Stanford briefly reclaim the lead with Ryan Agarwal's three-point play. However, West Virginia's Harlan Obioha responded in kind, converting his own three-point play to keep the Mountaineers in the hunt. Huff continued his heroics, nailing a jumper and adding crucial free throws to give West Virginia a cushion.
In the closing moments, a free throw from Lorient and a key offensive rebound kept the pressure on Stanford. Huff's steady hand at the line and Stanford's missed opportunities sealed the victory for West Virginia.
Okorie was a standout for Stanford, scoring a game-high 34 points, including a solo 13-point surge in the second half. Yet, West Virginia's defensive adjustments limited his effectiveness down the stretch. Despite struggling from beyond the arc, hitting just 2-of-20, the Mountaineers excelled at the charity stripe, converting 22 of 26 attempts, with Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff leading the charge.
Huff's 21 points spearheaded West Virginia's offense, supported by Eaglestaff's 18 and Lorient's 14 points and seven rebounds. For Stanford, Aidan Cammann added 12 points, and AJ Rohosy chipped in with 10, as they dominated the boards with a 47-37 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive rebounds. However, their inability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities proved costly.
West Virginia's defense was relentless, holding Stanford to just one field goal in their final nine attempts. The Mountaineers also capitalized on turnovers, outscoring Stanford 18-8 in points off miscues, and led the game for over 33 minutes.
This victory marks only the second time West Virginia has triumphed over Stanford, the first being in 1959. The Mountaineers now look forward to their semifinal clash, riding the momentum of this hard-fought win.