In a thrilling showdown at Gallagher-Iba Arena, West Virginia's late-game heroics fell short in overtime, as Oklahoma State emerged victorious with a 91-84 win. The Cowboys, now boasting 17 wins this season, outpaced the Mountaineers 14-7 in the extra period, sealing their fifth Big 12 victory.
West Virginia, known for their second-half comebacks, erased a 14-point deficit and briefly led twice in the closing minutes. However, Oklahoma State's clutch three-point shooting proved decisive.
Coach Ross Hodge of West Virginia acknowledged the Cowboys' timely shots, noting, "To their credit, they jumped up and made some bombs."
Chance Moore was pivotal for the Mountaineers, scoring five straight points, including a game-tying basket with just 19 seconds left. But after a strategic timeout, Oklahoma State's defense held firm, forcing a missed long-range attempt by Kanye Clary.
In overtime, West Virginia struggled to capitalize on close-range opportunities, missing four of six shots. This allowed Oklahoma State to snap their five-game losing streak and hand the Mountaineers their third consecutive loss, dropping them to 16-12 overall.
Coach Hodge reflected on the game, pointing out defensive lapses in the first half. "They are a good offensive team," he said. "We allowed them to establish too much of a rhythm."
Statistically, the game was tight, but Oklahoma State's dominance on the boards and at the free-throw line made the difference. They outrebounded West Virginia 40-33 and attempted more free throws, 27 to 12.
Despite pushing the game into overtime, Hodge noted the Cowboys' superior execution down the stretch. "They got the ball where they wanted and were able to convert it," he explained.
The victory was bittersweet for Oklahoma State, as leading scorer Parsa Fallah suffered a knee injury following a celebratory dunk. Fallah contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, supported by strong performances from Clary and Curry.
West Virginia's Honor Huff led all scorers with 20 points, all from beyond the arc. Moore added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Looking ahead, West Virginia will face the 19th-ranked BYU at Hope Coliseum, a game set to be nationally televised on FOX. The Cougars are riding high after a recent win over Iowa State.