West Virginia Mountaineers Secure Victory Over BYU
In an exciting matchup at the WVU Coliseum, the West Virginia Mountaineers managed to secure a 79-71 victory over No. 19 BYU on Saturday night. Leading the charge for West Virginia were Honor Huff, who netted 19 points, and Brenen Lorient with 18 points. DJ Thomas also contributed significantly with 13 points, while Jasper Floyd and Chance Moore each added 11 to the team’s total.
Game Highlights
The Mountaineers displayed resilience throughout, maintaining their lead throughout the second half after going into halftime ahead by 14 points, standing at 40-26. This marked a much-needed turnaround for West Virginia, breaking a troubling three-game losing streak and improving their overall record to 17-12, with a balanced 8-8 in the Big 12 Conference.
On the other side of the court, BYU faced challenges in overcoming their own pitfalls. Robert Wright III led the Cougars with 23 points, closely followed by AJ Dybantsa, who contributed 20 points despite a sluggish start that saw him score only four in the first half. The Cougars have now lost two consecutive games, bringing their record to 20-9, also 8-8 within the conference, and are struggling in their last twelve games with just four wins.
Closing Moments
The game tightened in the closing minutes when Keba Keita made a steal and converted it into a layup, narrowing the score to 74-71 with just over a minute left on the clock. Unfortunately for BYU, that would be their last score of the night, as they squandered two opportunities to tie the game with costly turnovers.
West Virginia capitalized on the situation, successfully shooting 5 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 26 seconds, sealing their victory. Notably, the Mountaineers forced nine turnovers in the first half, contributing to their impressive run and control of the game’s tempo.
Player Performances
Dybantsa, projected as a top draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, initially struggled against West Virginia’s defense but found his rhythm in the second half, scoring 11 points in a pivotal five-minute span. However, BYU’s inability to secure rebounds proved detrimental, as they trailed for the final 27 minutes of the contest.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, BYU will face Cincinnati on Tuesday, while West Virginia travels to take on Kansas State the same night.
