West Virginia defeats Cincinnati 62-60
Thriller: West Virginia Wins Close Battle Against Cincinnati
In a heart-stopping conference matchup, the West Virginia Mountaineers edged out the visiting Cincinnati Bearcats 62-60 at their home venue, WVU Coliseum.
The game was a true thriller, with both teams displaying incredible resilience and determination. Despite trailing 31-28 at halftime, Cincinnati staged an impressive comeback in the second half, cutting the deficit to just two points as the clock ticked down.
However, West Virginia's Honor Huff proved to be the difference-maker on both ends of the floor. The senior forward poured in 24 points, including six three-pointers, and grabbed eight rebounds, helping her team hold off Cincinnati's surge.
Huff was a one-woman show for West Virginia, outscoring her teammates by a wide margin. Her consistent shooting from beyond the arc and dominating play in the paint allowed the Mountaineers to maintain control of the tempo.
On the other side, Jalen Celestine led Cincinnati's attack with 15 points, showcasing his deadly accuracy from beyond the three-point line (5-9). Baba Miller chipped in with seven rebounds and four assists, but unfortunately couldn't stem the tide for the Bearcats.
The turning point of the game came when West Virginia's Jasper Floyd sank a clutch free throw with just over two minutes remaining, pushing the Mountaineers' lead to five points. Cincinnati answered with a basket, cutting the deficit to 57-52, before Huff sealed the win with a pair of free throws and a rebound.
The advanced statistics paint an interesting picture. West Virginia's efficient field goal percentage (46.0%) and three-point shooting (48.0%) helped them build an early lead, while Cincinnati's poor outside shooting (34.0%) limited their scoring opportunities. The Mountaineers' strong defense also held the Bearcats to a subpar 45.5% shooting efficiency.
As conference matchups go, this one was significant for both teams. West Virginia's win keeps them in contention for a top-four seed in the upcoming tournament, while Cincinnati falls back into a tough stretch of games.
The Mountaineers' victory marks their first win over a top-30 ranked team this season, cementing their status as a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12.