West Virginia defeats Ohio State 89-88
Ohio State Edges West Virginia in Thrilling 89-88 Comeback Victory at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
In a dramatic turn of events, the West Virginia Mountaineers erased a 10-point halftime deficit to stun the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes 89-88 on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The game began with Ohio State taking an early lead, but West Virginia's potent offense and stifling defense allowed them to stay in the contest. At the break, the Buckeyes held a slim 37-27 advantage, with Ohio State's Honor Huff leading the charge with 19 points.
However, it was the Mountaineers who stole the show in the second half, using a 10-point deficit to mount an incredible comeback. Behind senior guard Sean McEnulty's 17 points and 8 rebounds, West Virginia took its first lead of the game at the 5:45 mark, taking advantage of Ohio State's struggles from beyond the arc.
As the clock ticked down, both teams traded baskets, with the Buckeyes' Christoph Tilly providing crucial scoring and rebounding for his team. However, it was Huff who ultimately proved to be the difference-maker in the end, scoring 5 points in the final minute, including a game-tying three-pointer at the 0:45 mark.
The game would go into overtime, with both teams showing incredible poise under pressure. In the extra period, McEnulty once again led the charge, sinking two crucial baskets to seal the win for West Virginia. The Mountaineers celebrated their first victory of the season, improving to 4-5 on the year.
Ohio State fell to 6-3 and will look to bounce back against a tough schedule in the coming weeks. The Buckeyes' inability to contain McEnulty's scoring punch proved costly, as they struggled to find consistency from beyond the arc. Despite the loss, Huff's impressive all-around performance kept Ohio State competitive throughout.
For West Virginia, this thrilling victory marks a turning point for the team, which had struggled with consistency and decision-making in recent games. Coach Bob Huggins' squad showed remarkable resilience and poise, ultimately emerging victorious against a talented Buckeyes team.
Game Statistics
West Virginia (HOME)
* Field Goals: 32/73 (44.0%)
* Points in Paint: 48
* Fast Break Points: 2
* Points off Turnovers: 13
* eFG%: 46.6%
* True Shooting%: 53.3%
Ohio State (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 25/63 (40.0%)
* Points in Paint: 22
* Fast Break Points: 8
* Points off Turnovers: 11
* eFG%: 49.2%
* True Shooting%: 56.4%
Game Leaders
West Virginia (HOME)
- Sean McEnulty - 17 points, 8 rebounds
Ohio State (AWAY)
- Honor Huff - 24 points, 5 assists