West Virginia Ends Losing Streak on Senior Day, Outlasting TCU 70-64

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – In the final home game of the regular season, West Virginia was able to hold off TCU in the closing seconds, winning 70-64.

The Mountaineers put an end to another seven-game losing streak this season, winning their first game since Feb. 8 against Iowa State.

On senior day, seven Mountaineers (15-16, 4-14 Big 12) were honored before Saturday’s game against TCU (19-11, 9-9 Big 12). Taz Sherman, Gabe Osabuohien, Malik Curry, Dimon Carrigan and Pauly Paulicap were the fifth-year seniors honored. Sean McNeil and Kedrian “Keddy” Johnson were honored as traditional four-year seniors. McNeil and Johnson will have the option to return to West Virginia for the 2022-23 season.

West Virginia led for the first 30 minutes of the game, with another drought resulting in TCU taking their first lead of the game with 10 minutes left. The Horned Frogs extended their first lead to six points before the Mountaineers charged back. With 4:41 left, Curry drove to the basket, making a layup to tie it up at 59. The Delaware native finished his last game in the coliseum with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field.

Sherman was able to give the Mountaineer crowd one more great performance at home. Sherman drove to the rim with a minute left, making a contested layup to extend the WVU lead to 64-60. The fifth-year senior guard shot the ball exceptionally well throughout the game, scoring 13 points in the first half and 12 in the second, to end with 25 points. Sherman shot 9-of-17, making 3-three’s.

A layup by Paulicap capped off a 5-0 run, resulting in TCU head coach Jamie Dixon calling timeout with one minute left in the first half. Paulicap appeared in 20 minutes.

In the first half, WVU rebounded the ball very well, out-rebounding the Horned Frogs by seven. Freshman Isaiah Cottrell had seven rebonds before the break.

Saturday’s game was the first time since Feb. 8 that the Mountaineers have dished out more assists than their opponent. West Virginia recorded 13 assists against TCU, with Sherman leading the team with four.

After WVU head coach Bob Huggins talked about rotation changes, the freshmen class recorded four minutes combined on the court against the Horned Frogs. Kobe Johnson entered the game for two minutes in each half. Seth Wilson, Jamel King and James Okonkwo never checked into the game.

Notable scorers for West Virginia were Sherman (25), Curry (10) and McNeil (10).

West Virginia will now focus in on the Big 12 Conference Tournament. The Mountaineers are locked in for the first round of the tournament, on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. WVU will play either Oklahoma or Kansas State.