WVU Basketball Drops Second Half Lead to Clemson in First Loss

WVU basketball dropped a double-digit lead in the first round go the Shriner’s Children’s Charleston Classic Friday, losing 70-67.

Senior guard Jasper Floyd struck first for WVU, stripping the ball for a steal and making a layup on the other end. senior guard Honor Huff scored on another fast break, giving WVU a 5-2 lead to start.

The Mountaineers fell behind as Clemson jumped out to a 7-0 run. Freshman guard Amir Jenkins made the team’s first field goal in over four minutes at the 13-36 mark with a mid-range shot, cutting the lead to 12-9.

Clemson’s scoring stalled once it reached 15 minutes long enough for WVU to find a spark. senior guard Treysen Eaglestaff and Floyd both hit second-chance three-pointers  off of rebounds by Obioha. Huff reclaimed the lead and completed an 8-0 run for WVU at 17-15 with 8:30 left in the half.

In his season debut, fifth-year guard Chance Moore came through with two highlight plays in the first half. He fought through contact on a two-handed dunk with 4:30 remaining, giving WVU a 23-19 lead.

Moore’s second eye-popping play came as time expired in the first half, when he stole an inbounds pass from Clemson and drilled a shot from half court, extending WVU’s lead to 32-25 going into halftime.

Floyd, Huff and Moore all led WVU in scoring in the first half with seven points apiece while senior center Harlan Obioha added six rebounds.

Clemson started the second half with four straight points before a Hiff three kept the lead at 35-29 for WVU. Huff converted from deep again, but another three from Clemson kept the lead at two points for WVU.

WVU forced a Clemson timeout with 12 minutes remaining with a 7-0 run. The Tigers struck back with a three right after but Moore equalized it with a triple from the corner.

Clemson stayed within striking distance and drew within two points with three minutes remaining. The tigers finally took the lead with eight straight points from junior forward Carter Welling.

Trailing by three, WVU had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but senior forward Brenen Lorient scored an open dunk on the fast break with just 1.5 seconds remaining.

Welling went 2-2 from the free throw line for a 70-67 lead, and Floyd’s inbounds head with one second left was caught by the Tigers for WVU’s first loss of the year.

WVU basketball will take the court again at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday when it plays the loser between Georgia and Xavier in the next round of the Shriner’s Children’s Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.