WVU Basketball Falls Flat in Second Half at Kansas State

WVU basketball allowed a 21-0 run for Kansas State in the second half after leading at halftime in a 65-63 loss on the road.

It was a slow start offensively for both teams, as the first field goal was scored at the 15:58 hark with a layup by fifth-year guard Chance Moore to make the score 3-2 in favor of WVU. Kansas State responded immediately with a layup from senior guard Nate Johnson.

Kansas State Made the game’s first three for an 8-5 lead at the 14:06 mark. However, WVU went on a 10-0 run which included five points from Moore over six scoreless minutes by the Wildcats.

The Wildcats swung back with five straight points, but WVU held on to the lead while keeping Kansas State at arm’s length. WVU went into the half up 26-23 with 10 points from both Moore and freshman forward DJ Thomas.

Disaster struck in the second half, as WVU held a 31-27 lead before Kansas State scored 21 straight unanswered points while WVU failed to score for over eight minutes.

Thomas finally scored for WVU at the 10:27 mark with a layup. Kansas State held a 48-33 lead.

The Wildcat lead grew to as much as 19 points before WVU finally woke up on the offensive end. Senior guard Jasper Floyd made a layup before Moore added a free throw. After Moore missed the second, WVU gathered an offensive rebound and made way for a three by senior guard Honor Huff.

Senior forward Brenen Lorient stepped up for WVU in the following possessions with five straight points, cutting the lead to 57-49.

A three from Johnson extended the lead back to 60-49. WVU added five straight more points as Moore made another layup with 1:24 remaining.

Moore added another layup, giving WVU one minute to navigate a five-point deficit. WVU forced a turnover and sent Huff to the line where he made two free throws.

Madness ensued on the next possessions, as WVU forced another turnover off the inbounds and Moore missed a layup on the following possession. Moore went to grab his miss, but had it ripped away. While the ball was loose, a Kansas State player dove to recover it, but went out of bounds with the ball.

WVU had the ball with 19 seconds remaining, but Huff turned it over on a pass intended for Lorient.

Kansas State closed the game out as Huff hit a meaningless buzzer-beater for a 65-63 final score.

West Virginia will take the court again at 8 p.m. on Friday when the team hosts UCF on Senior Night.

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