WVU Basketball Falls to Louisville After Tough Battle in Bahamas

A day after WVU Basketball earned their first big win of the Darian DeVries era, a 86-78 upset of No. 3 Gonzaga, the Mountaineers were back on the court hoping to stay as hot as the heat in the Bahamas. But unfortunately for Darian DeVries’ team, they eventually cooled off just like the weather back home in West Virginia, falling 79-70 after a hard-fought Thanksgiving Day battle.

WVU did start out opening the game with a mini 4-0 run thanks to baskets from Tucker DeVries and Toby Okani, but it didn’t take long for Louisville to catch fire. The Cardinals quickly flipped the game, maintaining momentum throughout most of the early portion of the first half.

A strong effort from WVU defensively kept the Mountaineers in the game. West Virginia was even able to reclaim the lead with 7:09 remaining in the opening half thanks to Javon Small leading the way, both offensively and on the boards.

JAVON'S AT IT AGAIN 🤪

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/PMAuxFmZvC

— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) November 28, 2024

Later in the half, a dunk by Kasean Pryor, a steal of Small by Chucky Hepburn and a personal foul call against DeVries sparked a boost for Louisville, as the half closed with WVU leading 28-24.

West Virginia turned up the heat again when Amani Hansberry drilled a long three in the opening possession of the second half. Both teams would then trade baskets for the next several minutes before Louisville took the lead.

West Virginia then rallied to get in front by one 60-59 and then 62-61 in the final minute.

A Louisville free-throw netted it at 62 and that’s where the game stayed at the end of regulation. Small couldn’t get off a game-winning shot attempt in time of the shot clock.

However, it was Small, who finished with 26 points, who hit a monster three in overtime to snap a Louisville streak and tie the game at 67 with just under three minutes left in the extra session.

Moments later, DeVries fouled out, leaving WVU without their leader down the stretch.

Despite another solid performance, DeVries and his Mountaineers fall to 4-2 on the year and miss out on a chance to win the Battle 4 Atlantis championship.