WVU Basketball Suffers 7-Minute Scoring Drought in Loss to Baylor

WVU basketball suffered its first home loss of the season to Baylor Saturday, as the Mountaineers failed to score for over seven straight minutes in the second half en route to a 63-53 defeat.

The Mountaineers looked to work the paint early, as senior forward Brenen Lorient scored a layup off an assist from senior center Harlan Obioha to start.

The WVU lead didn’t last long, as Baylor answered with a pair of three-pointers on consecutive possessions. Freshman forward DJ Thomas cut back into the lead with an iso paint score.

Baylor found its footing as the Bears went on a 9-1 run, holding WVU without a field goal for three minutes of game time. Senior guard Treysen Eaglestaff ended the drought for WVU with a step-back three, cutting the score to 15-8.

Eaglestaff’s three-pointer grew to a 9-0 run where Baylor was held scoreless for over five minutes and forced into five turnovers by the Mountaineers. While sophomore guard Isaac Williams IV made a jumper to end the drought, Eaglestaff responded with back-to-back threes for a 20-17 WVU lead, forcing a Baylor timeout at the 8:09 mark.

The Mountaineers lost their momentum soon after the timeout, as the Bears went on a 13-2 run and held WVU without a field goal for four minutes.

Lorient had all of WVU’s points in the final three minutes with a layup, a dunk and two free throws. Baylor stayed ahead and took a 38-30 lead to halftime.

WVU head coach Ross Hodge called a timeout early in the second half, as Baylor scored on its first two attempts from the floor.

Obioha got WVU on the board right out of the timeout with an and-one inside score with the free throw, cutting the Baylor lead to 42-33.

Lorient picked up a flagrant I foul at there 17:36 mark, giving Baylor two free throws and the ball. However, redshirt sophomore Cameron Carr went 1-for-2 from the line and the Mountaineer defense stood strong for a stop.

Lorient kept WVU afloat, scoring nine straight of the Mountaineers’ points. Fifth-year guard Chance Moore made a clutch mid-range shot to beat the shot clock buzzer and bringing the score within three points at 47-44.

Neither team made a shot from the floor for the next 7:10 of game time as Baylor added two free throws. Baylor’s freshman guard Tounde Yesoufou ended the dry spell with a mid-range jumper.

Moore finally ended WVU’s scoring drought at the 4:03 mark with a put-back layup, but Baylor fifth-year guard Obi Agbim immediately responded with a three for a 54-46 Baylor lead.

Moore added three points with a layup and a free throw before Agbim drilled another, putting the Bears up 57-49 with two minutes to go.

WVU had chances the rest of the way, but failed to score until the final second with a garbage-time layup from senior guard Jasper Floyd.

WVU basketball will play again at 7 p.m. on Thursday when the Mountaineers travel to Cincinnati.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.