WVU Outlasts Cincinnati in Final Minute, 69-65

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia defeated Cincinnati on Wednesday night at the WVU Coliseum by a final score of 69-65 to collect their third conference win of the season.

Wednesday’s game can only be summarized as an ugly battle between West Virginia (8-13, 3-5 Big 12) and Cincinnati (14-7, 3-5 Big 12). WVU made one field goal in the final six minutes of the first half while the Bearcats shot 1-of-10 from three during that period.

🎶 CUE COUNTRY ROADS!!!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/Iv3wy7l8kn

— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) February 1, 2024

Back-to-back threes by UC G Day Day Thomas helped spark a run for the Bearcats midway through the second half. West Virginia quickly shifted momentum with just four minutes remaining after baskets from Jesse Edwards and Quinn Slazinski. Kerr Kriisa drew a charge on the opposite end to head to the under-4 timeout.

West Virginia has struggled to rebound the ball all year and struggled again vs. UC, as the Bearcats out-rebounded WVU 42-33.

Edwards returned to the starting lineup against Cincinnati after coming off the bench in his return vs. Oklahoma State. Slazinski also made an appearance back into the starting five after coming off the bench for the past few weeks.

Edwards looked uncomfortable in the first half shooting the ball and defending UC’s post players. By the second half, Edwards looked more like his former self. The 6-foot-11 Syracuse transfer recorded 29 minutes with 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks on 11-of-17 shooting. Edwards reached 1,000 career points on Wednesday as well.

RaeQuan Battle saw the bench for the majority of the first half, reaching foul trouble once again. Battle came out of halftime and drawing fouls. The Montana State transfer finished with 10 points after struggling vs. Oklahoma State. Battle did hit a crucial three with just a minute to go.

Slazinski hit a high arching jump shot to give West Virginia a 46-44 lead. Slazinski’s shot matched WVU’s first half point total (23) in the first eight minutes of the second half.

Cincinnati big man Viktor Lakhin (illness) returned to the lineup vs. West Virginia after missing Saturday’s game against UCF.

Former WVU and Cincinnati HC Bob Huggins was in attendance to see the two schools he coached for decades. Huggins shook hands with WVU AD Wren Baker, talking very briefly with him.

Huggins was not going to miss watching both of his former teams in action. https://t.co/GLmcJwAtHn

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) January 31, 2024

West Virginia will remain at home for the next couple of days before hosting BYU on Saturday. The Mountaineers and Cougars will tip off at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.