WVU falls at home to Oklahoma State 82-75

No. 7/12 West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) had its three-game win streak snapped as the team fell at home to the Oklahoma State Cowboys 82-75.

The game played out far different than the one in Stillwater in late December as the Mountaineers struggled defensively against an Oklahoma State team that shot 63-percent from the field. The Cowboys also held a significant advantage on the boards, out rebounding West Virginia 30-16.

Lamont West led the Mountaineers with 21 points and Tarik Phillip had 15.

Oklahoma State got off to a hot start as Jeffery Carroll sank three shots from behind the arc to give the Cowboys a 15-4 lead at the 15:58 mark. Carroll scored 13 of Oklahoma State’s first 15 points.

The Mountaineers would then flip the momentum onto their side, going on a 10-0 run to bring the score to 15-14 in favor of the Cowboys. West Virginia’s run ended when Oklahoma State hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend their lead to seven points.

Lamont West then answered back for the Mountaineers with a three of his own to cut the team’s deficit to four points with 11:49 left in the first half. West’s three-pointer sparked a 7-0 run for West Virginia as the Mountaineers tied the game at 21 at the 9:43 mark.

The two teams would then exchange baskets, turnovers and fouls for most of the final 10 minutes in the first half but the Mountaineers would end the half on a 6-0 run with jumper from Daxter Miles Jr., a pair of free throws from Elijah Macon and a jump shot from Jevon Carter in the closing seconds to give West Virginia a 44-40 lead over the Cowboys at halftime.

West lead the Mountaineers with 15 points at the halfway point with all of his points coming from long range. West Virginia also forced 10 Oklahoma State turnovers in the first half while only committing four.

Oklahoma State's long range shooting played a vital role in the first half as the team hit its first five three-pointers and finished the first half shooting 75-percent from downtown while also holding a 12-8 advantage on the boards.

The Cowboys opened up the second half with a layup by Phil Forte III to cut their deficit to two points before Carter and Nathan Adrian each hit from long range to give the Mountaineers a 50-44 lead with 16:35 left in the game.

Oklahoma State would regain the lead near the halfway point in the second half on its way to an 8-0 run. The Mountaineers struggled offensively during this span, going on a three-minute scoring drought which ended with a layup by Macon to bring West Virginia within two points with 9:14 left to play.

West then knocked down his sixth three-pointer of the game while getting fouled and was able to convert on a four-point play to help West Virginia regain the lead with 6:47 left.

The Cowboys would again take the lead back with a pair of free throws from Forte after a technical foul was called on West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins.

Oklahoma State extended its lead to 76-69 before a three-pointer from Adrian and a dunk from Brandon Watkins brought West Virginia back within two with less than two minutes to go.

Free throws sealed the deal for Oklahoma State in the final minute giving the Cowboys their fifth consecutive win.

West Virginia will hit the road to face Oklahoma on Wednesday at 9 p.m.