WVU holds on in double-overtime to beat Red Raiders 83-74

No. 9/12 West Virginia (21-6, 9-5) held on in double overtime to avenge an earlier loss to Texas Tech by beating the Red Raiders 83-74 inside the Coliseum Saturday afternoon.

The Mountaineers forced a total of 20 Texas Tech turnovers, after only being able to generate 13 in the first meeting.

However, West Virginia did allow Texas Tech to shoot 48-percent from the floor and the Red Raiders made a run at the end of the game as the Mountaineers couldn't close it out to send it into overtime for the second time this year in two meetings.

But this time it would take two overtime periods to decide things. And after letting one late lead get away earlier this week, the Mountaineers wouldn't let it happen again.

West Virginia did not hit a basket from 5:42 in the second half through the first overtime period but free throws were able to keep the Mountaineers afloat until they were able to hit three consecutive buckets in the double overtime to seize control.

Junior guard Jevon Carter led the Mountaineers in scoring with 24 points, while redshirt junior Elijah Macon scored 17 points in his highest output of the season while also recording 12 rebounds. Senior guard Tarik Phillip, making his fourth consecutive start, contributed with 15 points, while junior guard Daxter Miles had 11 points as well.

West Virginia opened the scoring with a basket from Elijah Macon and then added to the lead on a pair of free throws at the 18:20 mark of the first half. That lead would swell to 8-2, as the Mountaineers forced three turnovers in the first three minutes after only forcing 13 in the first meeting.

Texas Tech would bounce back with a quick 8-0 run to seize a 10-8 lead but West Virginia would respond in short order on a pair of Carter threes to move back out front 17-12 nearing the ten-minute mark.

In a first half of miniature runs, Texas Tech would surge back ahead 20-19 by outpacing a 6-0 spurt as the clock approached eight minutes remaining in the opening frame. The two teams would then exchange the lead over the next five minutes of the game.

But another quick 6-0 run on a pair of three by the Red Raiders pushed Texas Tech ahead 33-28 with 39.1 left in the first half, the largest deficit for the Mountaineers in the opening frame. The Mountaineers would convert on a three from Carter to cut the halftime deficit to 33-31, as Niem Stevenson recorded 17 of those points for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech would take an early 39-35 advantage in the second half as the Mountaineers continued to struggle to generate offense while allowing easy looks for the Red Raiders. However, four straight from the Mountaineers would nod the game at 42-all as Carter would be the first West Virginia player to get into double figures with 11 points with 14:11 remaining.

The Mountaineers would increase the pressure and take a 46-45 lead after forcing several turnovers on consecutive possessions as the Coliseum lit up with energy. After forcing only seven turnovers in the first half, West Virginia had that number at eight alone at the 11:49 mark of the second.

West Virginia would stretch the lead to 56-49 at the 7:36 mark on the heels of a 14-4 run as Macon pushed his point total to 12 points and 4 rebounds, and the Mountaineers defensive pressure frustrated the Red Raiders into miscues.

The Mountaineers lead would sit a 60-55 with 3:25 left in the game and over the next minute and change would extend that to a six point advantage.

The Red Raiders would quickly cut that to 61-59 with 26.2 left as the Mountaineers became unraveled down the stretch. Carter would make only one free throw and then a Texas Tech basket sent Carter back to the free throw line leading 62-61 where he would make both putting the lead at three with 13.4 left.

Texas Tech would make a three of its own with 4.6 left to tie the game at 64-all with 4.6 to play in the game forcing head coach Bob Huggins to use a timeout. The shot by Carter would go offline sending the second match-up into overtime like the first one.

In overtime, West Virginia did not make a field goal but trailed only 70-69 with 34.5 left and had the basketball out of a timeout. Carter would make one of two free throws to nod the game at 70-all and the game would head into a second overtime.

Despite not making a field goal in the first overtime, West Virginia scored three straight to open the second overtime taking a 76-70 lead. The Mountaineers would then hold on to pick up a bounce back win after falling to Kansas Monday.

The Mountaineers will now host Texas for a 9 p.m. tip off Monday.