West Virginia achieved its first-ever victory at Kansas, clinching a thrilling 62-61 win with a last-second free throw by Javon Small, who stepped up under pressure with just 1.8 seconds left on the clock. This intense matchup marked a significant moment in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Tuesday.
Despite being short-handed and missing two of their top three scorers, the Mountaineers (10-2, 1-0) managed to build a commanding 38-20 lead. Eduardo Andre contributed 15 points, while Small added 13. However, Kansas (9-3, 0-1) fought back with a 15-2 run, showcasing their resilience.
Zeke Mayo led the Jayhawks with an impressive 27 points, tying the game at 61 with a three-point play just 16 seconds before the end. Small was fouled by Kansas freshman Flory Bidunga shortly after, converting one of two free throws. KJ Adams then attempted a contested shot as time expired, which could have sent the game into overtime, but it fell short.
This defeat marked Kansas’s first loss in a conference opener since January 8, 1991, while West Virginia celebrated its long-awaited win at Allen Fieldhouse, breaking a streak of 12 losses there and overcoming a recent trend of losing six out of their last seven games against the Jayhawks.
The Mountaineers faced a rocky start to their trip, with mechanical issues delaying their flight, forcing a last-minute plane change. They were scheduled to arrive in Kansas around 5:30 p.m. but instead landed in the early hours of Tuesday. To add to their woes, their hotel experienced a brief power outage, leaving the team with little rest before the crucial game.
“Travel day was tough,” acknowledged West Virginia coach Darian DeVries. “It was a tough travel day, but like I told the guys, injuries, flight delays — those are things that you can’t control. Figure it out. I thought the guys did a good job of that.”
Takeaways
The Mountaineers demonstrated impressive composure, committing only six turnovers and maintaining their focus amidst the raucous atmosphere of Phog Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas struggled initially, missing 15 of their first 19 shots, which put them at a disadvantage throughout the game. Mayo’s flawless 13-for-13 performance at the foul line kept the Jayhawks in contention during the closing minutes.
While Adams argued that he was fouled on his final shot attempt, the officials remained unmoved by his appeals.
“When you lose, we all have a tendency to complain about officiating,” said Kansas coach Bill Self. “And when you win, sometimes you take it for granted that maybe you got a friendly whistle. The play at the end, it’s probably a foul early in the game, but I’m not sure there’s a lot of people who would call a foul on that last possession.”
Officials later acknowledged to Self that they had missed a back-court violation that granted West Virginia possession in the second half.
Key moment
Despite struggling from the field, going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc, Small made a significant impact with 11 rebounds and six assists, ultimately sinking the free throw that sealed the victory.
Key stat
Kansas excelled at the foul line, converting 19 of 21 attempts, while West Virginia had only six free throw opportunities, making four, including the decisive winner.
Up next
Looking ahead, West Virginia will face Oklahoma State on Saturday, while Kansas will travel to UCF on Sunday.
