West Virginia knocked off No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime during the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday, showcasing a remarkable performance. Javon Small was a standout, scoring five of his 31 points in the extra period, while Tucker DeVries contributed crucial free throws late in regulation, finishing the game with 16 points.
In a tense overtime situation, Small’s layup with less than two minutes to go put West Virginia ahead 79-75. Following a missed shot from Gonzaga, Sencire Harris extended the lead to six points with two made free throws. Harris then sealed the victory with a steal and a dunk, increasing the margin to eight points with just 27.1 seconds remaining.
Amani Hansberry also shone for West Virginia, scoring a career-high 19 points, while Toby Okani added 10 points to the scoreboard, helping the Mountaineers improve their record to 3-2.
For Gonzaga, Braden Huff led the team with 19 points, and Khalif Battle chipped in 16 points, but their efforts fell short as they moved to 5-1 on the season.
Takeaways
Gonzaga’s depth was evident as they outscored the West Virginia bench 30-2, demonstrating their ability to rely on a strong roster. Despite their only loss being a 24-point setback against Pitt, West Virginia’s rebuilding effort under Coach Darian DeVries is beginning to show promise.
Key moment
A pivotal moment occurred late in regulation when Tucker DeVries intercepted a pass from Nolan Hickman at midcourt, leading to a fast break that resulted in two free throws with just 5.9 seconds left, tying the game at 71. Gonzaga’s Battle attempted to regain control but lost the ball as time expired.
Key stats
Despite being the shorter team, West Virginia managed to outrebound Gonzaga 42-36 and shot an impressive 50% in the second half. Gonzaga’s Nembhard recorded 12 assists against just one turnover in 43 minutes, though he struggled offensively, hitting only 1 of 10 shots from the field.
Up next
Looking ahead, West Virginia is set to face Louisville in the winner’s bracket on Thursday, while Gonzaga will compete against No. 14 Indiana on the consolation side.
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