MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s first matchup against a top 25 team this season may end up being its biggest missed opportunity.
No. 11 Texas Tech escaped with a 62-59 victory Wednesday against West Virginia, in front of 10,358 fans inside the WVU Coliseum, but only after the Mountaineers came up short in a number of areas.
“We had a chance to come up with something big,” said West Virginia forward Derek Culver, who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. “We didn’t make the plays we had to make.”
It was the first win in Morgantown for the Red Raiders, who survived a half-court heave by Brandon Knapper at the buzzer that could have tied the game, as well as a no-call on an inbounds play that could have been an offensive foul and a turnover with 3.3 seconds remaining.
“To my knowledge, Texas Tech hasn’t won here since (WVU joined) the Big 12,” Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. “We talk about those things, because we’re trying to make history in our program. We’re trying to do things that have never been done.”
It could have been a statement victory the Mountaineers (8-5, 0-1 Big 12) desperately needed after a non-conference season was filled with frustrations, drama and tough defeats.
This one could have erased a lot of that, but instead the Mountaineers turned the ball over 22 times, shot 18 of 32 from the foul line, went more than 10 minutes without making a basket and was stuck on 22 points for seven minutes, 29 seconds that opened the door for Texas Tech (12-1, 1-0) to go on a 17-0 run to take a 31-22 lead with 16:05 remaining.
“Our offense had a lot to do with that,” Huggins said. “We’re very charitable. People struggle and we throw them the ball to make it easier for them. That’s how the whole thing started.”
It started as a low-scoring slugfest, maybe one that resembled the old Big East days.
Texas Tech couldn’t make a 3-pointer and star guard Jarrett Culver found himself in first-half foul trouble with three.
Meanwhile, West Virginia put forth one of its finer defensive performances, led by junior Wes Harris, who matched up with Culver and held him scoreless until the 18:36 mark of the second half.
“All week, we were practicing with Wes guarding Culver and he did a great job,” West Virginia guard Jermaine Haley said. “He was really tough on him in the first half and stayed with him.”
But, Harris fouled out with 6:42 remaining — that included a technical foul called on him as he was running away from a play after a foul had been called.
“We can’t control what the refs call,” Haley said. “That’s not something we should look at. We got our fair share of calls in the first half.”
Culver, who entered the game as one of the favorites for Big 12 Player of the Year, finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but did the majority of his damage once Harris had fouled out.
Even then, the Mountaineers found themselves with chances to pull off the upset.
In the final two minutes, trailing 55-54, both Derek Culver and Esa Ahmad had critical turnovers and Chase Harler missed a 3-pointer that could have tied the game at 57.
Beetle Bolden nearly drew a fifth foul on Jarrett Culver with 3.3 seconds left. Culver ran across the court in an attempt to get open for an inbounds pass. Bolden stepped in front and drew contact, but no call was made.
“That was all Beetle,” Haley said. “That was him trying to make a play.”
Instead, Texas Tech’s Davide Moretti was fouled and he made a free throw for the final score.
Knapper rebounded Moretti’s second free-throw attempt and raced down court before letting off a miracle attempt to tie the game that hit the top of the backboard and bounced harmlessly away.
Lamont West led the Mountaineers with 22 points and seven rebounds.
