LAWRENCE, Kan. — In a thrilling start to the Big 12 season, Javon Small clinched the victory for West Virginia with a decisive free throw with just 1.8 seconds on the clock, leading the Mountaineers to a narrow 62-61 win over the seventh-ranked Kansas on Tuesday. Despite being short-handed and blowing an 18-point lead in the second half, the Mountaineers emerged victorious.
West Virginia, now boasting a record of 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play, had impressive performances from Eduardo Andre, who contributed 15 points, and Small, who added 13 points. The team managed to build a substantial 38-20 advantage even while missing two of their top scorers due to injuries. However, Kansas (9-3, 0-1) made a fierce comeback, staging a 15-2 run that brought them back into contention.
Zeke Mayo played a standout role for the Jayhawks, leading the team with 27 points. He managed to tie the game at 61 with a three-point play, setting the stage for Small’s final, crucial free throw after he was fouled by Kansas freshman Flory Bidunga. Unable to convert a difficult shot as time ran out, KJ Adams’s attempt to force overtime fell short.
This defeat marked an end to a long-standing conference-opening winning streak for Kansas, dating back to January 1991, and represented a significant milestone for West Virginia, granting them their first victory in 12 attempts at Allen Fieldhouse. The Mountaineers had previously lost six of their last seven encounters with the Jayhawks.
Despite missing their star forward Tucker DeVries and center Amani Hansberry, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, West Virginia displayed remarkable composure throughout the match. The team committed a mere six turnovers and showed resilience against the notoriously loud environment of Kansas’s home court. In contrast, Kansas struggled significantly at the outset, hitting only four of their first 19 shots, which created a challenging situation for them to recover from. Mayo’s remarkable 13-for-13 performance at the free-throw line, especially in the late game, provided the Jayhawks a fighting chance.
While Small faced challenges on the offensive end, shooting 0 for 6 from the three-point range, he made his presence felt by grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out six assists. His contribution at the free-throw line proved crucial in the final moments.
In terms of shooting from the line, Kansas excelled, converting 19 out of 21 attempts, while West Virginia’s performance was more modest; they shot four of six from the foul line, including the critical free throw that secured their victory.
Looking ahead, West Virginia is scheduled to take on Oklahoma State on Saturday, while Kansas prepares for a matchup against UCF on Sunday.
