MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Javon Small delivered an impressive performance, scoring 25 points as he led West Virginia to a 72-65 victory over UCF on Saturday. The Mountaineers had built a commanding 25-point lead heading into the second half but found themselves battling hard to retain their advantage.
In a strong season finale, freshman Jonathan Powell made significant contributions, scoring 12 of his 15 points after halftime. Both Small and Powell were proficient from long range, each sinking five 3-pointers. Amani Hansberry also turned heads with a formidable performance, amassing 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
For UCF, Darius Johnson spearheaded the offense with 27 points, including four from beyond the arc, while Moustapha Thiam contributed 13 points and JJ Taylor chipped in 12.
Having secured a first-round bye, West Virginia will enter the Big 12 Tournament as the eighth seed, with UCF positioned at 14th. The tournament is set to take place in Kansas City, Missouri, starting Tuesday and continuing through the following Saturday.
Early into the second half, Powell nailed a 3-pointer, extending the lead to 25 points before UCF mounted a comeback, substantially outscoring the Mountaineers 15-2 on turnovers in the final stretch. Near the close of the game, Johnson’s drive narrowed the West Virginia lead to a mere 67-64.
Powell quickly answered with a critical 3-pointer, providing some breathing room. Johnson managed to hit one of his two free throws, but UCF could not capitalize further as they missed two consecutive 3-point attempts. Hansberry captured the crucial rebound, setting the stage for West Virginia to clinch the game at the free-throw line.
Ultimately, Small proved instrumental throughout the first half, scoring 19 points with an accurate 5-of-10 record from beyond the arc. This allowed West Virginia to take a 47-25 lead, with his final triple securing a 27-point advantage. However, the Knights pushed back with a five-point scoring spurt, closing the half with a sliver of optimism.
