Kevin Jones hit a tying 3-pointer in regulation and scored 30 points to lead West Virginia to an 85-80, double-overtime victory Thursday night over Kansas State, its future Big 12 foe.
Darryl Bryant had 25 points for West Virginia (5-2) and Deniz Kilicli added 12 points. Rodney McGruder scored 20 points for Kansas State (5-1). Will Spradling had 16 points and Thomas Gipson scored 15.
The game between future Big 12 rivals on a neutral court — heavily favoring Kansas State — in Wichita brought together West Virginia coach Bob Huggins and his former assistant Frank Martin. Martin took over at K-State when Huggins left for the Mountaineers job in 2007.
The matchup was originally part of a two-game series but West Virginia is set to join the Big 12, perhaps as soon as next year.
Each team scored on its first three possessions of the second overtime, and it was tied into the final minute. Jones gave the Mountaineers an 82-80 lead with 26.6 seconds left with a baby hook.
McGruder tried to answer with a jumper on the other end that rimmed out. Trailing by three 8 seconds later, McGruder missed a 3-point attempt.
West Virginia’s Aaron Brown made a 3-pointer with 50.9 seconds remaining in the first overtime to break a tie. But K-State rallied, and McGruder made a floater with 6.2 seconds on the clock to tie it at 74.
Guarded tightly, Bryant missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, forcing a second overtime.
Spradling scored five straight points to open the second half as Kansas State turned a one-point lead at the break into a 41-34 advantage with 17:22 remaining.
But the Mountaineers looked inside to keep it close. Bruising forward Kilicli scored eight points in four minutes and Darryl Bryants two free throws pulled West Virginia to 48-46 with 12:48 to go.
The Mountaineers took their first lead of the second half with 4:19 remaining, when Jones converted a three-point play from the post.
That lead didn’t last long as McGruder sank a long jumper and Angel Rodriguez converted a turnover into a layup during a 25-second span, putting the Wildcats ahead 61-57.
After two Bryant free throws, Jones posted up for another easy basket, and the Mountaineers led 61-60 with 2:22 to play.
A free throw each by Jordan Henriquez and Rodriguez gave the Wildcats a 62-61 lead with 1:05 remaining. The Mountaineers turned the ball over and Gipson putback a rebound for a 64-61 lead with 22 seconds to play.
But Jones made baseline 3-pointer with 13.3 seconds remaining to tie it. K-State did not call a time-out and managed only a desperation jumper by McGruder and a tip attempt by Henriquez before the buzzer sounded to end regulation.
— Associated Press —