MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) --Deniz Kilicli and Jabarie Hinds scored 14 points apiece to lead West Virginia to a 60-58 win over Texas on Monday night.
West Virginia (11-11, 4-5 Big 12
Conference) swept the season series and sent the Longhorns (10-12, 2-7)
to their seventh loss in nine games. West Virginia has won two straight
for the first time since late December.
Texas trailed by as many as 11 early in the second half but went ahead 49-47 on two free throws by Felix with 8:21 left.
But the Longhorns were held to nine points -- and two field goals -- the rest of the game.
West Virginia scored five straight
points, including Eron Harris' free throw that put the Mountaineers
ahead 59-54 with 25 seconds left.
West Virginia had three turnovers in
the final 2 minutes, only to see the Longhorns give the ball right back
with turnovers, missed shots and fouls.
Still, Sheldon McClellan gave Texas
some chances at the very end. He made two free throws after being fouled
by Kilicli on a 3-point try with 11 seconds left to draw Texas within
59-56.
After Aaric Murray made a free throw
for West Virginia with 9 seconds to go, McClellan was fouled on another
3-point attempt, this time by Murray with under a second remaining.
McClellan made the first two free throws and Texas called timeout.
McClellan missed the final one on purpose and Murray got the rebound as
time expired.
Texas held a 36-29 rebounding advantage
but was held to 35 percent shooting (21 of 60) and was outscored 20-11
from the free-throw line.
Harris finished with 13 points for West Virginia.
McClellan had 14 points and Felix 12
for Texas. Ioannis Papapetrou and Julien Lewis added 10 each. It marked
the first time in seven games that Felix scored in double figures.
It was the type of scrappy game that fit how both teams are clawing for any win at this point during disappointing seasons.
Texas has made the NCAA tournament each
of the last 14 seasons under Rick Barnes, while West Virginia has gone
to five straight in each of Bob Huggins' five seasons.
