KANSAS City, Mo.--Esa Ahmad snapped out of a slump, notching a double-double and making the go-ahead free throw as No. 2 seeded West Virginia University topped No.8 seeded Kansas State 51-50 on Friday.
The Mountaineers (26-7) overcame a 12-point deficit to advance to the Big 12 Championship on Saturday for the second time in as many years.
Ahmad had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Tarik Phillip tallied 13 points and Elijah Macon grabbed 10 rebounds.
Wesley Iwundu had 13 points and Kamau Stokes add 10 for the Wildcats (20-13).
WVU looked atrocious in the first half. The Mountaineers committed 12 fouls and shot just 19 percent from the field.
"You can't let the frustration take over the game," WVU forward Nathan Adrian said. "You got to stay positive and stay in it. Don't worry about whatever deficit you have." …show more content…
WVU switched up its defensive scheme to the 1-3-1 zone, which helped stop K-State in the final 10.4 seconds.
"It stops penetration," Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins said. "When you got three guys across the foul line you should be able to stop penetration. They were getting a lot of penetration on us and I wanted to make them shoot it from the perimeter."
WVU forged a 10-0 run and pulled within 39-37 of the Wildcats but Iwundu completed the three-point play to push the lead back out to five with 9:32 to go.
However, the Mountaineers remained persistent and the two teams exchanged shots for the next several minutes.
Phillip poured in a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:45 remaining to tie the game
The Mountaineers (26-7) overcame a 12-point deficit to advance to the Big 12 Championship on Saturday for the second time in as many years.
Ahmad had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Tarik Phillip tallied 13 points and Elijah Macon grabbed 10 rebounds.
Wesley Iwundu had 13 points and Kamau Stokes add 10 for the Wildcats (20-13).
WVU looked atrocious in the first half. The Mountaineers committed 12 fouls and shot just 19 percent from the field.
"You can't let the frustration take over the game," WVU forward Nathan Adrian said. "You got to stay positive and stay in it. Don't worry about whatever deficit you have." …show more content…
WVU switched up its defensive scheme to the 1-3-1 zone, which helped stop K-State in the final 10.4 seconds.
"It stops penetration," Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins said. "When you got three guys across the foul line you should be able to stop penetration. They were getting a lot of penetration on us and I wanted to make them shoot it from the perimeter."
WVU forged a 10-0 run and pulled within 39-37 of the Wildcats but Iwundu completed the three-point play to push the lead back out to five with 9:32 to go.
However, the Mountaineers remained persistent and the two teams exchanged shots for the next several minutes.
Phillip poured in a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:45 remaining to tie the game