MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In a stunning upset, West Virginia University emerged victorious over Kansas University with a final score of 91-85 on Saturday. The Mountaineers (7-11, 2-3 Big 12) secured the win against the No. 3 ranked Jayhawks, breaking a six-game losing streak in the series. Fans erupted in celebration, storming the court at the conclusion of the game.
Led by standout performances from RaeQuan Battle, who scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Patrick Suemnick, who contributed a career-high 20 points, West Virginia set the pace early on with impressive 3-point shooting. The Mountaineers showcased their tenacity throughout the game, outworking the Jayhawks and ultimately securing crucial free throws at the end.
This victory for West Virginia adds to a growing trend of top 10 teams suffering losses on the road against unranked opponents. With No. 9 ranked Baylor also losing to Texas on Saturday, this season has seen a total of 21 such losses, matching the record set in the 1965-66 season. The AP Poll era has witnessed an unprecedented number of upsets in the month of January.
Despite trailing during most of the second half, Kansas reclaimed the lead with just 2 minutes and 41 seconds remaining. However, Suemnick quickly responded with a clutch bank shot over Hunter Dickinson to secure the lead for West Virginia once again. The Mountaineers sealed their victory by converting nine of their final 10 free throw attempts in the last 34 seconds of the game.
Kerr Kriisa made significant contributions for West Virginia, adding 15 points to the team’s total. On the other side, Kevin McCullar Jr. led Kansas with an impressive 24 points, while Dickinson scored 19. Freshman Johnny Furphy had a strong start for Kansas, hitting three 3-pointers and grabbing three rebounds in the first four minutes. However, his scoring halted for the majority of the game, and he finished with 13 points overall.
Despite being the Big 12’s poorest 3-point shooting team, West Virginia defied expectations by making 12 of their 21 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 57%. This significant improvement in their shooting performance played a pivotal role in their victory over Kansas.
The Mountaineers’ triumph over the Jayhawks marks an important turning point for the team, ending their longstanding losing streak in the series and sparking hope for future success. With their determination and impressive performance on full display, West Virginia demonstrated that they’re a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
(Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.)