It was a Valentine's Day to remember in Orlando, as West Virginia staged yet another jaw-dropping comeback, rallying from 14 points down in the second half to stun UCF 74-67 at Addition Financial Arena. For the second time in just over a week, the Mountaineers clawed their way back from a daunting deficit on the road, showing the kind of resilience that could make them a real threat as postseason play approaches.
Fans who packed the arena were treated to a rollercoaster of emotions. UCF, boasting home victories this season over powerhouses like Kansas and Texas Tech, looked in control for much of the night. The Knights, led by Themus Fulks’ 19 points, held a slim 29-28 advantage at halftime, then turned up the heat after the break. Over the first seven minutes of the second half, UCF outscored West Virginia 23-10, stretching their lead to 14 and sending their supporters into a frenzy.
But as the Mountaineers have proven recently, no lead is safe. Just nine days earlier, they erased a similar deficit at Cincinnati, and on this night, lightning struck twice. The comeback began when Chance Moore’s layup stopped a UCF 7-0 run, igniting a surge that saw West Virginia score 16 of the next 23 points. Suddenly, the Knights’ lead was trimmed to just one, 54-53, with 7:26 remaining.
Then came the heroics. Jasper Floyd, a Tampa native playing in front of more than 60 friends and family, drilled a three-pointer with 6:25 left to tie the game at 56. Floyd, who finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals, delivered his best scoring night since the season opener against Mount St. Mary’s. "Jasper hit some monster shots down the stretch and played tremendous defense," West Virginia coach Ross Hodge said after the game, clearly pleased with the Florida resident’s performance under pressure.
Yet the night’s biggest fireworks belonged to senior guard Honor Huff. After a first half to forget, Huff exploded for 18 of his game-high 21 points after intermission. With the score knotted, Huff simply took over, pouring in West Virginia’s next 13 points and giving the Mountaineers a commanding 69-62 lead with just 59 seconds left. UCF, which came into the night averaging a robust 82.4 points per game, could muster just two field goals in the final 5:29—by far their lowest home tally of the season.
“I thought we had the game where we needed it,” Hodge observed. “The pace was where we needed it and we just didn’t start the second half great. A lot of it was our turnovers. They are so explosive in transition and (Themus) Fulks is so good. You open up that floor and put their athletes out there running and it was turnover, two dribbles and layup.”
It wasn’t just Huff and Floyd getting it done for the Mountaineers. Brenen Lorient chipped in with 11 points, providing crucial support as West Virginia improved to 16-9 overall and 7-5 in Big 12 play. The Mountaineers are now 3-3 in true road games, with three more away contests looming at TCU, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. Every game matters as the standings tighten and postseason dreams hang in the balance.
On the other side, UCF’s Fulks did his best to keep the Knights in it, driving through defenders and finding ways to score. The Knights also saw contributions from Devan Cambridge, Riley Kugel, and John Bol, the latter of whom made his presence felt with blocks and inside scoring. The UCF band, mascot Knightro, and a sea of cheerleaders kept the energy high throughout the evening, but the Knights just couldn’t find their rhythm late.
Statistically, the Mountaineers’ defense was the difference-maker. West Virginia limited UCF to just 30 scores on 67 possessions—a 44.8% scoring rate—and forced turnovers on nearly 20% of the Knights’ trips down the court. The Mountaineers shot .433 from the field and .842 from the free throw line, while UCF managed .421 and .813, respectively. On the boards, West Virginia out-rebounded UCF 37-31, and turnovers were nearly even, with the Mountaineers committing 11 to the Knights’ 13.
“They let me coach them hard and direct, and in those moments, they allow me to be brutally honest,” Hodge said of his team’s trust. “They might not like what is coming out of my mouth, but they trust me enough to know he’s telling me the truth.” That trust was on full display as the Mountaineers weathered UCF’s early second-half storm and responded with poise and intensity.
This win could have significant postseason implications. West Virginia entered the night ranked 63rd in the NCAA NET, 62nd in KenPom, and 44th in ESPN’s BPI. UCF, by contrast, was 44th in the NET, 50th in KenPom, and 59th in BPI. The victory not only boosts the Mountaineers’ resume but also moves them into a tie with 22nd-ranked BYU for sixth place in the fiercely competitive Big 12 standings. It also creates a bit of separation from a logjam of teams including UCF and TCU (both 6-6 in conference) and Cincinnati (5-7).
The atmosphere in Orlando was electric, with the UCF band and cheerleaders keeping spirits high and Knightro, the beloved mascot, receiving Valentine’s Day flowers. The action on the court matched the occasion’s energy, with highlight plays like Chance Moore’s slam dunk over UCF’s John Bol and Riley Kugel weaving through Mountaineer defenders. Coaches Ross Hodge and Johnny Dawkins were animated on the sidelines, pushing their squads through every run and momentum swing.
Looking ahead, West Virginia returns home to the Coliseum for a matchup against Utah on Wednesday night, February 18. With their confidence surging and their postseason hopes alive and well, the Mountaineers are peaking at just the right time. Meanwhile, UCF will look to regroup after suffering just their third home loss of the year—a testament to how tough they’ve been in Orlando all season.
For West Virginia, this Valentine’s Day comeback wasn’t just about another tick in the win column. It was about grit, belief, and the kind of team chemistry that can turn a season around. With the Big 12 race heating up and every game carrying weight, the Mountaineers have shown they’re never out of a fight. Orlando witnessed it firsthand—and the rest of the conference has been put on notice.