The Hope Coliseum in Morgantown was rocking on Saturday afternoon as West Virginia University delivered a statement win, upsetting No. 22 Kansas 86-75 in a thrilling Big 12 basketball clash. In front of a near-capacity crowd of 13,743, the Mountaineers flipped the script on their recent struggles, using a dominant second half and a stifling defensive effort to secure their first Quad 1 victory of the season—and the first ranked win under new head coach Ross Hodge.
Things didn’t start out looking rosy for WVU. Kansas, led by top NBA prospect Darryn Peterson, jumped out to an early lead after Melvin Council Jr. knocked down a pair of free throws to open the scoring. Senior forward Brenen Lorient quickly responded for the Mountaineers, tying the game and making his presence felt after missing a recent contest due to concussion protocol. By halftime, Lorient had poured in 16 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Still, Kansas held a 43-39 edge at the break, thanks to a late surge and seven straight points to close the half.
But if the Jayhawks thought they had the game in hand, the Mountaineers had other ideas. The second half belonged to WVU, and it was a showcase of grit, discipline, and timely shot-making. Kansas extended its lead to eight points—59-51—when Tre White drained a three-pointer with just under 15 minutes left. That’s when the tide turned. Suddenly, Kansas went ice cold, missing eight consecutive shots as West Virginia’s defense locked in. The Mountaineers seized the moment, rattling off a 16-0 run over a seven-minute stretch that electrified the building and left the Jayhawks reeling.
“I thought our gameplan discipline got better as the game went on,” Coach Ross Hodge explained after the game. “That was what was frustrating early is we just weren’t doing what we were being asked to do. Where can your help come from? How can you funnel it? Finally, we kind of got to a group—and this one happened to be our starting group—and they were able to keep them out of the paint and contested their shots.”
The defensive turnaround was dramatic. After being outscored in the paint in the first half, WVU’s connected effort closed off driving lanes and forced the Jayhawks into tough looks. Kansas managed just 31% shooting in the second half and was held scoreless for over five minutes during the Mountaineers’ game-changing run. On the other end, WVU executed with precision, scoring on 21 of its 33 second-half possessions—a scorching 63.6% success rate.
Senior guard Honor Huff was the catalyst, erupting for 17 of his game-high 23 points after halftime. Huff’s back-to-back three-pointers during the 8-0 spurt ignited the crowd, and his four-point play—draining a deep triple while getting fouled and then sinking the free throw—pushed the Mountaineers’ lead to double digits. His poise at the line was crucial down the stretch, especially after a technical foul on the Kansas bench allowed him to ice the game with two more free throws.
“We made more free throws than they attempted, which is not very often that happens,” Hodge remarked, highlighting the Mountaineers’ 21-of-29 performance at the charity stripe compared to Kansas’ 15-of-18. That aggressiveness was a key difference-maker on a day when every possession mattered.
While Huff was dazzling on the perimeter, Lorient continued his strong play, finishing with 18 points and six assists. His early scoring helped keep WVU afloat, and his leadership was evident throughout. Treysen Eaglestaff chipped in 12 points, including a pair of timely threes, while Jasper Floyd provided a spark with seven points during the decisive second-half run. Center Harlan Obioha delivered perhaps his best performance of the season, notching an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double and coming up with clutch rebounds and second-chance points when the Mountaineers needed them most.
“For WVU to have any chance in this one, they needed this type of performance out of him,” wrote Schuyler Callihan of West Virginia On SI, praising Obioha’s aggression and confidence inside. The Mountaineers’ ability to out-rebound Kansas 38-32 and limit turnovers proved vital in a game where every hustle play counted.
Kansas, for its part, was led by Darryn Peterson’s 23 points, but the star guard was visibly frustrated in the second half, frequently checking himself out as the Jayhawks tried to mount a comeback. Tre White added 18 points, and Melvin Council Jr. finished with 11, but the visitors simply couldn’t find the answers against a WVU defense that was firing on all cylinders. The Jayhawks have now dropped three straight to West Virginia in Morgantown, with Hope Coliseum becoming a house of horrors for the blue blood program—Kansas is just 5-8 all-time in the building.
“The amount of force they put on the rim… I was talking to our team before the game, and it really is like three Chance Moores coming at you consistently. We got a little spread out and just didn’t keep the ball out of the paint for so many minutes of (the first half). But eventually, we were able to keep the ball out of the paint, and when they did miss, we were able to come up with rebounds,” Hodge explained, crediting his team’s second-half adjustments.
The victory is a massive boost for West Virginia (11-5, 2-1 Big 12), not only snapping a string of missed opportunities against top competition but also serving as a confidence-builder heading into a daunting matchup at No. 7 Houston on Tuesday night. For a program seeking a new identity under Coach Hodge, Saturday’s performance was a glimpse of what’s possible when the Mountaineers are dialed in on both ends of the floor.
As the final buzzer sounded, the celebration was on. Players, coaches, and fans joined together to sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” a tradition that felt especially sweet after such a hard-fought, resume-boosting win. With their first ranked victory of the season in hand and momentum on their side, the Mountaineers now set their sights on Houston, eager to prove that this breakthrough was no fluke.
Saturday’s win wasn’t just about the numbers—it was a testament to resilience, teamwork, and belief. If this is the new standard for West Virginia basketball, the rest of the Big 12 had better take notice.
