MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A seven-point halftime lead was no more and West Virginia trailed for the first time in Saturday’s matchup with Colorado when Felix Kossaras scored in transition to put the Buffaloes in front, 43-42.
The Mountaineers offered an ideal response to their only deficit by outscoring the Buffaloes 13-3 over the next 4:27. West Virginia then continued to execute at a high level offensively, strung together consistent stops and dominated the glass to claim a 72-61 victory and remain unbeaten at Hope Coliseum.
“We knew that’s who they were. I thought our guys did a great job of responding, not panicking and getting just enough stops down the stretch,” WVU head coach Ross Hodge said. “Ultimately, rebounding was huge.”
West Virginia (12-6, 3-2) improves to 12-0 at home this season.
With the Mountaineers in front 49-46, Treysen Eaglestaff doubled the advantage by connecting on a triple with 10:32 remaining.
Eaglestaff then scored on a drive to the bucket with 9:10 left to make it 55-46.
“He’s gotten more comfortable. That’s the best way to say it,” Hodge said.
WVU’s advantage was 59-53 with inside 6 minutes to play after Colorado (12-6, 2-3) got a bucket from Sebastian Rancik, but Brenen Lorient canned a corner trey on the next possession.
CU was back to within six when Bangot Dak answered from long range, but Honor Huff banked in a triple with the shot clock winding down to leave WVU with a 65-56 advantage at the 4:26 mark.
“It’s a six-point game, low shot clock and Honor Huff banks in a three and that’s when you know, OK, it’s probably not going to be your night,” Buffaloes’ head coach Tad Boyle said.
Colorado made just one field goal the rest of the way — an Isaiah Johnson three with 15 seconds left for the final points.
WVU, meanwhile, helped its cause at the free-throw line in the second half and made 11-of-14 attempts after going 3 for 8 in the first half.
The Mountaineers still managed a 36-29 lead at the break on the strength of a strong start and dominant rebounding.
WVU led 22-10, and had made 10-of-17 shots after Amir Jenkins scored in the paint to leave the Buffaloes facing a deficit of a dozen.
Eaglestaff was instrumental in the successful start and made each of his first five field-goal attempts. He went to halftime leading all players with 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
WVU grabbed 19 first-half rebounds, including six on the offensive end that led to eight second-chance points. Colorado had seven total boards at the break, including one offensive rebound.
West Virginia finished with a 38-22 rebounding edge for the game.
“We can’t come into another team’s building and get punked by 16 on the glass and expect to win,” Boyle said. “It’s not going to happen.”
Eaglestaff led all players with 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting.
“I never tell myself I’m going to go off a certain game and I never have since I was a kid,” Eaglestaff said. “When I get into a game, my mind goes blank and I just play basketball.”
He was joined in double figures by three teammate — Huff (14), Lorient (12) and Harlan Obioha (10).
Lorient and Obioha paced the Mountaineers with nine boards apiece.
Most of Lorient’s production came after halftime, when he scored seven points on three field-goal attempts and grabbed eight boards.
“In the first half, I had a couple turnovers and missed shots. When that happens, coach Hodge always tells me to stay connected to the game and just play hard,” Lorient said. “When you play hard and lose yourself in those things, you’ll be better in the end.”
The Mountaineers shot 52 percent (26 for 50) and made 20-of-28 two-point field goals.
After shooting a plenty respectable 12 for 26 in the first half, the Buffaloes were 10 for 30 over the final 20 minutes.
Barrington Hargress led CU with 15 points. Johnson followed with 12, Dak scored 11 and Rancik added 10.
“We had enough good shots to win that game, but they finished better than we did,” Boyle said. “They shoot 52 percent, we shoot 39 percent.”