West Virginia’s belief never wavered.
Despite trailing for all but 1:07 of the second half and again by six in overtime, the Mountaineers closed on a 13-0 run Sunday night to defeat Oklahoma, 89-82, and secure a College Basketball Crown Championship inside T-Mobile Arena.
“Like this group has shown an ability to do all year long, when it looked like we were just about done for, their competitive spirt, togetherness and love for each other kicks in,” Mountaineer coach Ross Hodge said. “We made big plays and started getting stops.”
With the game tied at 71 late in regulation, Oklahoma guard Nijel Pack and WVU guard Honor Huff traded three-pointers, before a Sooners’ turnover left the Mountaineers in possession.
WVU (21-14) took its only second-half lead on Huff’s two free throws with 33 seconds remaining, and OU (21-16) got even at 76 when Tae Davis scored from close range.
Huff’s challenged finger roll that would’ve meant a regulation victory was off the mark, sending the game to an extra session.
“Just an incredible basketball game,” Hodge said. “A lot of ebbs and flows.”
The 2026 @CBBCrown goes to @WVUhoops 🤩👑 pic.twitter.com/L7x5qVu8zA
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 6, 2026
Oklahoma scored six straight to start OT, including Pack’s layup off a turnover for an 82-76 advantage with 3:19 left.
Starting with Jasper Floyd’s triple, it was all Mountaineers the rest of the way, and they were even at 82 with 2:14 remaining when Huff made his eighth and final trey.
Floyd made a challenged three with 1:23 remaining late in the shot clock to give Hodge’s team the lead for good, and after Harlan Obioha blocked Davis, Pack committed an ill-advised foul in the backcourt on Huff, who made two free throws for a five-point advantage.
Following another WVU defensive stop, Huff sealed the verdict by making two more foul shots with 37 seconds to play.
West Virginia scored the first eight points and Huff made all five of his three-point attempts over the opening 9:25 to stake the Mountaineers to a 26-11 lead.
“He didn’t make one in the first [CBC] game, so the law of averages tells you he’s going to make a couple,” Hodge said. “League play is such a grind and there’s such a familiarity with each other. The time off probably helped get fresh and get some rejuvenation. Our guys did a great job of making the right play and made shots.”
However, it was all Oklahoma the remainder of the first half.
After trailing 28-15, the Sooners ran off 21 of the next 23 points, a stretch that featured a dozen in consecutive fashion, and then another nine straight, the last of which came from Xzayvier Brown’s layup for a 36-30 advantage 2:28 before halftime.
“Honor got us off to an incredible start with his shot-making. We knew they were going to answer,” Hodge said. “They have so much talent on the offensive end. We didn’t defend great, but they had a lot to do with it. They put us in space and put us in tough positions.”
Oklahoma led 41-37 at the break and continued to score consistently in the early stages of the second half, gaining a 52-42 advantage on Pack’s three 3:31 into the second half.
The Sooners had separate 13-point leads, including at 59-46 when Brown scored on a jump shot at the 14:16 mark.
WVU countered with eight points of its next three possessions, including Brenen Lorient’s three to draw to within seven at 61-54.
Moore scored the Mountaineers’ next six points, including one free throw for a 64-60 deficit at the 7:47 mark.
Oklahoma was on top by seven with 4:18 left when Davis scored, but Huff connected from long range to make it a four-point margin, and then made two free throws at the 2:38 mark.
Lorient scored inside 53 seconds later to tie the game.
Huff led all players with 38 points on 9-for-19 shooting, including 8 for 15 on threes. It’s the most points for a Mountaineer in any game since Da’Sean Butler’s 43 in 2009 against Villanova.
“These guys give me the confidence and a next-shot mentality that the next one is going to go in,” Huff said. “Coach always tells me, ‘shoot it, bang it.’ He always tells me that on the sideline in my ear. They have the utmost confidence and always have since the first game of the season. When you have people that galvanize around you, I can do no wrong missing shots. We worry about other intangibles to win games.”
Huff, who scored 72 points over three CBC games, was 12 for 12 on free throws against OU and made 25-of-27 foul shots in the three games in Las Vegas.
“He’s probably the best shooter I’ve ever played with,” Lorient said, “and I’m just happy I was here to play with him.”
HONOR HUFF IS YOUR 2026 CROWN MVP 👑 @WVUhoops pic.twitter.com/RNH1i8bsRz
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 6, 2026
Moore made 7-of-8 field-goal attempts and scored 19 to go with a game-high 10 rebounds, while Lorient scored 15, made 6-of-8 shots and added eight boards.
The Mountaineers were 15 for 33 on threes and made 18-of-23 free throws.
“Kind of an unsung hero in the game was Harlan [Obioha]. He got in a little bit of foul trouble in the first half, and only scored one basket in the game, but he was a plus-35 and really anchored us in the paint,” Hodge said. “Jasper made big shots. Chance got us going in the second half driving the ball. A monster effort from everybody.”
Pack led the Sooners with 24 points and Davis scored 19. Brown added 13 to make in three double-figure scorers for both squads.
CBC is an eight-team postseason event in its second year of existence. Nebraska defeated Central Florida in the title game of the inaugural CBC, which featured 16 teams last year.
“Nothing ever comes bad from winning,” Hodge said. “Winning can be contagious in a lot of ways and use these experiences to hopefully put you in position to one day be playing in the game tomorrow night. That’s the ultimate goal.”
2026 College Basketball Crown All-Tournament Team
Honor Huff, West Virginia (MVP)
Brenan Lorient, West Virginia
Nijel Pack, Oklahoma
Jasen Green, Creighton
Cameron Carr, Baylor