West Virginia Late FG Too Much For Buffalo
March 20, 2015
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| Quick Stats |
BUFF |
WVU |
| Points |
62 |
68 |
| FG Made - Attempted |
20-44 |
22-49 |
| FG Percentage |
.455 |
.449 |
| 3PT Made - Attempted |
6-16 |
5-16 |
| 3PT Percentage |
.375 |
.313 |
| FT Made - Attempted |
16-25 |
19-27 |
| FT Percentage |
.640 |
.704 |
| Rebounds |
30 |
31 |
| Turnovers |
17 |
12 |
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| Statistical Leaders |
| Buffalo |
Pts |
Rbs |
Asst |
St |
Blk |
| Shannon Evans |
15 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
| Xavier Ford |
16 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| West Virginia |
Pts |
Rbs |
Asst |
St |
Blk |
| Devin Williams |
17 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Juwan Staten |
15 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Tarik Phillip hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left while the shot clock was winding down, adding the clinching points as fifth-seeded West Virginia held off No. 12 Buffalo 68-62 on Friday in their NCAA Tournament opener.
The Mountaineers (24-9) advance to Sunday's game against the winner of 13th-seeded Valparaiso (28-5) and No. 4 Maryland (27-6).
Devin Williams, who led the Mountaineers with 17 points and nine rebounds, hit two free throws with 2:10 left to give his team the lead for good.
Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Buffalo (23-10) did not score over the final 2:42 against the physical Mountaineers.
Juwan Staten had 15 points and seven assists for West Virginia, with Daxter Miles Jr. adding 10 points.
Xavier Ford had 11 of his 16 points in the second half for the Bulls, with Shannon Evans adding 15 points and MAC player of the year Justin Moss, coming back from an injury, had 13 points and seven rebounds.
It was the NCAA Tournament debut for Buffalo, coached by former Duke star Bobby Hurley. He wore the championship ring he got for the Blue Devils' consecutive titles in 1991-92.
Both teams were well represented in the building because of the relatively close proximity. The crowd was loud and boisterous throughout in a game in which defense was the centerpiece.
Down 10 points, the Bulls roared out to start the second half by scoring seven quick points on a 3 by Evans to go with baskets by Moss and Ford. But just as quickly, the Mountaineers answered with five points by Williams on a three-point play and a fastbreak basket.
The lead never got smaller than five points nor greater than 11. West Virginia went 4 minutes without scoring, but the Bulls weren't able to go on a huge run because of the Mountaineers' hand-to-hand combat-style defense.
But Buffalo could play some defense, too, and WVU also had trouble scoring.
The Bulls pulled within a point on a three-point play by Ford, then moments later tied it at 62 on his 3-pointer from the left wing.
Williams hit his two free throws for the lead. Buffalo failed to tie it with 1:39 remaining when Moss's layup went in and out. WVU then missed a 3 but was able to call time out during a wild scrum under the hoop.
With the shot clock down to the last tick or two, Staten drove and flipped a pass to Phillip in front of coach Bob Huggins and the West Virginia bench. As the shot clock buzzed, the ball nestled in the net.
The Mountaineers came out of the blocks as if they would turn the game into a laugher.
Staten's perimeter jumper at the 11:34 mark put them up 20-7 and, despite some early fouls, things had been going WVU's way.
Late in the half, however, the Bulls hit six consecutive shots from the field, getting to 29-26 on Moss' two free throws at the 4:25 mark - on West Virginia's 10th foul.
But, from there to the buzzer, it was all Mountaineers. Jaysean Paige hit a 3, Staten made two free throws and then banked in a left-handed layup in traffic for a 36-26 halftime lead.
True to form, WVU forced 10 turnovers that it transformed into 12 points, but also had 12 fouls - five players with two apiece.