West Virginia senior Jonathan Holton blocked a layup attempt from Kansas State forward Wesley Iwundu with 4.5 seconds remaining in double overtime on Saturday to preserve a valuable road win for the 19th-ranked Mountaineers.
It was probably the biggest play of the day by a West Virginia starter in the 87-83 win. The Mountaineers went into the second overtime without a starter having reached double figures in scoring. That changed early in the second extra period when Daxter Miles Jr made three consecutive free throws to reach 10 points.
When the game ended, Miles was the only starter in double figures with 10 points. The Mountaineers picked up a big effort off the bench from Jaysean Paige, who scored a game-best 25, and Tarik Phillip, who added 14.
Holton's block wasn't the only way the Mountaineers came through down the stretch. The Mountaineers made 10 of 13 free throws in the two overtime periods to clinch the win after starting the game 10-for-18 at the free throw line.
The Mountaineers survived a major gaffe in the final two minutes of regulation when Miles attempted a follow dunk, missed and then unnecessarily huing on the rim in prolonged fashion, including pulling himself up at one point. Officials called a technical foul and Kansas State made two free throws on the other end. Obviously those two points were big, and contributed to the game reaching overtime.
Neither team shoots the ball well from the perimeter or the foul line and that proved true once again with Kansas State going 28-for-43 at the free throw line and making just three of 19 3-point attempt. West Virginia made only three of 20 attempts behind the arc.
While Miles gave Kansas State a gift near the end of regulation. Kansas State big man D.J. Johnson gave his team a chance to win by making four consecutive free throws under pressure late in regulation after starting the season 9for-23 at the foul line.
Barry Brown led the Wildcats with 20 points off the bench, nine of which came in overtime.
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