Suemnick

“Country Roads” echoed throughout the cavernous WVU Coliseum as the announced crowd of 12,208 busily told the unlikely tale of a Mountaineer team riddled by uncertainty and untidy defense downing one of the nation’s top-rated teams.

West Virginia’s offensive statistics were nothing short of immaculate.

Making 21-of-25 free throws (including the clutch-time 9-of-10 in the game’s final 34 seconds), connecting on 12-of-21 three-point attempts, going 29-for-56 from the field and handing out a season high 19 assists, the polished-appearing Mountaineers even outrebounded the Jayhawks, 31-22.

The free-flowing game saw 18 lead changes and 10 ties before the Mountaineers were able to brush aside the Kansas strategy that repeatedly sent them to the foul line as the game reached the end.

Farrakhan

The offensive-minded first half ended in a 51-51 tie.

West Virginia was scalding hot with its long range shooting. Kansas was just as peppery with its offensive efficiency.

Patrick Suemnick, who had his first start of the season only days before against Kansas State, scored 20 points.

RaeQuan Battle (when he wasn’t diving for loose balls) had 23 points and nine rebounds. Kerr Kriisa notched 15 points.

In his 15 minutes off the bench, Seth Wilson scored nine points. One-time starter Quinn Slazinski scored eight points and another long-time regular now non-starter, Noah Farrakhan, added six assists in his reserve role.

Slazinski

The Mountaineers went to 7-11 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12 standings. The Jayhawks dipped to 15-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 ranks.

As “Country Roads” rang out, trying to compete with the on-court wildness, it had been a hail of three-pointers and made free throws by the Mountaineers, who happily helped the upbeat crowd celebrate the taming of Kansas.

As the still-loud crowd exited WVU Coliseum, many were wondering what would come from the team in its next conference games as its well-oiled performance made people guess at its chances of doing the same things later in the puzzling season.

No matter. This win was one that will be long remembered.

Wilson

Battle