Jesse Edwards fuels West Virginia past Cincinnati

Field Level Media|published: Wed 31st January, 21:48 2024

Jan 31, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Noah Farrakhan (1) shoots a jumper during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at WVU Coliseum. credits: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Jesse Edwards celebrated his return to the starting lineup by scoring a season-high 25 points to lead West Virginia to a 69-65 victory over Cincinnati in Big 12 play Wednesday night in Morgantown, W. Va.

A transfer from Syracuse who last weekend made his first appearance since injuring his wrist over a month earlier, Edwards was 9-of-9 from the floor for 19 points in the second half after going 2-of-8 for six points in the opening period. He also had 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.

He struggled from the free-throw line, going 3-of-9, but one of his makes came with 21.9 seconds left and gave the Mountaineers (8-13, 3-5 Big 12) a 67-63 cushion.

Quinn Slazinski finished with 15 points and RaeQuan Battle scored 10 for West Virginia.

Dan Skillings Jr. led the Bearcats (14-7, 3-5 Big 12) with 15 points. Simas Lukosius added 13 points and Day Day Thomas scored 10.

Cincinnati opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Thomas to put the Bearcats up 30-23, but the Mountaineers responded with a 9-0 run to assume a 32-30 lead less than three minutes into the period.

The two teams were tied five times after that, the last at 60-60 after the Bearcats had built a double-digit lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Thomas gave Cincy a 55-50 advantage. Skillings followed with a 3-pointer and Lukosius added a jumper in the lane to give the Bearcats a 60-50 cushion.

It didn't last long. Edwards (8 points) and Slazinski (4) put together a 12-0 surge that gave the Mountaineers a 62-60 edge. Battle answered Lukosius' 3-pointer with one of his own to give West Virginia the lead for good at 63-62.

Scoring runs were woven throughout the game.

West Virginia went on a 10-0 scoring run to take an early 12-7 lead, but Cincinnati later had an 8-0 run that put the Bearcats up 25-19 with 3:46 left in the half.

The Bearcats led 27-23 at the break as both teams struggled from the floor. West Virginia shot only 37 percent in the first half but finished the game shooting 47.1. Cincinnati shot 37.9 percent in the loss.

—Field Level Media