West Virginia was able to end their four-game losing streak against the Louisville Cardinals with a score of 77-74, in a game full of runs. Both teams were able to push their once holding leads to double digits, but never managed to hang on to it.

West Virginia managed to come out the gates firing and scorching on Louisville’s defense scoring the first 13 points, which was the largest lead of the game. The Cardinals (13-8, 4-4 Big East) was able to maintain the Mountaineer’s first half rally by knocking down seven three-pointers. Peyton Siva accounted for three of the seven made.

The Mountaineers seemed they were out of the game with 6:37 left as they were down 72-59 but they did not give up. West Virginia went on a 12-0 run in just 3:36 of work which was led by Kevin Jones, scoring the last nine points of the run. West Virginia’s defense allowed only 3 field goals in the final 9:57 in what triggered the Mountaineers’ second half run.

Da’sean Butler paced the Mountaineers (17-3, 6-2 Big East) with a season-high 27 points, but none bigger than his go-ahead basket with 16 seconds left to play. With Butler’s basket, West Virginia led 75-74. Reginald Delk attempted a three with just 9 seconds left but was unsuccessful. After the miss the ball carried out-of-bounds after what appeared to be an ordinary rebound by Devin Ebanks, but Butler accidentally knocked it out of his hands to, what then made it, a fight for the ball between the two and Louisville’s Rakeem Buckles. The call was not delayed as the baseline referee appeared to have ducked out of the way to avoid contact. It was eventually ruled West Virginia’s ball in a controversial call.

The starters for West Virginia accounted for all but five points. Kevin Jones was able to put in 16 points and Wellington Smith with 12. Darryl Bryant continues to prove himself at the PG position, having just one turnover in the heat of Louisville’s pressure, both five steals and assists, and contributing 8 points.

West Virginia will be back in action at the Coliseum against the #17 Pittsburgh Panthers at 7:00 p.m. Deniz Kilicli, a 6″9 freshmen from Turkey, will finally be able to get his season debut after being suspended for the previous 20 games for playing for his country where a player on his team was getting paid.