Opinion

Staten goes ‘Edney’ to lift Mountaineers over Kansas

A column by Mitch Vingle, sports editor for The Charleston Gazette

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The crowd was down at Monday’s Kansas-WVU basketball game because of snowstorm Octavia.

But those present sure were up after Juwan Staten blew through the Coliseum.

Staten’s full-court completed drive to the rim gave the No. 23 Mountaineers a 62-61 win over No. 8 Kansas. It not only blew away KU, which failed to collapse on the guard, it blew life into the second half of the West Virginia season.

Octavia? Afterward there was hysteria. Many of the 7,033 in attendance rushed the court in celebration.

“It’s big, man,” said Mountaineer sophomore Devin Williams. “No. 8 [Kansas]. We were short some fans tonight [because of the snow] but those that were here came through.

“Even before we went down and scored I saw they were ready to hit the court. They had faith in us and, more importantly, we had faith in ourselves.”

One might think that would be difficult. Since Feb. 3, WVU had lost by 19 to Oklahoma. And by 18 to Baylor. And by 20 to Iowa State.

The focus on the Mountaineers had moved from what seed they would get in the NCAA tournament to if they would get in the NCAA tournament.

But within seconds late Monday night much changed…

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