West Virginia Falls Short in the First Round of the Big 12 Championship

Kansas City - Cincinnati junior forward Simas Lukošius put up 26 second half points, leading all scorers on the day with 31 points, and lead the Bearcats (19-11) in a 16-point second half comeback over the West Virginia Mountaineers (9-23) in the first round of the Big 12 Championship Tuesday afternoon 90-85.

Cincinnati took an early seven-point advantage, 12-5, while the Mountaineers shot 4-12 from the field. 

The Bearcats maintained their seven-point lead near the midway point of the first half until the Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run, capped off by senior guard RaeQuan Battle's emphatic dunk off a Cincinnati turnover to claim a 21-19 lead. 

West Virginia led by five with 19 seconds remaining in the half after senior center Jesse Edwards was on the receiving of an alley-oop but a three from junior guard Day Day Thomas to cut it two as the Mountaineers led 38-36 at halftime. 

West Virginia senior guard Kerr Kriisa sparked a 10-3 with a three as the Mountaineers extended their lead to nine, 48-39, within the first two minutes of the second half. 

The Mountaineers stretched their lead to 16 with Kriisa leading the charge with nine points, However, junior forward Simas Lukošius got hot, leading a 20-4 run, going 4-4 from behind the arc with 16 points to tie the game at 68.

West Virginia went on a 5-0 spurt, but Thomas hit consecutive three to reclaim he Cincinatti lead 83-82 with just under three minutes left to play. 

Jesse Edwards regained the Mountaineers lead with an offensive putback, but the Bearcats finished the game, outscoring West Virginia 7-1 to take the 90-85 victory.