LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth battle that required an extra five minutes to decide, the West Virginia Mountaineers outlasted the Stanford Cardinal 82-77 in overtime in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena.

The contest was a tale of two star guards and a decisive advantage in points off turnovers, with West Virginia capitalizing on Stanford’s mistakes to secure the victory and improve its season record to 19-14. Stanford, which fell to 20-13, was led by a spectacular individual effort that ultimately fell short.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final minute of regulation and into the overtime period. With the score tied at 68-68 after 40 minutes, West Virginia seized control early in the extra session. The Mountaineers scored the first seven points, a surge fueled by defense and free throws. Harlan Obioha converted a three-point play, and Jasper Floyd hit two free throws after a Stanford turnover to build a 75-68 lead with 3:39 remaining.

Stanford, which had fought back from a six-point deficit with under three minutes left in the second half to force overtime, suddenly found its offense stifled. The Cardinal managed just one field goal in the first four minutes of overtime, a layup by Ebuka Okorie, while West Virginia methodically extended its lead at the foul line. Honor Huff and Brenen Lorient combined to hit five free throws in the final 1:23 to seal the win, as Stanford’s last-gasp three-point attempts failed to connect.

The game was a showcase for Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie. The junior from Nashua, New Hampshire, delivered a career performance, pouring in 34 points and dishing out five assists in 42 minutes. He relentlessly attacked the rim, drawing fouls and keeping the Cardinal in contention throughout the night. His driving layup with 1:38 left in the second half tied the game at 65, setting the stage for the dramatic finish to regulation.

West Virginia, however, had a balanced and timely answer. Honor Huff, the Brooklyn, New York, native, led the Mountaineers with 21 points, including several crucial baskets and free throws in overtime. Forward Treysen Eaglestaff added 18 points, and Brenen Lorient provided a strong interior presence with 14 points and three blocked shots.

The statistical difference proved decisive. West Virginia scored 18 points off Stanford’s turnovers, more than doubling the Cardinal’s output of eight points off Mountaineer mistakes. This margin directly compensated for Stanford’s efficiency in the paint, where they held a slight 38-34 edge in scoring. West Virginia also won the battle on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, securing key second-chance opportunities.

Stanford started slowly, trailing 35-29 at halftime as West Virginia’s defense forced tough shots. The Cardinal found its rhythm after the break, erupting for 39 second-half points behind Okorie’s brilliance. A 10-2 run midway through the half gave Stanford its largest lead at 51-45, but West Virginia responded with a 12-4 spurt of its own to retake the lead, setting up the tense final minutes.

For Stanford, Aidan Cammann contributed 12 points and AJ Rohosy added 10. West Virginia received key minutes from DJ Thomas and Chance Moore, who each scored eight points, with Moore adding several important rebounds and a block.

The game was a physical affair, with both teams reaching the bonus early in each half. West Virginia ultimately made more of its opportunities from the charity stripe, particularly in the overtime period where they scored nine of their 14 points from the line.

Stanford, which entered the game having won three of its last four, including a narrow one-point road victory over North Carolina State, could not overcome its miscues in the clutch. West Virginia, coming off a 20-point loss to BYU, righted the ship with a resilient performance, overcoming a stellar individual effort to secure a five-point victory in the desert.