Tucker DeVries and Amani Hansberry Lead West Virginia to Narrow Victory

On Friday night, West Virginia overcame a significant halftime deficit to secure a 75-69 victory against UMass in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers initially led the game but found themselves trailing by as much as 17 points at halftime. UMass regrouped in the second half with a strong defensive performance that restricted West Virginia’s scoring opportunities, limiting them to just six baskets out of 24 attempts. Despite being outscored 41-30 in the second half, West Virginia maintained their advantage through effective free throw shooting. The Mountaineers executed critical free throws in the closing minutes, making 15 of 18 in the second half, which ultimately allowed them to fend off UMass's comeback attempts. UMass, trailing by double digits late in the game, mounted several scoring runs led by Rahsool Diggins and Daniel Rivera but could not complete the comeback. Rivera’s late efforts brought the game to a tense conclusion, but West Virginia’s free throw success proved decisive. Tucker DeVries was an essential contributor, despite attempting only seven shots, successfully making three 3-pointers and eight of nine from the charity stripe, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Amani Hansberry supported with 16 points and six rebounds. UMass's effort included standout performances from multiple players, including Diggins and Rivera, but ultimately came up short against the Mountaineers. West Virginia improved to a record of 2-0 with this victory, demonstrating resilience and strategic execution under pressure, while UMass fell to 1-1 for the season.