West Virginia Advances to NCAA Semifinals After Overtime Thriller

Mountaineers rally late to defeat Stanford in Vegas tournament

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of the West Virginia vs Stanford basketball game, with the teams' colors of blue, gold, and red creating a dynamic, fragmented visual composition.West Virginia's dramatic comeback victory over Stanford sets the stage for an exciting NCAA semifinal matchup.Stanford Today

In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup, the West Virginia Mountaineers came from behind to defeat the Stanford Cardinal 82-77 in overtime and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament in Las Vegas.

Why it matters

This victory marks a significant achievement for the West Virginia program, which has not reached the NCAA semifinals since 2018. The hard-fought win over a perennial powerhouse like Stanford showcases the Mountaineers' resilience and ability to perform under pressure on the big stage.

The details

With Stanford leading late in regulation, West Virginia's Honor Huff hit three clutch free throws to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra period, Huff then scored seven consecutive points to propel the Mountaineers to the victory.

  • The game was played on April 3, 2026 in Las Vegas.
  • West Virginia and Stanford were competing in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament.

The players

Honor Huff

A key player for the West Virginia Mountaineers who made the game-saving free throws in regulation and scored seven straight points in overtime to lead his team to victory.

West Virginia Mountaineers

The men's basketball team from West Virginia University, who rallied late to defeat Stanford and advance to the NCAA semifinals.

Stanford Cardinal

The men's basketball team from Stanford University, a perennial NCAA tournament contender who fell just short against West Virginia in the quarterfinals.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys showed so much heart and determination to battle back and win this game. I'm really proud of the fight they displayed out there.”

— Bob Huggins, Head Coach, West Virginia Mountaineers

“It's a tough way to end our season, but Stanford has a lot to be proud of. We gave it everything we had against a very good West Virginia team.”

— Jerod Haase, Head Coach, Stanford Cardinal

What’s next

West Virginia will now advance to the NCAA semifinals, where they will face the winner of the other quarterfinal matchup.

The takeaway

This thrilling overtime victory showcases West Virginia's ability to win close games against top-tier opponents, a trait that will serve them well as they continue their quest for an NCAA championship.