West Virginia rallies past Cincinnati with second-half surge

Mountaineers erase 12-point deficit, win 59-54 on the road

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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West Virginia overcame a slow start and a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat host Cincinnati 59-54 on Thursday. Honor Huff sparked a 14-0 second-half run with 11 straight points, and DJ Thomas hit two late 3-pointers to put the Mountaineers ahead for good. Cincinnati led by as many as 13 in the first half, but West Virginia found its shooting touch after the break to rally for the victory.

Why it matters

This was an important Big 12 Conference win for West Virginia, which improved to 15-8 overall and 6-4 in league play. The loss drops Cincinnati to 11-12 on the season and 3-7 in conference, falling below .500 for the first time in head coach Wes Miller's five-year tenure.

The details

West Virginia trailed 30-20 at halftime but stormed back in the second half, using a 14-0 run sparked by 11 straight points from Honor Huff to take the lead. DJ Thomas then hit two clutch 3-pointers in the final minutes to put the Mountaineers ahead for good. Cincinnati had built its first-half lead thanks to a 12-0 run, with Jizzle James scoring 10 of his team-high 18 points in the opening five minutes.

  • West Virginia trailed 30-20 at halftime.
  • Honor Huff sparked a 14-0 West Virginia run in the second half.
  • DJ Thomas hit two late 3-pointers to put West Virginia ahead for good.

The players

Honor Huff

West Virginia forward who scored 11 straight points to fuel his team's second-half comeback.

DJ Thomas

West Virginia guard who hit two crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes to give his team the lead.

Jizzle James

Cincinnati guard who scored a team-high 18 points, including 10 in the first five minutes to help the Bearcats build an early lead.

Wes Miller

Cincinnati head coach, in his fifth season, whose team fell below .500 for the first time under his leadership.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This comeback win shows the resilience of the West Virginia team, which was able to overcome a large first-half deficit on the road against a conference opponent. The Mountaineers' ability to find their shooting touch in the second half and make key plays down the stretch will be an important confidence boost as they continue their push for a strong finish to the Big 12 season.