West Virginia Advances to The Crown Semifinal

Mountaineers rally late to beat Stanford, set up showdown with Creighton

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:06pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a basketball game, with the players' movements and the court's lines broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant, energetic composition.West Virginia's thrilling comeback victory sets the stage for a high-stakes semifinal showdown with Creighton in the prestigious Crown tournament.Morgantown Today

The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team overcame a late deficit to defeat Stanford in overtime and advance to the semifinal of The Crown, a prestigious national tournament. The win sets up a matchup with Creighton, who also advanced, in the semifinal round with a chance to play for the championship on the line.

Why it matters

West Virginia's run to the semifinal of The Crown is a major accomplishment for the program, which has faced inconsistency throughout the season. The Mountaineers' ability to rally late and win in overtime showcases their resilience and potential to make a deep tournament run.

The details

Down four points with under 20 seconds remaining in regulation, West Virginia guard Honor Huff hit three free throws to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra period, the Mountaineers took control and pulled away for an 82-77 victory over Stanford. The win sets up a semifinal matchup with Creighton, who defeated Rutgers in their quarterfinal game.

  • The West Virginia-Stanford game took place on April 3, 2026.
  • The semifinal matchup between West Virginia and Creighton will take place in the coming days.

The players

Honor Huff

A West Virginia guard who hit three crucial free throws in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Greg

The head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team.

Creighton

The opponent that West Virginia will face in the semifinal of The Crown tournament.

Rutgers

The team that Creighton defeated in the quarterfinal round of The Crown.

Stanford

The team that West Virginia defeated in the quarterfinal round of The Crown.

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What’s next

The winner of the West Virginia-Creighton semifinal will advance to the championship game of The Crown tournament.

The takeaway

West Virginia's improbable comeback victory over Stanford showcases the team's resilience and ability to win close games, setting up a high-stakes semifinal matchup with Creighton for a chance to play for the tournament championship.