SAN JOSE, Calif. — West Virginia had 37 seconds, worlds of time to make up a 61-58 deficit, beginning with the option of driving for a quick two and setting up its press.
Instead, the final possession disintegrated.
An air-balled 3 from Jevon Carter, who had shouldered his team’s scoring burden all night and wasn’t about to shrink now. Dax Miles fielded the miss and flipped it back to Carter, who tried another, deeper 3 that barely caught rim. And when West Virginia chased down yet another offensive rebound, there were still 12 seconds remaining to compose themselves for a third attempt.