West Virginia Pulls Off Stunning Victory Against Duke with Only Five Players

Post by : Mara Rahim

Mark Kellogg, coach of West Virginia, entered the second half with just two words on his board: “Believe” and “Breathe.” Facing a situation with only five players due to multiple ejections, the odds seemed stacked against his team. However, Kellogg encouraged his players to remain calm, trust their instincts, and continue to fight. This message proved pivotal as the Mountaineers achieved one of the season's most unexpected victories.

Kellogg described the match as the most chaotic of his coaching journey and expressed immense pride in his team's tenacity and bravery. He emphasized how this victory encapsulated the fighting spirit of West Virginia. With only five active players and just one regular starter among them, the Mountaineers maintained their composure, avoided foul trouble, and demonstrated patience, ultimately clinching a 57-49 win over No. 15 Duke in front of a packed audience at Colonial Hall at the Greenbrier.

Despite the game being officially categorized as neutral, the atmosphere felt like a home game for West Virginia, with over 1,200 fans passionately supporting the team in blue and gold. As the celebration continued post-victory, the familiar tune of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” played, catching Kellogg by surprise—three hours away from Morgantown, he joyfully gathered his players to commemorate the moment.

The match’s dynamics shifted drastically after a tussle at the end of the first half. Duke was leading 23-20 when a verbal confrontation between Duke’s Jordan Wood and West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison escalated, leading to ejections. Harrison and Wood were dismissed along with five other West Virginia players for leaving the bench during the fray, leaving them to navigate the entire second half with just five players.

In light of these constraints, Kellogg quickly devised a new strategy. Their only remaining starter was Sydney Shaw, who had not scored prior. The other four players were either transfers or benchwarmers, unaccustomed to lengthy gameplay. Kellogg decided to place the ball in Shaw’s hands for offense and adopted a 2-3 zone defense to minimize fouls. His players had to proceed with caution—foul-outs were not an option.

Remarkably, this new strategy exceeded expectations as West Virginia outscored Duke 24-9 in the third quarter. Duke struggled against the zone defense, appearing bewildered and failing at both offensive execution and securing the ball. West Virginia gained momentum, confidence, and coherence—by the end of the quarter, they had unexpectedly established a double-digit advantage.

Duke coach Kara Lawson acknowledged West Virginia’s deserved win, commending their grit and energy. However, she recognized her team’s inability to respond effectively after the tumultuous halftime. Lawson noted that only a handful of her players demonstrated the needed effort, attributing the lack of preparation to her responsibility. Duke’s team, she lamented, failed to recover after the halftime disruption.

West Virginia maintained their edge into the final quarter. Shaw led with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Rivière contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. The Mountaineers capitalized on 14 of their 18 free throws during the second half, while Duke faltered, missing multiple layups and committing excessive turnovers. Though Duke narrowed the gap to four points with just 36 seconds left, West Virginia sealed their win with crucial free throws and composure.

As the final buzzer rang, West Virginia celebrated a remarkable achievement. Rivière flexed toward the enthusiastic fans, and the team embraced a poignant joy. Kellogg expressed hope that this moment would serve as a pivotal turning point for the squad, pushing West Virginia to a 4-0 season start. This victory underscored a fundamental truth: West Virginia thrives under pressure.