WVU rolls on despite Huggins’ scary episode
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After West Virginia coach Bob Huggins dropped to his knees and clutched his chest in a scary moment shortly before halftime, Jevon Carter finished with 24 points to lead the 12th-ranked Mountaineers to a 77-62 Big 12 Conference victory Monday night against Texas at WVU Coliseum.
Lamont West had a careerhigh 23 points, helping West Virginia (22-6, 10-5) shake off a slow start and its coach’s frightening fall.
Huggins went down on a timeout just before the half, and his players quickly came to his aid. Huggins stood, briefly massaged his chest and stayed on the sideline.
It wasn’t immediately known whether Huggins received medical attention at halftime, but he returned to coach in the second half.
ESPN’s Holly Rowe said Huggins told her at halftime that he thought his defibrillator went off. A West Virginia basketball spokesperson had no immediate comment.
Texas coach Shaka Smart later exchanged well wishes with Huggins.
Huggins, 63, had a heart attack at Pittsburgh International Airport in 2002 when he was the coach at Cincinnati.
He was back in his office two weeks later.
Carter also had 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Texas started the game on a 12-2 run, but the Longhorns trailed, 46-32, at halftime.
Jarrett Allen led the Longhorns (10-18, 4-11) with 17 points.
Texas has lost four consecutive games and five of its past six.
The Longhorns have upcoming games against No. 3 Kansas and No. 9 Baylor, so a strong finish does not look likely.
West Virginia clinched a bye in the Big 12 tournament with its fourth win in the past five games.
West Virginia’s Esa Ahmad did not play due to back spasms and is listed as day-to-day.
Ahmad averages 11.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.