By Brian HamiltonNEW YORK -- West Virginia may make winning terribly difficult for itself. But that didn't seem to stifle a raucous celebration at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
After watching a late nine-point lead vanish in a furious Georgetown rally, the Mountaineers notched their first Big East tournament title on Da'Sean Butler's floater with 4.2 seconds left, sealing a 60-58 victory that was fraught with emotion and drama.
Photo: West Virginia poses with the trophy. (AP / Frank Franklin II)
Georgetown's Chris Wright drove the length of the court after Butler's
shot but his drive came up short, the Hoyas thus denied an eighth title
by losing a second title game in three years.
West Virginia was up nine with seven and a half minutes left when Georgetown began to storm back. A 10-2 Hoyas run made it a one-point game with three and a half minutes to go, and then a huge Austin Freeman 3-pointer tied it at 56-56 with 51.3 seconds left.
Joe Mazzula hit two free throws for West Virginia with 27.6 seconds left off a questionable Chris Wright foul, which Wright then atoned for by driving to tie it at 58-58 with 17.4 seconds left.
Out of a timeout with nine seconds left, Butler drove into traffic and double-pumped before hoisting a floater that bounced on the rim and then dropped with 4.2 seconds left. Wright's drive at the other end then came up short at the horn, the ball flew sky-high and West Virginia began celebrating a title.
West Virginia was up nine with seven and a half minutes left when Georgetown began to storm back. A 10-2 Hoyas run made it a one-point game with three and a half minutes to go, and then a huge Austin Freeman 3-pointer tied it at 56-56 with 51.3 seconds left.
Joe Mazzula hit two free throws for West Virginia with 27.6 seconds left off a questionable Chris Wright foul, which Wright then atoned for by driving to tie it at 58-58 with 17.4 seconds left.
Out of a timeout with nine seconds left, Butler drove into traffic and double-pumped before hoisting a floater that bounced on the rim and then dropped with 4.2 seconds left. Wright's drive at the other end then came up short at the horn, the ball flew sky-high and West Virginia began celebrating a title.
Register with Chicago Tribune and receive Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks newsletters for free. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
Leave a comment