Reality Check

March Sadness

Maybe it would have been just as well had Xavier gone ahead and completed the blowout it started in the first half. The Mountaineers discovered themselves facing a 28-10 deficit with seemingly no hope of doing anything about it. But there was Bob Huggins' team staging their own Desert Storm in roaring from behind. How cruel, then, with 82 percent foul shooter Joe Alexander on the line with an opportunity to put WVU ahead in the final 14 ticks? Alexander, of course, badly bricked the shot and overtime ensued. Early in OT, Alexander went to the bench with his fifth foul on what appeared on replays a blown call. Though WVU went on to mount a 71-65 lead, Xavier regrouped dramatically behind a pair of big-time three-balls authored by B.J. Raymond, scoreless through regulation. Wellington Smith and Joe Mazzulla, meanwhile, combined to miss three consecutive free throws and the Eers had suffered a rare meltdown. "We had some late breakdowns which was uncharacteristic of us this season," a subdued Huggins offered in postgame assessments. The fact WVU was even in the game going 1-of-11 from downtown nearly defies description in itself. The Mountaineers return mostly intact next season, but Thursday's loss will surely haunt them during the off-season.