Ian Goings hit two important free throws with nine seconds remaining to help the WVU Tech men’s basketball team to a 79-78 win over Brescia on Saturday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
The Golden Bears (10-14, 7-7 River States Conference) took their biggest lead at 61-48 on a dunk by Jakyren Woods at the 11:06 mark of the second half. The Bearcats (6-17, 6-8) then went on a 9-0 run, a 3 by Israel Momodu making it a four-point game with 9:16 to play.
Tech was able to weather that and built its lead up to 11, 72-61, on a 3 by Trayten Woods with 5:40 to go.
But Brescia again got back in it and got to within 77-75 when Linkin Lockhart hit all of his free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 10 seconds to go.
After a timeout, Goings was fouled and hit both free throws to put the Golden Bears ahead 79-75.
Lockhart hit another 3 for the Bearcats to make it a one-point game with 6.8 seconds left. Brandon Moore was fouled and missed one free throw and was called for a lane violation on the second. That gave Brescia a chance, but Braden Waller’s off-balance shot was not close and the Golden Bears held on.
Tech never trailed.
Goings had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Tech, which maintained its lead over Kentucky Christian for fourth place in the East Division standings.
Trayten Woods scored 20 points and Moore had 11. Cole Chapman had a game-high seven assists.
Lockhart finished with a game-high 23 points for the Bearcats. Momodu had 15 and Braxton Highbaugh 11.
The Tech women, meanwhile, led by two going into the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold off Brescia in an 89-83 loss.
A 3-pointer by Cadence Stewart put the Golden Bears up 66-61 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. The Bearcats (21-5, 9-0) were then able to tie the game twice before a 3 by Kassady London put them ahead 73-70 at the 6:17 mark.
That was part of an 8-0 run that saw the lead get out to 78-72.
The Golden Bears got no closer than three the rest of the way and fell to 15-9 overall and 6-8 in the league. They still trail Indiana East — which lost 78-75 to Indiana Southeast on Saturday — by one game for the fourth spot in the East with two to play.
Tech will host Midway on Tuesday, with the women playing at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. The regular season will end Saturday, also in Beckley, against Indiana East at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.