by John Antonik
KANSAS CITY – Simas Lukosius scored 31 points and Day Day Thomas added 29 to lead 11th-seeded Cincinnati to a 90-85 come-from-behind victory over 14th-seeded West Virginia in a Big 12 Tournament first round game at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
West Virginia, leading 64-48 with 11:45 remaining on Kobe Johnson’s layup, came unglued right after Johnson’s basket.
Referee Kip Kissinger assessed a technical foul on Johnson for taunting, one of three Ts in a four-minute span resulted in 12 points – six off free throws by Lukosius and six off baskets on the ensuing possessions.
The others were on Jesse Edwards and RaeQuan Battle – Battle’s coming on a replay review.
Those technicals completely wiped out the great work the Mountaineers did up to that point to get their 16-point lead.
West Virginia (9-23) had its last lead on Edwards’ putback basket with 1:34 left. Dan Skillings Jr. answered with a driving layup and following a Battle turnover trying to score in the lane, Kerr Kriisa fouled Lukosius leading to two more free throws and a three-point Bearcat lead.
Thomas’ corner 3 with 15 seconds left was the dagger.
Edwards, playing his final game for West Virginia after transferring from Syracuse, scored a team-high 17 points to lead five double figure scorers. Senior Quinn Slazinski contributed 15, Battle scored 14, Kriisa 13 and Josiah Harris added 10 coming off the bench.
