MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Freshman Jevon Carter sank two free throws with 1 second left in overtime to lift No. 18 West Virginia to an 86-85 victory over TCU on Saturday.
Teammate Jaysean Paige bear-hugged Carter after the final horn sounded, and West Virginia's players carried Carter off as fans stormed the court.
"I've been dreaming that my whole life," Carter said. "When I was a little kid, I had the thought. It was always going to be a big game with no time remaining on the clock and I got to go to the free throw line to make two shots and win the game."
Thanks to Carter, West Virginia (16-3, 4-2 Big 12) narrowly avoided another meltdown after falling 77-50 at No. 17 Texas a week ago.
Carter already had come up big for the Mountaineers earlier this season. The reserve guard scored 28 points in a victory over VMI and entered Saturday's game as the best free-throw shooter (79 percent) on a team averaging only 67 percent.
West Virginia made six of eight free throws in overtime after going 16 of 24 in regulation.
After TCU's Trey Zeigler made a basket in the lane with two seconds left, Carter sped the length of the court and missed a layup but was fouled by Anderson on the drive.
Carter said teammate Juwan Staten gave him some encouragement before the free throws. Staten and Devin Williams had 18 points apiece for the Mountaineers. Jonathan Holton added 15 points and Miles scored 10.
