Davidson edges West Virginia 63-60
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Chris Czerapowicz had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Davidson past West Virginia 63-60 in a semifinal game Friday at the Old Spice Classic.
De’Mon Brooks added 12 points for Davidson (3-2), which advanced to Sunday night’s championship game.
West Virginia (1-2) got 15 points from Juwan Staten and Gary Browne added 11.
After Staten scored after a steal to get West Virginia within one point with 1 minute left, Czerapowicz made a 3-pointer on Davidson’s next possession to put the Wildcats up 61-57.
The Mountaineers cut the deficit to 61-60 on Terry Henderson’s long-range jumper with 13.6 seconds left. Nik Cochran made two late free throws for Davidson’s three-point advantage.
Davidson opened the second half with a 9-0 run, including four points by Jake Cohen and Clint Mann’s 3-pointer, to take a 39-32 lead.
After Czerapowicz hit a 3-pointer and added a free throw, Cohen had a basket to make it 49-38 midway through the second half.
Cohen, who fouled out late, had 11 points.
West Virginia center Aaric Murray, who picked up his fourth foul six minutes into the second and fouled out with 1:56 remaining, finished with six points and eight rebounds.
Jabarie Hinds and Staten both had eight points to help West Virginia take a 32-30 halftime lead.
Czerapowicz connected on a 3-pointer during Davidson’s 8-0 run that tied it at 30-all one minute before the break.