Javon Small scores 26 points as No. 21 West Virginia holds off Colorado 78-70

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West Virginia guard Javon Small reacts after scoring a 3-point basket against Colorado in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Fans stand during a tribute to former Colorado head football coach Bill McCartney, who died Friday, before the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in which Colorado hosts West Virginia Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado forward Sebastian Rancik, right, goes up for a basket as West Virginia guard Toby Okani, left, defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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West Virginia guard Javon Small, right, moves the ball as Colorado forward Trevor Baskin, left, defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries directs his team against Colorado in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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West Virginia forward Amani Hansberry (13) jostles with Colorado guard Javon Ruffin, left, and forward Trevor Baskin (6) for control of the ball as West Virginia guard Javon Small (7) watches in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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West Virginia forward Amani Hansberry (13) drives to the basket as Colorado forward Trevor Baskin, right, defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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West Virginia guard Javon Small, left, looks to pass the ball as Colorado forward Sebastian Rancik (7) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado guard Javon Ruffin, center, is fouled while collecting the ball by West Virginia forward Amani Hansberry, left, as West Virginia guard Joseph Yesufu, right, covers in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By MONICA COSTELLO

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Javon Small scored 26 points and Joseph Yesufu added 18 as No. 21 West Virginia held off Colorado 78-70 on Sunday in the teams’ first meeting as members of the Big 12 Conference.

The Mountaineers (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) overcame foul trouble and used a late 13-4 run to thwart Colorado, which had cut the deficit to two points with 5:28 left. Yesufu had eight points in that spurt.

Julian Hammond III had 23 points and Assane Diop added 13 for Colorado (9-6, 0-4), which lost its fourth straight game.

Colorado trailed by three and West Virginia had just lost two starters to fouls when the Mountaineers beat the press and started a fast break that ended on Yesufu’s layup and free throw for a 71-65 lead with 1:23 left.

Takeaways

West Virginia: Three straight 3-pointers by Small, the Big 12’s leading scorer and reigning player of the week, gave West Virginia its biggest lead, 49-35, with 17:28 remaining.

Colorado: The Buffaloes, who entered the game with the worst turnover margin in the Big 12, had 14 turnovers in the game.

Key moment

Before the contest, Colorado held a moment of silence to honor longtime Buffaloes head football coach Bill McCartney, who died Friday at age 84.

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Key Stat

Colorado is now 2-2 against ranked teams this season. West Virginia rebounded from its unexpected home loss to Arizona that snapped a seven-game winning streak.

Up next

Both teams play Wednesday. Colorado hosts Cincinnati and West Virginia is at Houston.

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