West Virginia men's basketball came into Wednesday's matchup with No. 3 Gonzaga in the opening round of the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament as a serious double-digit underdog and a relatively unknown commodity nationally after a coaching change and roster overhaul in the offseason.
Now, there isn't a college basketball fan in the country unaware of what WVU brings to the table as they showed up in The Bahamas ready to play and secure a jaw-dropping 86-78 upset over the Bulldogs.
Senior guard Javon Small, who transferred into the program from conference rival Oklahoma State, proved himself as a dangerous scorer in the win, dropping 31 points in the victory. He was joined by a dynamic effort by sophomore Amani Hansberry, who exploited a mismatch in the post with Gonzaga's big men and exploded for 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Senior forward Tucker DeVries also added 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks in a well-rounded performance.
WVU will move on in the winner's bracket at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament to clash with former Big East rival Louisville. That game will take place on Thursday, November 28th at Noon EST.