Utah Utes Triumph Over West Virginia Mountaineers
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Hope Coliseum
Utah Utes 61, West Virginia Mountaineers 56, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Utah Utes vs West Virginia Mountaineers?
Utah Utes beat West Virginia Mountaineers 61-56 at Hope Coliseum on February 18, 2026.
Who was favored in Utah Utes vs West Virginia Mountaineers?
West Virginia Mountaineers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -575 (about 85% implied). The underdog won.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Utah Utes secured a 61-56 victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers at Hope Coliseum on February 19, 2026. This win marks a significant achievement for Utah, who have struggled throughout the season, now improving their record to 11-16, while West Virginia falls to 16-11.
The Utes have been on a rough patch, entering the game with a dismal record of 1-9 in their last ten games, and a seven-game losing streak. Despite this, they managed to pull off a crucial win against a Mountaineers team that had been performing relatively well, with a 6-4 record over their last ten games. West Virginia had averaged 64.2 points scored while allowing 67.2 points during that stretch, contrasting sharply with Utah's averages of 70.4 points scored and 78.6 points allowed.
At home, the Mountaineers had a record of 3-2 in their last five games, while the Utes struggled significantly on the road, with an away record of 0-5 in their last five games. This game was particularly noteworthy as it featured two teams with contrasting trajectories, with West Virginia looking to solidify their standing while Utah aimed to break free from their losing streak.
Historically, the matchup has favored West Virginia, who had won both previous meetings against Utah in the 2025 season, including a 72-61 victory at home and a narrow 71-69 win away. However, the Utes turned the tables this time, showcasing resilience and determination.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details on player availability, but both teams have faced challenges throughout the season. The absence of key players can often impact performance, and this game was no exception.
The betting market, provided by DraftKings, had West Virginia as heavy favorites with a spread of -10.5 and a moneyline of -575. In contrast, Utah was listed at +425 on the moneyline, reflecting the general expectation that West Virginia would dominate the matchup. The total for the game was set at 133.5, indicating a belief in a relatively low-scoring affair, which ultimately proved to be accurate given the final score.
Conditions during the game were typical for a February night, likely impacting the players' performance. The atmosphere in Hope Coliseum was charged, as home fans expected a victory from their team, but the Utes had other plans.
As the game unfolded, key moments included free throws from Don McHenry and Terrence Brown, who both contributed significantly to Utah's scoring in the second half. McHenry made crucial free throws that helped extend Utah's lead, while Brown's contributions from the line sealed the victory in the closing moments. Honor Huff also made a notable three-pointer that kept the game competitive.
Viewers of the game were treated to a display of tenacity from the Utes, who fought hard to overcome their recent struggles. The game highlighted the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where any team can emerge victorious on a given night. The final score of 61-56 reflects a tightly contested match, showcasing the resilience of Utah and the challenges faced by West Virginia.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WVU -10.5 | 133.5 o -115 / u -105 | Utah Utes +425 · West Virginia Mountaineers -575 |
Leaders
- PointsChance Moore12West Virginia Mountaineers
- AssistsBrenen Lorient3West Virginia Mountaineers
- ReboundsBrenen Lorient6West Virginia Mountaineers
- PointsSeydou Traore17Utah Utes
- AssistsTerrence Brown3Utah Utes
- ReboundsTerrence Brown8Utah Utes
Recent form
West Virginia Mountaineers
Last 10: 6-4Streak W164.2 scored · 67.2 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W74-67at UCF KnightsFeb 14
- L63-70vs Texas Tech Red RaidersFeb 8
- W59-54at Cincinnati BearcatsFeb 6
- L53-63vs Baylor BearsJan 31
- W59-54vs Kansas State WildcatsJan 28
- L53-88at Arizona WildcatsJan 24
- W75-63at Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 22
- W72-61vs Colorado BuffaloesJan 17
- L48-77at Houston CougarsJan 14
- W86-75vs Kansas JayhawksJan 10
Utah Utes
Last 10: 1-9Streak L770.4 scored · 78.6 allowed per game0-5 away
- L65-69at Cincinnati BearcatsFeb 15
- L52-66vs Houston CougarsFeb 11
- L59-71at Kansas JayhawksFeb 7
- L63-71vs Arizona State Sun DevilsFeb 5
- L69-81vs Oklahoma State CowboysJan 31
- L78-91at BYU CougarsJan 24
- L78-81at Kansas State WildcatsJan 21
- W82-79vs TCU Horned FrogsJan 17
- L74-88at Texas Tech Red RaidersJan 15
- L84-89vs BYU CougarsJan 11
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Utah Utes | West Virginia Mountaineers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-52 | 22-52 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 5-16 | 5-23 |
| Three-point % | 31 | 22 |
| Free throws | 14-21 | 7-15 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 47 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 21 |
| Assists | 10 | 7 |
| Steals | 4 | 5 |
| Blocks | 4 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 34 |
| Fouls | 14 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 15 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 99 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half28-18Chance Moore makes layup
- 1st Half31-18Seydou Traore makes 23-foot three point jumper (Terrence Brown assists)
- 1st Half31-20Jasper Floyd makes layup
- 1st Half31-21Chance Moore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half34-21Seydou Traore makes 23-foot three point jumper (Don McHenry assists)
- 2nd Half36-21Don McHenry makes 13-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half36-22Harlan Obioha makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-24Jasper Floyd makes layup (Brenen Lorient assists)
- 2nd Half38-24Terrence Brown makes 11-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half38-26Brenen Lorient makes driving layup
- 2nd Half41-26Don McHenry makes 23-foot three point jumper (Seydou Traore assists)
- 2nd Half41-28Brenen Lorient makes layup
- 2nd Half43-28Terrence Brown makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half43-30Brenen Lorient makes layup (Honor Huff assists)
- 2nd Half44-30Seydou Traore makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half45-30Seydou Traore makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half45-31Chance Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-34Chance Moore makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jasper Floyd assists)
- 2nd Half45-36Jasper Floyd makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-38Chance Moore makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half47-38Seydou Traore makes 1-foot dunk (James Okonkwo assists)
- 2nd Half47-40Chance Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half47-42Brenen Lorient makes layup
- 2nd Half49-42Terrence Brown makes layup
- 2nd Half49-44Treysen Eaglestaff makes layup
- 2nd Half50-44Kendyl Sanders makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-44Kendyl Sanders makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-44Terrence Brown makes 13-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half53-46Brenen Lorient makes 3-foot dunk (Treysen Eaglestaff assists)
- 2nd Half53-49Honor Huff makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half53-51Treysen Eaglestaff makes layup
- 2nd Half55-51Terrence Brown makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-51Don McHenry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-51Don McHenry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-54Honor Huff makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half58-54Terrence Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-54Terrence Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-56Amir Jenkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-56Terrence Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-56Terrence Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours West Virginia Mountaineers, below favours Utah Utes.
Venue
- Hope ColiseumMorgantown, WV
- Attendance10527
- OfficialsRick Crawford, Michael Greenstein, Chris Merlo
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond