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KU loses last-second thriller at West Virginia, tightening Big 12 race for first

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Juwan Staten made a layup with 4 seconds left to lift No. 23 West Virginia to a 62-61 victory over No. 8 Kansas on Monday night.

Staten finished with 20 points to give the Mountaineers (20-6, 8-5 Big 12) their first 20-win season in four years.

It was Staten’s first field goal over the final eight minutes after he had gone to the bench with leg cramps.

After Staten made a spin move around Frank Mason III and hit a left-handed layup, the Jayhawks’ Perry Ellis caught a long pass but missed a layup between two defenders just before the final buzzer.

Ellis finished with 19 points, Mason had 18 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 14 points for Kansas (21-5, 10-3).

Jevon Carter added 13 points for West Virginia, which moves to two games behind KU in the conference standings.

The Jayhawks lose a half-game in the Big 12 standings to idle second-place Iowa State, and hold 1 1/2 game lead for first in the conference. The Cyclones’ weekday game is at Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.