January 5, 1999

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Jamel Thomas scored 22 points and topped five Providence players in double-figures to lead the Friars to a 90-87 overtime victory over West Virginia on Tuesday.

Several Big East records were set in the contest, which was sent into overtime by Jarett Kearse's running 22-foot 3-pointer for West Virginia as time expired.

Providence (10-4, 3-2 Big East) racked up a conference record-high 59 free-throw attempts, while West Virginia (7-7, 2-3) set a conference record with 41 personal fouls as six Mountaineers fouled out. Scoring 24 points in the second half, Kearse had 31 points overall, setting a record for a Big East player in a conference game.

In overtime, Marcus Goree, who had 24 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, put West Virginia ahead 71-69 with two free throws early on. The Friars then went ahead on a Kendrick Moore 3-pointer and extended the lead by as much as 8 before the Mountaineers narrowed it to 3.

Friar guard John Linehan, who had 10 points overall, scored 7 points in the extra session, all from the foul line. Other Friars in double-figures were Moore (12), Corey Wright (12) and Justin Farley (11).

The teams were tied seven times in the second half before Providence went ahead 66-60 with 1:18 left.

West Virginia, which held a 34-28 advantage at the break, led throughout the first half and took their biggest lead, 32-23, on a Lionel Armstead 3-pointer with 2:47 left.

The Friars rallied in the second half with strong foul-line shooting while converting 41 points from turnovers, compared to West Virginia's 15 points.