Stanford Edges West Virginia In NIT Championship Thriller

Stanford Edges West Virginia In NIT Championship Thriller...

Stanford defeated West Virginia 73-65 in a tightly contested NIT championship game Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The Cardinal secured their second NIT title in program history behind a 19-point performance from sophomore guard Jason Thompson.

The matchup between two power conference teams drew significant attention as both programs sought to end their seasons on a high note. West Virginia, playing without injured leading scorer RaeQuan Battle, kept the game close until Stanford pulled away in the final three minutes.

This marks Stanford's first postseason championship since 2015 and provides momentum for coach Jerod Haase's program. The NIT championship caps a surprising late-season surge for the Cardinal, who won seven of their last eight games after a disappointing regular season.

For West Virginia, the loss extends their championship drought in both NCAA and NIT tournaments. Interim coach Josh Eilert, who took over after Bob Huggins' resignation last summer, nearly guided the Mountaineers to an unexpected title in a rebuilding year.

The game trended nationally as basketball fans tuned in to see two historic programs battle in New York. Social media buzzed about Thompson's breakout performance and West Virginia's gritty effort without their top scorer. Both teams are expected to return key players next season.

Stanford's victory gives the Pac-12 conference its first NIT title since 2016. The Cardinal will celebrate their championship with a campus rally scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Maples Pavilion.