West Virginia Beats No. 15 Duke After Entire Bench Is Ejected in Wild Brawl
It was chaos in Colonial Hall — and one of the most jaw-dropping wins of the season. West Virginia lost six players, including its entire bench, during a halftime brawl and still managed to defeat No. 15 Duke 57-49 in a gritty, against-all-odds victory Friday night.
The game, played at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, was tight early. Duke led by three points at halftime before emotions boiled over. Just as the buzzer sounded, West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison and Duke’s Jordan Wood got tangled up in a shoving match that escalated fast. Players from both benches rushed in, and when officials finally restored order, they made one of the most stunning calls of the college season.
Harrison and Wood were ejected for fighting. Then, five more Mountaineers — Jordan Thomas, Kierra Wheeler, Gia Cooke, Carter McCray, and Madison Parrish — were tossed for leaving the bench. Duke’s Ashlon Jackson and Ari Roberson were hit with flagrant fouls for making contact.
Five Players, One Historic Win
Down to just five eligible players for the entire second half, West Virginia looked doomed. But the remaining lineup refused to fold. The Mountaineers went on a 24-9 run in the third quarter, fueled by emotion, grit, and a roaring home crowd.
Sydney Shaw, the only starter left on the court, led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds. She played nearly the entire game — 38 of 40 minutes — and hit five clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
West Virginia has outscored No. 15 Duke 22-7 so far this 3Q ???? pic.twitter.com/56dtKJZ203
— espnW (@espnW) November 15, 2025
Senior forward Célia Rivère chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds, matching her career highs, while Gia Cooke scored 12 before being ejected at halftime.
For Duke, the night was brutal. The Blue Devils shot just 37.5% from the field and 16.7% from three-point range. Star scorer Toby Fournier managed only nine points, and no Duke player could find an offensive rhythm against a determined, short-handed squad.
The Numbers Behind the Madness
The upset was about more than the final score — it was about resilience. Here’s how the chaos unfolded and how the Mountaineers pulled it off:
- Six ejections: West Virginia lost its entire bench and all but one starter after the halftime fight.
- Five players finished: The Mountaineers played the entire second half without any substitutions.
- 24-9 third quarter: West Virginia outscored Duke by 15 points right after the brawl.
- Clutch performance: Sydney Shaw scored 16 points and went 5-for-5 from the line in the final minute.
- Historic grit: The team played 20 straight minutes without a sub and still won by eight.
Chaos Turns to Celebration
When the final buzzer sounded, West Virginia’s remaining five players collapsed in celebration as fans erupted. The victory — already dramatic enough given Duke’s ranking — instantly became one of the most memorable in program history.
WEST VIRGINIA TAKES DOWN NO. 15 DUKE WITH 5 PLAYERS ????
— espnW (@espnW) November 15, 2025
After an on court scuffle, six players were ejected at the top of the 3Q ???? pic.twitter.com/B0osehehoY
“This was pure fight,” one Mountaineers assistant said postgame. “They just refused to lose.”
The win capped a night that turned from frustration to exhilaration, showing the kind of toughness and composure coaches dream about. For Duke, it’s a loss that will sting — both on the scoreboard and in reputation.
What Comes Next
The NCAA will likely review the altercation and could issue further discipline, but the outcome won’t change. The Mountaineers delivered a statement win that will echo across the college basketball landscape.
For a team that spent half the game on the edge of disaster, West Virginia walked out with something even bigger than an upset — it left with a legend.