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Saturday, Nov 3, 2012 11:45 PM UTC

TCU edges No. 23 WVU in 2 OTs on 2-pt conversion

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Topics: From the Wires,

TCU edges No. 23 WVU in 2 OTs on 2-pt conversionWest Virginia wide receiver J.D. Woods (81) catches a touchdown pass in front of TCU safety Elisha Olabode (6) during the first half of their NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Christopher Jackson)(Credit: AP)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Corey Fuller caught a 25-yard touchdown pass and Trevone Boykin threw to Josh Boyce for the 2-point conversion, lifting TCU to a 39-38 double overtime win over No. 23 West Virginia on Saturday night.

TCU (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) got the victory after West Virginia (5-3, 2-3) went ahead on Geno Smith’s 25-yard TD pass to Stedman Bailey.

On TCU’s possession, Boykin handed off to B.J. Catalon and he pitched to Brandon Carter, who threw to Fuller in the end zone.

Boyce then caught the 2-point conversion, which was upheld after review, setting off a celebration on the TCU sideline.

TCU rallied from 10 points down in regulation. Boykin and Boyce teamed up on a 96-yard TD pass play with 1:28 left to tie the score at 31-31.

Neither team scored in the first overtime.

In becoming bowl eligible, TCU snapped a two-game losing streak, while West Virginia has lost three straight for the first time since the end of the 2004 season and has lost two straight at home for the first time since 2003.

Smith finished with three touchdown passes, including two in the second quarter. But West Virginia was limited to 126 yards after halftime.

Tavon Austin scored two touchdowns for the Mountaineers, giving his team a lift with a 76-yard punt return for a score with 3:19 left for a 31-24 lead.

All the beleaguered West Virginia defense had to do after that was stop TCU deep in Horned Frogs territory.

Boykin was sacked on first down. After scrambling on the next play, he found Boyce, who was wide open and went untouched into the end zone to force overtime. Boykin finished 12 of 29 for 254 yards and two scores.

West Virginia had a chance to win it in regulation, getting a first down at the TCU 38 with under a minute left. But Smith threw three straight incompletions and Tyler Bitancurt’s 55-yard field goal try was short with 13 seconds left.

Bitancurt missed four field goals in the game but connected on a career-best 52-yard field goal early in the second half to put West Virginia ahead 24-14.

On West Virginia’s next drive, Bitancurt couldn’t handle a low snap on a punt. TCU’s Dominic Merka picked up the loose ball and went 15 yards for a score to pull the Horned Frogs within 24-21.

Smith wasn’t at his best but generated more points than the past two games combined.

TCU forced Smith out of the pocket and he took several hard hits on runs, including being shaken up in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a third-down rush. He went to the sideline and crouched on both knees momentarily before heading to the bench. He didn’t miss a play.

Smith finished 32 of 54 for 260 yards.

Austin also scored on a 43-yard reception in the second quarter. He caught 11 passes for 101 yards.

West Virginia forced a turnover on special teams when Karl Joseph hit TCU’s Skye Dawson on a punt return, and the Mountaineers’ Nana Kyeremeh recovered at the 9. Shawne Alston, back from missing four games because of a right thigh bruise, scored from 1 yard for a 21-14 halftime lead.

More John Raby.

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