MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -Alex Ruoff scored 17 points and Da’Sean Butler added 14 as West Virginia beat Arkansas-Monticello 81-53 Friday night in the Mountaineers’ first game under new coach Bob Huggins.
West Virginia led by double digits midway through the first half. Ruoff and Darris Nichols hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 run to start the second half to give the Mountaineers a 55-30 lead with 16 minutes left.
West Virginia led by as many as 30 points late in the game.
Arkansas-Monticello’s Devon Brown and Giovanni Marchetti scored 13 points apiece in the season opener for both teams.
West Virginia forced 27 turnovers, committed 18 and had a 41-30 edge on rebounds.
Huggins left Kansas State after one year to return to his alma mater in April after John Beilein left for Michigan. West Virginia sold a record 6,600 season tickets for this season.
Huggins, dressed in a long blue suit, was cheered louder than any player during introductions, and received an ovation every time he gave instructions to his players.
M in the second round on Sunday.
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