MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -Bob Huggins has his first signature victory at West Virginia.
Alex Ruoff hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points to lead the Mountaineers to a 79-64 rout of No. 10 Marquette, giving Huggins his 601st career win in his first season since returning to his alma mater.
Joe Alexander added 19 points and Da’Sean Butler hit three 3s and had 13 points for West Virginia, which cruised to a 10-1 start before dropping a pair of games to Oklahoma and Notre Dame. The losses seemed to give credence to Huggins’ claim that the hot start was merely “fool’s gold.”
Nothing looked foolish about West Virginia’s 13th straight home win, and sixth straight in Big East openers. It was West Virginia’s first victory over a top-10 team since beating No. 2 UCLA, 70-65, last Feb. 10.
The Mountaineers, employing a seldom-used 1-3-1 zone defense most of the game, surprised Marquette and coach Tom Crean, who appeared to be expecting Huggins’ trademark, physical man-to-man defense.
Lazar Hayward and Wesley Matthews scored 13 each to lead Marquette (11-2, 1-1), which had won seven straight since a four-point loss to No. 9 Duke in late November.
No. 17 Villanova 64, No. 13 Pittsburgh 63
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) – Dante Cunningham made two free throws with 10 seconds left and Villanova then forced another turnover to secure a victory over Pittsburgh.
Freshman Malcolm Grant had a season-high 22 points for the Wildcats (11-2, 1-1 Big East).
The Panthers (12-2, 0-1) matched their season high with 22 turnovers, nine over their season average.
After Cunningham’s free throws, Ronald Ramon brought the ball down court for the Panthers, who were out of timeouts. He lost it near the head of the key when Villanova switched on defense.
Antonio Pena had 12 points for Villanova, and Cunningham finished with six points and nine rebounds.
Sam Young had 16 points for the Panthers, who are playing without injured starters Mike Cook (knee) and Levance Fields (foot).
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