BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - West Virginia opened with a 28-6 run and
Auburn couldn't muster much of a threat after that as the
Mountaineers beat the Tigers 88-59 tonight in the SEC/Big East
Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama.
Alex Ruoff scored a career-high 28 points to lead West Virginia.
Ruoff and the Mountaineers made everything look easy. Their
biggest lead came on his 3-pointer while falling down to make it
80-43 before coach Bob Huggins emptied his bench with about 5
minutes left.
Joe Alexander added 17 points for West Virginia, Da'Sean Butler
had 13 and Joe Mazzulla 11. The Mountaineers shot 61 percent from
the floor and committed only seven turnovers while forcing 20.
Auburn's DeWayne Reed scored 19 points. Leading scorer Korvotney
Barber had eight points, nine below his season average. Rasheem
Barrett added 10 for the Tigers, who entered on a four-game winning
streak.
Auburn forward Quan Prowell saw his first action of the season
after a five-game suspension, but managed just four points in 23
minutes.