Published: November 19, 2008 11:26 pm      

WVU men host Longwood in first round of tournament

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia (1-0) is host to Longwood’s Lancers (2-1) at the Coliseum tonight in a first-round game of the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.

Tip-off time is 7 p.m. for this first-ever meeting between the two schools.

“They shoot a lot of threes,” WVU coach Bob Huggins said. “They really try to spread you, and they play combination defenses. They try to surprise you and create some offense with steals.”

Longwood has defeated Gardner-Webb 85-84 and Virginia Wise 87-44 around an 81-74 loss to Norfolk State.

West Virginia is coming off a season-opening 92-47 romp over Elon at home last Saturday night before a crowd of more than 10,000.

Huggins, who wants to play a fast-breaking style of basketball, said the Mountaineers have been working on trying to get better in all areas.

“We need to work on our post defense,” he said Wednesday, “and continue to work on ball screens and continue to guard the ball.

“We want to add some more to our offensive package. We’ve worked a little on zone offense. I would think we’ll see some zone defense the next three games.”

Each team in the upcoming Las Vegas Invitational is guaranteed four games. West Virginia’s next opponent will be Delaware State next Tuesday in Charleston. Then the Mountaineers will move on to Las Vegas, playing Iowa Nov. 28 and either Kentucky or Kansas State Nov. 29.

Da’Sean Butler, 6-foot-7 junior forward, and Alex Ruoff, 6-6 senior guard, are leading WVU in scoring at 19 each. Reserve Darryl Bryant is next at 12, with Wellington Smith, 6-7 junior forward, coming off a 10-point game.

Devin Ebanks, 6-9 freshman forward, scored 9 points against Elon, and 6-2 junior guard Joe Mazzulla had 2 points and 5 rebounds.

Longwood, coached by Mike Gillian, is expected to open with this lineup:

Dana Smith (14.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and 6-7 Billy Robinson Jr. (4.7, 5.3) at forwards, with guards Ryan Bogan (14.7, 5.7), Kevin Swecker (11.3, 2.0) and Durann Neil (9.0, 2.0).



Two games sold out

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University ticket manager Debby Travinski announced Wednesday that Mountaineer home games against Pitt Jan. 25 and Louisville March 7 are sold out.

Tickets are on sale for all other home games. To order, fans can stop by the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the Coliseum, visit WVUGAME.com or phone 1-800-WVU GAME.

Tickets are also available for the Delaware State game in Charleston. Fans can contact the Mountaineer Ticket Office or the Charleston Civic Center at 345-SHOW.