Published: November 25, 2009 12:04 am      

WVU topples The Citadel

CHARLESTON — It was the second win of the young season for the No. 8 team in the nation before a sell-out crowd.

But it was still more of a tune-up for West Virginia, however, a team that hadn’t played a game in nine days.

The Mountaineers cruised to a 69-50 non-conference victory Tuesday night over The Citadel in front of 12,348 fans at the Charleston Civic Center. 

West Virginia is ranked No. 8 in this week’s Associated Press poll and the USA Today coaches poll. 

Junior forward John Flowers scored a team-high 13 points with a 5-for-8 effort in a balanced WVU attack. Kevin Jones netted 11 and grabbed eight rebounds while Darryl “Truck” Bryant and Casey Mitchell contributed 10 points apiece. 

WVU led just 33-24 at halftime. But it was turnovers that spelled doom for the Bulldogs. The Mountaineers forced 19 turnovers, capitalizing for 24 of its points.

West Virginia committed only four turnovers. Rebounds were even at 30-30, though WVU scored 13 second-chance points, making them count when needed.

The Citadel (3-3) was led by Cameron Wells, who tallied a game-high 19 points. Zach Urbanus hit four 3s for 12 points and Joe Wolfinger added 11. 

“We tried to play a bunch of people,” WVU coach Bob Huggins said. “We just didn’t shoot very well. I thought we’d be a whole lot better offensively. But (The Citadel) held the ball, which keeps the score down. That was smart. That shortens the game. They are a well-coached team.”

There was no sign of panic despite the low scoring and the inability to put away a far less talented opponent.

In fact, it had the feel of a warmup— which it very well could be seen as.

West Virginia (2-0) travels to Anaheim, Calif., today for the 76 Classic tournament. The Mountaineers will play Long Beach State at 2 p.m. Thursday in a game televised on ESPNU. 

WVU will play either Texas A&M or Clemson Friday with a third contest slated for Sunday. Friday’s and Sunday’s contests will be played at times to be determined, and televised on one of the ESPN networks. 

“There will be eight teams there that will be NCAA (tournament) teams,” Huggins said. “It has the best field of all of the tournaments. I think most people think so.”

Joe Mazzula missed the opening game, an 83-60 win over Loyola (Md.), with a shoulder injury.

The 6-2 junior guard came off the bench to contribute 15 minutes of playing time, scoring two points while dishing out six assists.

“It only hurts when I do certain things,” he said. “I just try to stay away from doing those things. It mostly (hurts) taking shots. Once I get some adrenaline going, I don’t feel it much. I’ll be fine, though.”

Devin Ebanks, absent from the team for “personal issues” of late, was dressed for action and on the Mountaineers’ bench but did not get in the game.

Huggins was consistent in offering no insight into the 6-9 sophomore forward’s situation.

“If he were your kid, you wouldn’t want his business in the newspaper, or on the radio or television,” Huggins told reporters. “I owe that to the kid. I don’t owe that to the season-ticket holders or a newspaper. I’m responsible for these kids. Everyone has an opinion on how things like this should be handled, but when it’s your son, the whole thing changes. I’ve always tried to treat them like my own sons.”

When asked when the decision was made to dress Ebanks, Huggins offered one word: “Today.”

Asked if Ebanks would play in California, Huggins replied, “We’ll see.”

— E-mail: jworkman@

register-herald.com

No. 8 WEST VIRGINIA 69, THE CITADEL 50

THE CITADEL (3-3) 

Streeter 0-0 0-0 0, Dahn 1-3 0-0 2, Wolfinger 4-9 0-0 11, Urbanus 4-7 0-0 12, Wells 8-17 2-2 19, Morabbi 1-2 0-0 3, DuPont 0-0 0-0 0, Cherry 0-1 0-0 0, Groselle 1-2 0-0 2, Holston 0-0 0-0 0, Clark 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 19-41 3-4 50.

WEST VIRGINIA (2-0) 

Butler 4-11 1-3 9, Jones 5-11 0-0 11, Smith 2-5 0-0 4, Bryant 4-10 0-1 10, Mitchell 4-8 0-0 10, Thoroughman 1-1 0-0 2, West 1-1 0-0 3, Payne 0-0 0-0 0, Mazzulla 1-2 0-0 2, Jennings 0-1 0-0 0, Pepper 2-5 0-0 5, Flowers 5-8 2-4 13. Totals 29-63 3-8 69.

Halftime—West Virginia 33-24. 3-Point Goals—The Citadel 9-16 (Urbanus 4-6, Wolfinger 3-5, Morabbi 1-1, Wells 1-2, Dahn 0-1, Cherry 0-1), West Virginia 8-23 (Bryant 2-4, Mitchell 2-6, West 1-1, Flowers 1-1, Jones 1-3, Pepper 1-3, Smith 0-2, Butler 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—The Citadel 30 (Urbanus, Wells 6), West Virginia 30 (Jones, Smith 8). Assists—The Citadel 9 (Wells 4), West Virginia 19 (Mazzulla 6). Total Fouls—The Citadel 14, West Virginia 12. A—12,348.