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.
The game was part of the Legends Classic. West Virginia will play Prairie View A&M in the second round on Sunday.
