Miles Sadler scored 16 points to lead six players in double figures as West Virginia erased an early 10-point deficit and pulled away in the second half to open coach Ross Hodge’s second season with a 91-46 win over visiting Niagara Monday night in Morgantown, W. Va.
A five-star recruit, Sadler made 6-of-14 shots. He also added nine assists in 28 minutes as Hodge opened his second season by using 13 players.
Brenen Lorient added 13 points and five rebounds to help West Virginia to a 36-24 rebounding margin. Martin Somerville contributed all 12 points in the second half when West Virginia (1-0) outscored Niagara 48-16 and cruised to the win.
Finley Bizjack and Javan Buchanan each scored 11, while Mouhamed Sylla finished with 10 and seven boards.
West Virginia shot 57.1% in the overwhelming second half and 52.5% overall. The Mountaineers got 30 points from the bench players, scored 24 points off turnovers and hit 14-of-23 layups in their first game since winning the Crown tournament in April in Las Vegas.
Logan Woods scored 12 points and was Niagara’s (0-1) lone double-figure scorer. The Purple Eagles shot 42.2% and committed 24 turnovers.
Niagara also shot 8-of-20 from 3-point range and only took four free throws.
Niagara ripped off an 11-1 run and took an early 16-6 lead on Brian Angeletti’s 3-pointer with 14:25 left. The Mountaineers responded with 21 straight points for a 27-16 lead on Lorient’s triple with 8:32 left. After Ruey Ruey dunked to cut Niagara’s deficit to 29-21 with about six minutes left, Joson Sanon’s 3-pointer opened a 35-21 lead with 4:46 left, and the Mountaineers led 43-30 at halftime.
West Virginia scored 15 straight points in 3:12 and took a 78-41 lead on Lorient’s 3 with 7:16 remaining, effectively sealing the game.