MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -Alex Ruoff scored 24 points and West Virginia beat Providence 86-59 on Saturday.
The Mountaineers (16-7, 5-5 Big East) led for the final 35 minutes of play, taking the lead for good on a basket by Ruoff with 15:30 left in the game. West Virginia went into halftime with a 42-27 lead.
The Friars (14-9, 6-4) made a quick run in the second half, trimming the deficit to 11 with just over 11 minutes to play. West Virginia responded with an 11-2 run to put the game away.
The Mountaineers were particularly lethal from downtown, sinking 11 of their 25 3-point attempts in the game.
Da'Sean Butler scored 17 points and Devin Ebanks added 13 for West Virginia.
Jeff Xavier led Providence with 15 points.
