WVU Basketball Overcomes Slow Start to Top Niagara

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU basketball overcame an early deficit to earn a 91-46 win over Niagara Monday to open the regular season at Hope Coliseum.

The Mountaineers fell into a 5-0 hole early, but fifth-year forward Brenen Lorient responded with a three and a contested layup to knot the game up at 5-5. Niagara responded with an eight-point swing that gave the Purple Eagles a 13-5 lead going into the first media timeout.

Niagara went up 16-6, but the Mountaineers came to life. a 21-0 run ensued which lasted over six minutes of game time.

The run included the first pair of baskets of freshman guard Miles Sadler’s career, both being fast break layups. A three by Lorient capped the run off at the 8:32 mark with a lead of 27-16.

The Purple Eagles managed to hand around as WVU took a 43-30 lead to the locker room. Senior guard Finley Bizjack led WVU with 11 points as Sadler and Lorient followed with eight apiece.

WVU opened the half with three points, one from Sadler and a layup from sophomore center Mo Sylla. After trading blows to start the second half, WVU went on a 13-0 run where the team forced five straight Niagara turnovers.

Junior guards Joson Sanon and Martin Somerville added two three-pointers apiece consecutively, helping extend the Mountaineer lead to 73-41 with 9:10 remaining and forcing a Niagara timeout.

Sadler led WVU with 16 points on a night where six Mountaineers finished in double-digit scoring. Lorient had 13, Somerville had 12, Bizjack and fifth-year forward Javan Buchanan both had 11 and Sylla finished with 10.

WVU will play again when it hosts Stetson at 7 p.m. Friday at Hope Coliseum.

Find more coverage of  WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.