West Virginia’s season opener started with a jolt of resistance, but it ended with the Mountaineers in full control and John Denver’s voice rolling through Hope Coliseum after a 91-46 win over Niagara on Monday night.
Niagara came out sharper than expected and made the first punch count. The Purple Eagles hit five of their first seven shots and used that early confidence to put West Virginia on its heels, building a 16-6 lead before the Mountaineers found their footing.
Once WVU settled in, the game turned fast. The Mountaineers began attacking the paint and used a 23-3 run to seize control, with Miles Sadler and Finley Bizjack doing much of the work from the backcourt. After opening 2-for-8 from the field, West Virginia recovered to shoot 48.5% in the half and carried a 43-30 lead into the break.
The second half followed a similar script, only with West Virginia turning the screws even tighter. The Mountaineers still led by 13 at the first media timeout, but that cushion didn’t last long. They got hot from beyond the arc and clamped down defensively, forcing Niagara into a string of live-ball turnovers that turned into easy points going the other way.
Martin Somerville knocked down three threes, and Joson Sanon buried back-to-back triples to push the margin past 30.
Sadler, the highest-rated recruit in program history, made his presence felt right away in his college debut. He finished with 16 points, nine assists, and three steals while shooting 6-for-14 from the field. His quickness stood out throughout the night, and when he got a step, Niagara had little room to recover.
West Virginia’s defense wasn’t clean from the opening tip, but it tightened up in a big way over the final 20 minutes, allowing just 16 points in the second half. The Mountaineers also forced 24 turnovers, a number that gave them plenty to build on even with some early issues still to sort out.
West Virginia will have a few days off before returning to action Friday against Stetson. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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The Purdue game pushes West Virginia to 10 Power Four games in 2027, which satisfies the requirement for the expanded College Football Playoff format. It will also be the third meeting between the schools, with the series currently split at one win apiece, so there is at least a little history attached to a game that should already carry some weight when it finally lands on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
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WVU Opens A New Era With Gia Cooke In The Spotlight
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Rhode Island arrives with a fresh start of its own, entering Year 1 under Colleen Mullen after she was hired away from UAlbany. The Rams have a few familiar pieces to watch, including Martina Borrellas, but this matchup is really about two programs beginning new eras at the same time and giving an early look at how quickly each side can settle in. [Read more 🡒]