Jasper Floyd tied a career high with 25 points as West Virginia withstood some shaky moments in coach Ross Hodge’s debut, doing enough to earn a 70-54 victory over pesky Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday night in Morgantown, W.Va.

Floyd, who averaged nine points last season while playing for Hodge at North Texas, made 9-of-13 shots. He scored 15 points by halftime and added three clutch baskets in the final 5:23 when West Virginia finally put away Mount St. Mary’s.

Honor Huff added 16 and was 3-of-11 from 3-point range after leading the nation total 3-pointers made last season at Chattanooga. Brenen Lorient chipped in a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Hodge became West Virginia’s third coach in as many seasons when he succeeded Darian DeVries, who took the Indiana job. He watched his team endure several scoring droughts, shooting 43.8%, including 5-of-18 from 3-point range.

The Mountaineers shot 65.7% at the foul line and get outrebounded 38-29

Trey Deveaux led Mount St. Mary’s with 15 points but was the defending MAAC conference tournament winner’s lone double-digit scorer. Mount St. Mary’s shot 39.1%, only got to the free throw line 11 times and committed 20 turnovers leading to 25 points for West Virginia.

West Virginia struggled throughout the first half, allowing Mount St. Mary’s to take a 25-22 lead on a 3-point play by Justin Amadi with 5:55 left in the first half.

Floyd capped his big opening half by converting a layup with 30 seconds left to push the lead to 35-29 by halftime.

West Virginia finally began pulling away, taking a 47-35 lead on a 3 by Huff with 13:37 remaining and a 52-39 lead on another triple by Huff a little over five minutes later.

Mount St. Mary’s never went away, getting within 52-46 on a layup by McEldon with 6:23 remaining, following an offensive foul by Floyd. Floyd finally helped West Virginia secure things by hitting two layups in a span of 43 seconds for a 64-50 lead with 1:48 left.

–Field Level Media