Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
West Virginia 86, Fordham 69
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 23, 2017
Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, West Virginia
Officials: # Gary Maxwell, # Michael Stephens, # Les Jones
Attendance: 11296

Daxter Miles scored 21 points and delivered a string of timely baskets late in the game as No. 10 West Virginia dispatched Fordham 86-69 on Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va.

Jevon Carter finished with 10 points and 12 assists, and Lamont West, returning from a sprained ankle, chipped in 15 points and a career-high nine rebounds for the Mountaineers (11-1), who will enter Big 12 play on an 11-game winning streak.

Even have six players scoring in double figures didn't satisfy West Virginia's coach, Huggins.

"We played bad and scored 86," Huggins said. "That's not a bad deal when you play really bad and score 86. And we played bad. Played bad, shot it bad, and passed it bad. Obviously, Fordham had something to do with it."

Sagaba Konate also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, helping West Virginia to a 44-28 edge on the boards.

James Bolden scored 11 and Wes Harris finished with 10 points.

Will Tavares scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half for Fordham (5-7), which also got 16 from Joseph Chartouny.

While the Mountaineers never trailed over the final 38 minutes, they endured some uncomfortable second-half stretches. Fordham, a 28-point underdog, drew within 46-41 on a layup by Tavares, who later converted a conventional three-point play to tighten the margin to 70-64 with 6:15 left.

That's when WVU's transition attack heated up, closing the game on a 16-5 run as the Rams missed 10 of their final 12 shots.

Carter and Chartouny entered Saturday tied for the NCAA lead in steals with 3.71 per game and both recorded three.

Carter picked up his third foul with 10:03 left and was charged with his fourth foul while defending the ensuing inbounds pass. That left Miles to run the offense, and the senior responded with 12 points and three assists the rest of the way.

"Thank God Dax shot it really well," Huggins said. "Dax hit a huge 3 down there when they cut into the lead. He really played well. He's grown up."

NOTES: West Virginia committed 14 turnovers and finished 10 of 30 from 3-point range, struggling to break down the Rams' zone. Fordham made 7 of 23 from deep. ... With win No. 830, Coach Bob Huggins equalled Jim Phelan for seventh place on the Division I all-time wins list. ... Fordham committed 17 turnovers, only five in the second half, against "Press Virginia." ... West Virginia has a six-day break before opening conference play at Oklahoma State. Fordham opens Atlantic 10 next Saturday against VCU.
Top Game Performances
 
Fordham   West Virginia
Will Tavares 18 Scoring Daxter Miles Jr. 21
Cavit Havsa 4 Assists Jevon Carter 12
Will Tavares 7 Rebounds Sagaba Konate 11
Joseph Chartouny 5 Free Throws Made Jevon Carter 6
Joseph Chartouny 3 Steals Jevon Carter 3
David Pekarek 1 Blocks Sagaba Konate 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Fordham 69 42.6 7-23 16-19 12 27 1 9 17
West Virginia 86 45.5 10-30 16-24 21 40 5 8 14