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In their first action in over a week West Virginia throttles Marist, 87-44

NCAA Basketball Tournament - West Virginia v Gonzaga

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 15, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

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The last time we saw the West Virginia Mountaineers there were getting run out of Spokane, as they fell to a very good Gonzaga team by the final score of 84-50. With more than a week to stew on that result it was clear that Bob Huggins’ team needed to make someone pay.

That someone was Marist.

Eron Harris (15 points) and Terry Henderson (14 points, six rebounds) led five Mountaineers in double figures as West Virginia rolled to an 87-44 win in the first game of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando.

West Virginia shot 52.9% from the field while limiting the Red Foxes to 27.1% shooting, and Chuck Martin’s charges didn’t do themselves any favors with 24 turnovers either.

West Virginia will take on the winner of Davidson/Vanderbilt in a semifinal on Friday while Marist will get the loser in a consolation bracket match-up.

Both Marist and West Virginia were a part of the first Old Spice Classic in 2006, with the Mountaineers finishing second and the Red Foxes third. And it goes without saying that Marist doesn’t have a player the caliber of a Jared Jordan or Will Whittington, two of the stars on that 2006 team.

For West Virginia Aaric Murray played all of his 15 minutes in the second half, finishing with ten points and five rebounds. In total the Mountaineers received 61 points from their bench, with four of the five players reaching double figures being reserves.

As the newcomers become more comfortable with Huggins’ expectations West Virginia will become a better basketball team. Today’s effort was a step in the right direction, regardless of the opponent.

Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.