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No. 19 West Virginia tops Virginia Tech 88-63

West Virginia Virginia Tech Basketball

West Virginia’s Dexter Miles Jr. (5) celebrates during an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia Tech, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, in Blacksburg Va. West Virginia won 88-63. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)

AP

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Jevon Carter scored 18 points to lead No. 19 West Virginia to an 88-63 victory over Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

Carter made his first eight shots from the floor for the Mountaineers (11-1), who never trailed and won their fourth straight since a 70-54 loss to Virginia on Dec. 8.

He made 8-of-10 shots, including a 3-pointer. Jaysean Paige added 17 points for the Mountaineers.

West Virginia used a 20-3 run spanning the two halves to take control. The Mountaineers scored the final five points of the first half and 15 of the first 18 points in the second half. Carter’s basket with 16:24 remaining gave the Mountaineers a 61-39 lead, and they eventually led by as many as 26. Carter scored 10 of the 20 in that run.

The Hokies (8-5) were led by Shane Henry, who scored a career-high 12 points. Zach LeDay added 11 points, and Seth Allen finished with 10. They committed 22 turnovers.

West Virginia, which shot 51 percent, got 12 points each from Tarik Phillip and Jonathan Holton.

Virginia Tech cut the lead to 72-55 on two free throws by Allen with 8:22 remaining. Phillip had a three-point play with 6:55 remaining and two free throws by Paige with 6:18 left pushed the lead to 77-55.

Though both teams shot better than 50 percent in the first half, they combined for 33 fouls, 38 free throws and 25 turnovers in the first 30 minutes.

The Hokies cut a 13-point deficit to 41-36 with a minute remaining in the first half on a free throw by Shane Henry. But Carter’s three-point play with 37.8 seconds left and a basket by Philip gave the Mountaineers a 46-36 halftime lead.

TIP-INS

Virginia Tech: Henry scored in double figures for just the second time in his career. ... The Hokies played their first game since Chris Clarke suffered a bone fracture in his right foot. Clarke had surgery and is out indefinitely. ...The game was the Hokies’ first sellout of the season. ... Justin Bibbs entered the game leading the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage at 61.5 percent (32 of 52), but made just 1 of 3 against West Virginia.

West Virginia: Won for the third time in the past four meetings with the Hokies since the schools resumed the series in 2012 after an eight-year hiatus. ... Holton recorded his fourth double-double of the season. ...The Mountaineers have won 14 of their past 18 games against teams from the ACC.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech: Hosts NC State on Saturday.

West Virginia: Travels to Kansas State on Saturday.