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West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball, Darian DeVries, Basketball, Robert Morris Colonials men's basketball

West Virginia vs. Robert Morris: Mountaineers Win Season Opener

Mountaineers Start 2023-24 Season With 111-42 Win

The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team opened its 2023-24 season with a dominant 111-42 victory over the Robert Morris Colonials on Monday night at the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers were led by senior guard Erik Stevenson, who scored a game-high 22 points and collected four steals in his return to the lineup.

West Virginia made history with the win, becoming just the third team in program history to score 110 or more points in a season opener, joining the 1982-83 and 1976-77 squads.

DeVries was pleased with his team's performance but knows there is room for improvement. “We still have a lot to work on,” DeVries said. “But I was excited about the way our guys played tonight. We shared the ball and played unselfishly.”

Stat Leaders

In addition to Stevenson's 22 points, four other Mountaineers scored in double figures. Senior forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. and sophomore forward Tre Mitchell each had 15 points, while sophomore guard Joe Toussaint added 14 points and seven assists. Senior center Jimmy Bell Jr. contributed 12 points and five rebounds.

Robert Morris was led by Kahliel Spear, who scored 11 points. The Colonials shot just 27.1% from the field and 18.8% from three-point range.

Next Up

The Mountaineers will return to action on Thursday, November 10, when they host the Radford Highlanders at the WVU Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.