West Virginia Routs Niagara behind Miles Sadler and Strong Second Half

West Virginia Overcomes Early Deficit to Roll Past Niagara 91-46 in Season Opener

A five-star recruit orchestrating the offense with nine assists, a bench chipping in 30 points, and a staggering 48-16 scoring differential in the second half tell the story of a game that flipped entirely on its axis. Miles Sadler scored 16 points to lead six West Virginia players in double figures as the Mountaineers erased an early 10-point deficit and pulled away to open coach Ross Hodge’s second season with a 91-46 win over visiting Niagara on Monday night in Morgantown, West Virginia, according to the Centre Daily Times.

The lopsided final score at Hope Coliseum stood in stark contrast to the opening minutes, when the Purple Eagles seized control behind an aggressive perimeter attack. Niagara ripped off an 11-1 run to take an early 16-6 lead following a 3-pointer by Brian Angeletti with 14:25 remaining in the first half. The visitors managed to shoot 8-of-20 from beyond the arc on the night, but struggled to sustain their momentum against West Virginia’s depth and defensive adjustments.

The Mountaineers Turn the Tide Before Halftime

Facing a double-digit hole, Hodge’s squad responded with an overwhelming 21-0 run that completely shifted the momentum. Brenen Lorient capped the surge with a triple that put the Mountaineers ahead 27-16 with 8:32 left in the opening frame. Though Niagara briefly trimmed the margin to 29-21 after a dunk by Ruey, West Virginia answered immediately. Joson Sanon hit a 3-pointer to stretch the lead back out, and the hosts carried a 43-30 advantage into the locker room.

The second half turned into a rout as West Virginia shot 57.1% from the field and finished at 52.5% overall. Martin Somerville scored all 12 of his points after the intermission, anchoring a relentless surge that saw the Mountaineers outscore their opponents by 32 points in the final twenty minutes. A 15-0 run spanning just 3 minutes and 12 seconds later in the half blew the game wide open, capped by another Lorient 3-pointer that made it 78-41 with 7:16 remaining.

Box Score Breakdown and Team Contributions

Hodge utilized 13 players in the season opener, leveraging his bench to wear down a Niagara side that ultimately committed 24 turnovers. The Mountaineers turned those defensive miscues into 24 points while dominating the paint, hitting 14-of-23 attempts from close range and securing a 36-24 rebounding advantage.

West Virginia Routs Niagara behind Miles Sadler and Strong Second Half — Photo: deadspin.com

Player	Team	Points	Key Stats
Miles Sadler	West Virginia	16	9 assists, 6-of-14 shooting, 28 minutes
Martin Somerville	West Virginia	12	All 12 points scored in the second half
Logan Woods	Niagara	12	Lone double-figure scorer for the Purple Eagles

Additional offensive punch came from Finley Bizjack and Javan Buchanan, who chipped in 11 points apiece, while Mouhamed Sylla added 10 points and seven boards. For Niagara, Logan Woods was the lone double-figure scorer with 12 points as the Purple Eagles dropped to 0-1 on the young season, managing just four free-throw attempts all evening.

The victory marks a strong opening statement for West Virginia in their first official action since capturing the Crown tournament title in Las Vegas this past April. With a deep rotation already established and contributors producing across the board, the Mountaineers turn their attention toward building consistency as the non-conference schedule rolls forward.