With Truck Bryant and Deniz Kilicli each picking up two fouls early in the first half, things looked dire early for West Virginia but the Mountaineers hung with the Huskies and lead 33-28 at the half.

Thankfully, a long mid-half stretch where Kevin Jones and four freshmen showed the resolve that they could hang with the #16 UConn, rattling off an 8-0 run after their upperclassmen were sent to the bench.

Jones hit three big threes to keep the Mountaineers moving forward in the face of a balanced Connecticut attack which wanted to run and gun with the slow ball Mountaineers. Jones, as usual was magnificent going for 13 points on 5 for 9 shooting. The Mountaineers kept the Huskies at bay all half with hot shooting and tough defense. WVU shot 6 for 12 from three point range and forced the Huskies into turning the ball over 9 times, leading to 15 Mountaineer points.

UConn was led by Andre Drummond with 10 points.

Stay tuned to SBNation Pittsburgh and the Smoking Musket for more on the West Virginia Mountaineers.