Emmitt Matthews Jr. scored 11 of his team-high 16 points to help West Virginia build a 17-point halftime lead on the way to defeating Austin Peay 84-53 on Thursday night in Morgantown, W. Va.
Matthews Jr. shot 7 of 9 and added 10 rebounds. Teammate Oscar Tshiebwe hit 6 of 9 shots and finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers (8-1).
Terry Taylor's 19 points and six rebounds led Austin Peay (4-5). He sank nine field-goal attempts, nearly half of the Governors' 19.
West Virginia led 23-16 with 7:15 left in the first half, then allowed Austin Peay just five more points before intermission. The Mountaineers led 38-21 at halftime.
West Virginia guarded relentlessly on the perimeter, limiting the Governors to 1-of-14 shooting from 3-point range. Austin Peay finished the game 19 of 55 overall (35 percent).
The Mountaineers also forced 14 turnovers and collected nine steals.
West Virginia hit 6 of 17 from 3-point range and made 28 of 50 shots (56 percent) inside the arc. The Mountaineers outrebounded Austin Peay on the offensive boards 19-10.
--Field Level Media
