Butler's jumper with 6 seconds left lifts W.Va. past Marshall 66-64

1/23/2008 9:40 PM

By JOHN RABY
AP Sports Writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -Da'Sean Butler's jumper in the lane with 6 seconds left lifted West Virginia to a 66-64 win over Marshall on Wednesday night.

Butler finished with 18 points for the Mountaineers (15-4). Leading scorer Alex Ruoff had 11 points and 11 rebounds but was limited to two points after halftime. Darris Nichols added 10 points.

Mark Dorris and Darryl Merthie scored 20 points apiece for Marshall (10-7).

West Virginia led 56-44 with 8:29 left in the game after a layup by Joe Alexander before Marshall started its comeback.

Nichols, Alexander and Wellington Smith received their fourth fouls for West Virginia in the span of a minute, and Marshall responded with six straight points to cut the deficit to 57-52 with 6:52 left.

West Virginia made just 5-of-14 free throws after that.

Tirrell Baines' dunk off a missed shot cut Marshall's deficit to 63-61 with 1:22 left.

After Butler made a free throw, Merthie was fouled by John Flowers on a 3-point attempt with 31 seconds to go. Merthie made all three free throws to tie the score and set up Butler's winning basket.

Markel Humphrey, Marshall's leading scorer, sat out his second straight game with a right heel injury.