West Virginia 76, Pittsburgh 62

3/3/2008 8:44 PM

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Joe Alexander matched a career-high with 32 points as West Virginia avenged an earlier defeat with a 76-62 win over rival Pittsburgh on Monday.

The Panthers beat West Virginia 55-54 on Feb. 7 on a last-second 3-pointer. Alexander made sure it wasn't that close this time, using a series of jumpers and moves in the paint to match the 32 points he scored in a 79-71 loss to No. 15 Connecticut on Saturday.

With West Virginia ahead 40-30, Alexander scored six consecutive points in the paint to give the Mountaineers a 47-30 edge just two minutes into the second half.

West Virginia's lead ballooned to as much as 65-42 with nine minutes left on Alex Ruoff's 3-pointer and Darris Nichols' driving lay-up. Pitt never got closer than 15 points after that.

Nichols and Ruoff added 17 points for West Virginia.

Pitt was led by Levance Fields' 15 points. Sam Young added 13.

Pitt was outrebounded 35-30 and never appeared comfortable challenging inside, allowing 30 points in the paint.

West Virginia (21-9, 10-7 Big East) moved into sixth place in the Big East ahead of Pitt (21-9, 9-8).