MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia University men's basketball coach Ross Hodge might've started sweating late in the second half when Mount St. Mary's capped off a 7-0 run after a Luke McEldon layup.

Mount St. Mary's had gotten within 52-46 in WVU's season opener. Yet West Virginia responded to pull away in the final 6:05 by outscoring the Mount 18-8, taking a 70-54 victory at Hope Coliseum.

The victory gives Hodge his first victory as the WVU leader, which also marks West Virginia's seventh-straight season-opening victory.

Hodge could've easily pointed at a different statistic each time when looking at the final box score as to why WVU pulled away to victory. But it was his team's defensive effort that put a smile on the first-year coach's face. WVU forced 20 turnovers, leading to 25 points.

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