March 19, 2004

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - D'or Fischer blocked 11 shots to set a school record and lead West Virginia to a 79-72 victory Friday night over Rhode Island in the first round of the NIT.

Tyrone Sally scored 17 points for the Mountaineers (17-13), and Fischer added 11. Rhode Island (20-14), led by Brian Woodward with 20 points, also was stymied by West Virginia's decision to alternate between man and 1-3-1 zone defenses nearly every possession.

Rhode Island didn't figure out Sally or the zone until West Virginia held a 64-43 lead with 8:50 left. By then Sally had 12 of his points.

Rhode Island used full-court pressure and crisp passing to go on a late 17-2 run.

Jamaal Wise's layup with 2:48 left pulled the Rams to 66-60. Sally responded with the game's biggest 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down to put WVU up by nine.

When the Rams again pulled within five, it was Sally who got the ball to teammate Patrick Beilein, matched against Rhode Island's leading scorer, Dawan Robinson. Beilein fouled Robinson out.

It was Sally who shook free from the press with 40 seconds left for a breakaway dunk to give West Virginia a 74-64 lead.

Kevin Pittsnogle added 16 points and Beilein had 15 for West Virginia. Both pair hit four 3-pointers, and Sally added three as West Virginia hit 13 3-pointers, the most allowed by Rhode Island this season.

Dustin Hellenga added 17 on five 3-pointers for Rhode Island.

West Virginia advances to play at Rutgers in a second-round game Monday. The Mountaineers lost at Rutgers 74-53 on Feb. 25.