Keith Benjamin rejects the shot of West Virginia's De'Sean Butler. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

March 3, 2008

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.

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.

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