MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Ahead of the 2026-27 season, second-year West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge felt the Mountaineers had the makeup of a team that could play at a faster pace and make noticeable offensive improvements from the first version of the Mountaineers under his watch.
Two games in, that’s been precisely the case, and for the second straight contest, WVU made 13 3-pointers and shot at least 50 percent from the field to have its way in a 91-53 victory against Stetson on Friday night at Hope Coliseum.
“We feel confident when the ball leaves just about anybody’s hands that it’s going in,” Hodge said.
Guards Miles Sadler and Joson Sanon led the charge offensively as the guard duo combined for 43 points on 17-for-25 shooting, including 9 of 14 from behind the arc.
Sadler’s 25 points and six assists were both game highs four days after he led the way in both Caterogies with 16 points and nine assists in a 91-46 win against Niagara.
“Overall, it’s been preached to me to be patient off of ball screens and play out of triple threat,” Sadler said. “I feel like I was able to do that tonight. I’m seeing the game, slowing down and I feel like my teammates are some of the best players in the country.”
The freshman scored seven points over the first 4:05 to help stake WVU to a 12-5 lead, before Sanon caught fire from the perimeter after entering as a reserve.
“As one of those people that starts the game, it’s on me and us as a starting five to come out and throw the first punch,” Sadler said.
Sanon’s first triple left WVU with a 22-12 lead 11:44 before halftime, and he added a trey on each of the next three possessions, the last of which allowed the Mountaineers to hold a 31-16 advantage at the 9:53 mark.
“I feel like the whole team can shoot,” Sanon said.
Stetson (0-3) answered with eight straight points and pulled to within 33-27 when Sean Morgan connected from long range 7:14 before halftime.
Sadler countered with seven straight points and WVU was on top by double figures to stay, including 43-30 at halftime.
Through 20 minutes, the Mountaineers were 7 of 14 from deep, with Sadler and Sanon combining to make 6 of 9.
The Hatters, meanwhile, went to intermission having made half of their 22 field-goal attempts, and though Collin Kuhl mustered an offensive rebound 8:10 before the break for the first one this season against WVU, the Mountaineers had a 22-10 edge on the boards, including 8-1 on the offensive end.
Any thought of a Stetson rally all but vanished in the early stages of the second half, which began with back-to-back buckets from Sadler before the point guard assisted Seydou Traore’s dunk for a 19-point lead.
A triple from Finley Bizjack made it a 9-0 run to start the second half and Stetson never got closer than 19 the rest of the way.
Sadler’s 3 with 4:53 remaining provided WVU with its first 30-point advantage at 83-53 as the Mountaineers held the Hatters scoreless over the last 5 minutes and without a field goal for for the final 6.
“I wasn’t crazy about our physicality in the first half,” Hodge said. “Had some opportunities to grab some rebounds that kind of squeezed through our hands. As the game went on, our physicality increased and we did a better job. That’s where our numbers can come into play. You keep holding people to a high level of accountability to do what you’re asking them to do.”
Sadler shot 11 for 16, while Sanon finished 6 for 9 with all but one attempt from deep.
Bizjack scored 13, Mouhamed Sylla added 11 with all but two in the second half and Amado Seini was 4 for 4 with eight points and a game-best 10 boards.
“This is going to be a strength-in-numbers type of team,” Hodge said.
WVU shot 31 for 62, including 13 of 31 from 3. The Mountaineers have made 26-of-61 triples this season.
Morgan led Stetson with 15 points on five 3s and Kuhl scored 12 to go with nine rebounds.
The Hatters shot 8 for 32 in the second half and 7 for 20 on free throws in the matchup.
West Virginia’s opponents have missed 17-of-24 foul shots this season.
“In a lot of ways, I thought we were fortunate in the first half. They missed some free throws and open looks,” Hodge said. “We did a better job in the second half of keeping the ball out of the paint and made them make tough jump shots instead of them drawing fouls and getting layups.”