Derek Culver had team-highs with 16 points and 16 rebounds as West Virginia pulled away from Nicholls State, winning 83-57 on Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va.

West Virginia (9-1) received a tough battle for most of the game from Nicholls State (6-5), which trailed 39-31 at halftime and was within 49-45 with less than 13 minutes to go.

West Virginia then made its big move, producing an 11-1 run for a 60-46 cushion with 9:52 to go. The Colonels didn't get closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

West Virginia's Oscar Tshiebwe posted 15 points and 11 rebounds. Miles McBride also scored 15 points, hitting 8 of 9 free throw attempts.

D'Angelo Hunter led Nicholls with 14 points. Elvis Harvey Jr. added 12.

West Virginia had big advantages on the offensive glass and at the free throw line. The Mountaineers collected 19 offensive boards to just nine for the Colonels. Tshiebwe and Culver grabbed six offensive rebounds apiece.

West Virginia also made 23 free throws compared to only nine for Nicholls.

West Virginia led 34-24 late in the first half, but Nicholls State then produced its best offense of the day, scoring 19 points in 5:26 spanning halftime to forge a 43-43 tie with 16:43 left. Nicholls State was still hanging around four minutes later, but that's when West Virginia found a higher gear in the last 12-plus minutes, with McBride starting a 9-0 run with a three-point play.

Neither team shot well from 3-point range. West Virginia won despite hitting only 6 of 25 from behind the arc. The Mountaineers, however, limited the Colonels to 4 of 25 3-point shooting.

--Field Level Media