COL BKB: West Virginia 93, Villanova 72

MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A career-best 43 points by junior Da'Sean Butler Friday sent West Virginia coasting to a 93-72 win over No. 13 Villanova.

Butler made 12-of-23 shots from the field and was 6-of-13 from beyond the arc while becoming the first West Virginia player in 31 years to reach the 40-point mark.

Villanova was coming off consecutive 102-point efforts in victories over Syracuse and Marquette. The unexpected result left Villanova in fifth place in the 16-team Big East Conference, three games behind league-leading Connecticut (11-1). Pittsburgh, Marquette and Louisville are tied for second at 9-2.

Devin Ebanks added 16 points and 10 rebounds for West Virginia (17-8, 6-6 Big East). The Mountaineers opened the game on a 14-4 run and owned a 52-34 lead at halftime.

Villanova (20-5, 8-4) was led by Corey Fisher with 17 points.