Long Beach St. @ West Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2009 ) West Virginia 85, Long Beach St. 62

No. 10 West Virginia opened the season with a sluggish offensive effort in a one-sided loss to Texas A&M in Germany. It's safe to say the Mountaineers have straightened out whatever was ailing them as they seek their third straight win Monday night against visiting Long Beach State in the opening round of the Advocare Invitational.

West Virginia has scored a whopping 209 points in consecutive victories over American and Morgan State, with everybody getting in on the fun in Saturday's 111-48 annihilation of the Bears. Daxter Miles established a career high with 32 points while six other players scored at least eight points in the rout. "I thought we had good energy," head coach Bob Huggins told reporters. "I didn't think we had much energy in the first game and I didn't think we had much energy in practice. We were much, much better (Friday) in practice. I thought we had a good energy." Long Beach State opened with back-to-back victories, then hung tough in an 89-81 road setback to Oregon State.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet

ABOUT LONG BEACH STATE (2-1): The 49ers have been impressively prolific to open the season - five players average at least 10 points while the team is shooting a collective 47.9 percent from the field. Senior forward Barry Ogalue leads the way with 17.3 points per game; he's shooting 61.1 percent from the floor and had 17 points in the loss to Oregon State. Turnovers have plagued Long Beach State so far this season; the 49ers have coughed up the ball 18 times against Oregon State and have 55 through the first three games.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (2-1): After shooting an abysmal 34.3 percent against the Aggies overseas, the Mountaineers made offense the focal point - and Huggins was adamant they get things together before the schedule turns tough. Mission accomplished: West Virginia shot nearly 51 percent in the win over American, and hit better than 58 percent of their attempts against the 49ers in a game they led 50-8 in the first half. Miles (18.3 ppg) is one of three Mountaineers averaging 16 points or more, connecting on 60.6 percent of his shots through three games.

TIP-INS

1. The Mountaineers are tied for 14th in steals per game (10.3).

2. West Virginia G James Bolden leads the team with 10 made 3-pointers, and has hit multiple shots from long range in all three games.

3. Long Beach State has forced an average of 17 turnovers per game, tied for 63rd nationally.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 96, Long Beach State 78