Junior forward Kevin Jones has netted a game-best 13 points to help the No. 6-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers take a 36-29 halftime advantage over No. 11 Marquette Golden Eagles in a second-round contest of the 2011 Big East Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The winner advances to play Thursday in the quarterfinals against No. 3 Louisville Cardinals (9 p.m. on ESPN).
The Mountaineers (20-10) used a 12-2 run in the half's final five minutes to earn a seven-point margin heading into the locker room. Senior guard Joe Mazzulla has five points, three rebounds and three assists. Teammates senior guard Casey Mitchell and sophomore guard Dalton Pepper, each have four points off the bench.
Senior forward Jimmy Butler has scored a team-best 8 points for Marquette (19-13), which earned a first-round victory, 87-66, over No. 14 Providence Friars on Tuesday. Teammate sophomore center Chris Otule has scored a team-best 7 points.