NEWARK, N.J. -- West Virginia and New Mexico State are battling back and forth here at The Prudential Center, and both offenses are looking good.

Whether it's been good offense or bad defense, well, that's something for the coaches to debate afterward.

Wellington Smith just hit a three for WVU, but Martin Iti has picked it up for NMSU over the last several minutes, getting a dunk and then a chance for a three-point play on the ensuing possession.

And after Iti's layup and foul, you could hear West Virginia coach Bob Huggins yell at his players standing around the key: "You want to play 2-3 zone, so you can stand some more!!!"

Huggins is certainly not happy about the Mountaineers' defensive intensity right now, but for as bad as he thinks they're playing, WVU is sure hitting its shots from the perimeter.

Alex Ruoff just hit another three to put the Morgantown school up, 25-22, just more than eight minutes remaining in this first half.