Line from the box score: This was not Darris Nichols’ best shooting night this year, this month or this week.

However, the game changed when late in the first half he decided to assert himself offensively. He missed two shots, then made two and suddenly WVU was on an 8-0 run to take a 26-25 lead into halftime when, in truth, the Mountaineers had no business leading. It was their worst shooting performance in a half this season (8-for-27, 29.6 percent) and the second-lowest point total in a half this season. Nichols was critical in the second half, when WVU, convinced it could not be worn down and would instead pick the Bulls apart, decided to run its offense in the last 15 or so seconds on the shot clock — and execute it. Leave it to Nichols, who for good or bad is the player whose lead the team follows.

Line from the interviews: Joe Mazzulla probably deserves both. He was … well, he played the best game Sunday. He talked an even better game afterward. On a team of sometimes startlingly blunt players, Mazzulla is open after wins and losses, provided someone asks to speak with him. Obviously, he was asked to talk Sunday about the David duty he did to USF’s Goliath, Kentrell Gransberry.

“He was laughing at me because he weighs 100 more pounds than me. I was laughing at him because he couldn’t get the ball with a 6-2 guy guarding him.”