Casey Mitchell and Kevin Jones scored 15 points apiece as West Virginia pulled away in the second half, handing Cleveland State its first defeat of the season, 74-63 on Saturday.

Mitchell, the leading scorer for the Mountaineers (8-2), recovered after being held to a total of eight points in his previous two games. His 3-pointer with 7:45 left in the second half ignited a 19-8, game-ending West Virginia run.

The Vikings (12-1) drew within seven points on Trevon Harmon’s 3 with 3:50 left. But two Cam Thoroughman free throws, followed by Jones’ 3-pointer with 2:45 remaining, quelled any chance of a Cleveland State comeback.

Norris Cole, who led Cleveland State with 19 points, tied the score at 55 with 8:30 to go in the second half, but 3-pointers by Mitchell and Jones on consecutive possessions made it 61-55 and sent West Virginia on its way.

Cleveland State, off to its best start in school history, was looking to become the first NCAA Division I school to win its first 13 games this season and to avenge last season’s final-second loss to West Virginia in Cleveland.

Cleveland State returns to Cleveland for a Wednesday night game with South Florida at the Wolstein Center.

swalker@MorningJournal.com