Bodog Beat

Joe Alexander wasn't at his best, but West Virginia still beat Arizona. (AP Images)

On a night where Joe Alexander wasn't at his best, the West Virginia guards stepped up big.

Guards Alex Ruoff and Da'Sean Butler combined for 40 points as the Mountaineers beat Arizona 75-65.

Alexander wasn't horrible, but he wasn't the superstar he has been since late February. He had 14 points off 4-12 shooting and grabbed eight boards.

Arizona did their best to keep the contest close. Forward Chase Budinger had 23 points while Jordan Hill had 16.

The Mountaineers now move on to face a Duke team who seem ripe for an upset. They squeaked by No. 15 Belmont by one point earlier in the evening.

With the 10-point win West Virginia covered the two-point spread.

Stay tuned for all your March Madness first round results and recaps!

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