MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The Duquesne men's basketball program has made strides under the command of fourth-year coach Ron Everhart -- from one Atlantic 10 Conference win the season before he arrived on The Bluff to one win away from playing in the NCAA tournament last season.

Last night, though, the Dukes observed the expanse between making strides and what it takes to become a team that could be considered a national title contender.

From front to back, end-line to end-line and top starter to the last reserve player, No. 6 West Virginia (6-0) had its way with Duquesne (6-3), coasting to a 68-39 victory at the WVU Coliseum.

Duquesne played poorly and West Virginia was just being that darn good, as the Mountaineers sprung to a 5-0 lead, made it 14-2, advanced to 25-10 midway through the first half and built a 42-20 lead at halftime.

West Virginia built its advantage in the first half by outworking Duquesne -- the Mountaineers had 16 second-chance points -- and simply hounding, harassing and irritating the Dukes. The Mountaineers had 22 points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

And West Virginia didn't relent in the second half, outscoring Duquesne, 26-19, and coasting home. The Mountaineers got 16 points and 9 rebounds from forward Kevin Jones and at least one point from 10 different players.

"This is the best West Virginia team we've played," said Everhart, who has played West Virginia every season he has been at Duquesne. "West Virginia is a great team, but we gave up 20 offensive rebounds and I don't know if you can win anywhere playing like that."

Duquesne sure couldn't win with one player -- Damian Saunders with 12 points -- scoring in double figures and the Dukes having more turnovers (24) than field goals (14).

"We couldn't find a way to get into our offense," Saunders said.

West Virginia, enjoying its highest ranking since February 1982, won its 27th consecutive game against a non-conference team at home.

The offensive insufficiency of Duquesne can best be wrapped into this statistic: Swingman Bill Clark came in averaging 17.4 points per game and while the Mountaineers student section was busy booing him each time he touched the ball, Clark was 1 for 9 from the floor, didn't score until there was 5:43 remaining and finished with just 5 points -- 3 of those from the free throw line.

"They just guarded him and made him dribble it," Everhart said of Clark. "And Billy has got to get better at that."

It certainly didn't help that Duquesne was without starter Jason Duty, who injured his ankle in practice Monday and has been hobbled since. He watched the game from the bench wearing a protective walking boot on his left foot as forward Rodrigo Peggau started in his place. Duty's status is day to day.

Duty's loss, coupled with that of guard Melquan Bolding, who broke his wrist last month and is due back late this month, was glaring in the Duquesne backcourt.

A story line going in was how Everhart was matching wits with West Virginia coach Bob Huggins, a friend of more than 30 years.

"I feel bad for Ronnie, I really do," Huggins said. "But I know him, I know the competitor he is, and I know Ronnie will fix it."

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