West Virginia G Mazzulla leaves game

Dec 10, 2008 - 4:38 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- West Virginia guard Joe Mazzulla left Tuesday's 68-65 loss to No. 22 Davidson in the Jimmy V Classic with a left shoulder injury.

Mazzulla departed from the contest shortly after missing a pair of free throws near the midpoint of the first half. Clearly in pain, the junior went back to the locker room, holding his left arm in an immobilized position.

He did not return to the game, sitting the second half on the bench with his left arm in what appeared to be a sling. Mazzulla finished without a point in six minutes of action, missing his only shot from the field.

Mazzulla had missed the Mountaineers' previous game on Saturday - a win over Cleveland State - after suffering a left shoulder contusion in an 80-78 victory at Mississippi last Wednesday.

On the season, Mazzulla is averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 assists in six games.

Mazzulla was not the only West Virginia starter to be limited by injuries, as guard Alex Ruoff was a late scratch due to back spasms.

In the midst of a 14-day stretch where they play six games in three different time zones, the Mountaineers will travel to Pittsburgh to play Duquesne on Saturday.

"I told our guys that we have to get by Saturday and then we have a week so maybe we can get these guys healed up," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said following the loss to Davidson.