STORRS, Connecticut (Ticker) -- West Virginia could have strengthened its case for an NCAA at-large bid, but could only hang with fifth-ranked Connecticut for a half.

Ben Gordon scored 24 points and Emeka Okafor collected 23 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots to lead Connecticut to an 88-58 rout of the Mountaineers in a Big East Conference game.

Since getting upset at home by Providence on January 24, the Huskies (19-3, 7-1 Big East) have reeled off four straight wins by an average margin of 25 points.

West Virginia (12-8, 4-5 Big East) was coming off a win over Seton Hall, but lost for the eighth time in nine conference meetings against Connecticut.

Kevin Pittsnogle scored 10 points in the first half for West Virginia, which trailed, 36-31, at intermission.

But Charlie Villanueva, Taliek Brown and Gordon each hit baskets in the first 2:15 of the second half to open the lead to 42-31 and Connecticut coasted the rest of the way.

The Huskies shot a blistering 68 percent in the second half, converting 23-of-34 from the field, and set a school record with just three turnovers for the entire game.

"Any coach will take three turnovers," said Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. "We have been on their case in drills about turnovers because we've had too many of them. I think we had 15 or 16 against Boston College (on January 31)."

The 6-10 Okafor punctuated the rout with three dunks in a 12-0 run which increased the lead to 71-47 with 4:18 left.

"We moved the ball on offense, locked down on defense, and we just pulled away," said Okafor.

The game featured two of the nation's top shot blockers - Okafor and West Virginia center D'or Fischer - who matched Okafor with six blocks and also had 10 points and seven rebounds.

"I know he's had this circled on his calendar for a while," West Virginia coach John Beilein said of Fischer. "He's one of the top five shot blockers in the country as well."

But the Huskies dominated the paint, outscoring West Virginia, 54-20. Okafor converted 11-of-18 shots and Villanueva made his first start at power forward for the injured Josh Boone and added 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

Villanueva had a three-point play and a layup in a 9-2 run late in the first half to give Connecticut a 36-29 lead. Pittsnogle, who finished with 17 points, hit a jumper with two seconds left to close the half.