MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — If consistency is the mark of any good team or player, the Friars continue to look for answers at this late point of the season.

Over the last 10 games (and 9 losses), the Friars have rarely had even one player step up with strong games back to back. Stringing together any type of set rotation has been impossible as coach Tim Welsh has juggled injuries and sluggish play throughout his lineup.

The Friars put together two strong efforts in losses last weekend to Louisville and Georgetown. Welsh said the effort was there again in last night’s 80-53 loss to West Virginia but there were loads of breakdowns in an ugly second half.

“It’s a difficult venue here,’ said Welsh. “You have to be more efficient and tight [with the ball]. It wasn’t effort. It was their defense. Sometimes the other team can make you look bad.”

Consider guards Jeff Xavier and Weyinmi Efejuku. Xavier has been bothered by a sore foot for nearly a month and that’s limited his explosiveness on offense and cutting ability on defense. He’s gutted through the injury and led the Friars last night with 15 points. That came after a tough showing against Georgetown when the Pawtucket native managed just three points on 1-of-4 shooting.

Efejuku enjoyed a breakout game against Georgetown as he carried the Friars with 25 of the team’s 58 points. Hoping for a repeat last night, the Friar guard struggled against WVU’s pressure defense with as many turnovers (5) as points. He made 1-of-6 shots.

Williams still hurting

The Friars played without starting guard Dwain Williams for the second straight game. Williams continues to be bothered by a balky ankle that’s caused him to miss six games over the course of the season.

“I wish I could go but I just can’t,” Williams said.

Without Williams, the Friars placed much more of the ball-handling duties into the hands of both Efejuku and Geoff McDermott. Both players have struggled at times this season with turnover problems, as has the entire team. PC entered last night averaging 14.8 assists and 14.0 turnovers a game.

The lack of a point guard hurt the Friars again last night. Efejuku and McDermott combined for 11 of PC’s 21 turnovers. The pair had several key miscues in a 12-turnover first half that ended with WVU holding a 33-27 lead.

Coach Huggins back home

Bob Huggins may be in his first year as the West Virginia coach but he’s not new to Morgantown. Huggins was born in the town and grew up in the state before moving to Ohio as a teen. He was a high school star and signed with Ohio University.

But after one season, Huggins transferred to West Virginia and became a senior captain for the 1977 team that finished with 18 wins.

When John Beilein left WVU for Michigan last April, Huggins was at Kansas State but couldn’t resist the offer to come home to Morgantown.

Huggins is bound to stock the program with better talent over the next few seasons and he’ll need to in order to trump the popularity of football at the school. The Mountaineers football squad rules the state, for obvious reasons. The largest ovation of the night in last night’s game came when reserve guard Jarrett Brown entered the game. Brown is a backup quarterback on the football team.

Tough defense by Mazzulla

Johnston’s Joe Mazzulla struggled through an uneventful night against the Friars. The West Virginia sophomore managed four free throws but did play his usual brand of gritty defense. He shadowed both Xavier and Efejuku in the first half and saw his share of Brian McKenzie in the second and he certainly looked solid at that end of the floor through his 18 minutes of action.

kmcnamar@projo.com