Noel Devine's 56-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes lifted No. 22 West Virginia to a 28-24 win over Connecticut Saturday in the Huskies' first game since the fatal stabbing of cornerback Jasper Howard.

Devine ran for 171 of his 178 yards in the second half as West Virginia (6-1, 2-0 Big East) overcame the inspired play of the Huskies (4-3, 1-2). Jarrett Brown ran for a score and threw for another for the Mountaineers.

Cody Endres' second TD pass of the game, an 84-yarder to Marcus
Easley, put the Huskies ahead 24-21 with 3:50 left. After Devine's
TD with 2:10 to go, UConn drove to the West Virginia 33 before
Chris Neild intercepted Endres on fourth down.

Howard was stabbed to death last Sunday outside a university-sponsored dance. Teammates Andre Dixon and Kashif Moore carried his helmet and jersey onto the field before kickoff.