MORGANTOWN — Through just five games, Ross Hodge has already established a defensive identity with his first WVU men’s basketball team, one that ranks fourth in the nation in points allowed.

He’s got a win against a hated rival, an emerging freshman in forward D.J. Thomas, a top 10 national 3-point shooter in Honor Huff.

The Mountaineers (5-0) are about to welcome the services of guard Chance Moore, who is now eligible to play after sitting out a mandated five games by the NCAA to start this season. Moore averaged 13 points per game at St. Bonaventure last season.

What Hodge doesn’t have this season is a game away from the home confines of the Hope Coliseum.

How will this WVU bunch play away from home?

“We’re about to find out,” Hodge said. “Typically, if you can defend and rebound, you can fare well on the road. I think our guys are excited for the challenge.”

Technically, it will be a neutral court when WVU faces Clemson (4-1) at 6:30 p.m. today inside the TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. in the Charleston Classic. Clemson’s campus is about a four-hour drive from the arena.

But, it does serve as WVU’s first road trip of the season.

“Time will tell if we’re actually ready to go win the game, but I think we’re ready for that next part,” Hodge said. “You’ve kind of checked off these little boxes along the way and now the next box you have to check is you’ve got to see if you can take your game and put it in suitcases and go on a neutral floor against a really good team. We’re about to find out.”

Moore could serve as a sort of X-factor for the Mountaineers. He was awarded a fifth year of eligibility over the summer by the NCAA. As a freshman, Moore played only five games at Arkansas for a grand total of eight combined minutes in those games.

WVU argued that season shouldn’t have counted as an entire year of eligibility and the NCAA agreed. The governing body ruled Moore had to sit out the first five games this season before becoming eligible.

“He brings another physical downhill presence,” Hodge said of the 6-foot-6, 210-pound Moore. “He’s a good rebounder with good size. He gives you some defensive versatility. You can play bigger, like, you can play him at the (small forward) with your two forwards or you can go smaller. He’s another high-end athlete. He gets long rebounds and he’s a bull in transition.”

Having an extra rebounder can’t hurt for WVU, in what looks like on paper as a defensive slugfest. The Tigers come in averaging nearly 43 rebounds per game, while WVU ranks fourth in the country in points allowed at 54.8 per game.

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Clemson a 58% chance of winning the game.

“I think we’re going to be connected,” Huff predicted about what WVU will be like on the road. “Before every game, coach Hodge draws a big circle and in that circle is us. It’s about us and everyone in that circle and everyone in that locker room.

“We are going away. Technically, it is a home game for Clemson. To be able to galvanize around each other and help each other is the best thing. To be connected, that’s what I think you’ll see from us.”

Depending on the outcome of the game, WVU would face either Georgia or Xavier in the second round on Sunday.

Getting past Clemson would likely mean matching up on the glass. Clemson does have a lot of size down low with 6-10 forwards Carter Welling (11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Nick Davidson (9.8 ppg), as well as 6-8 forward R.J. Godfrey (10.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg).

Clemson forward Jake Wahlin – another 6-10 guy for WVU to deal with – also shoots 47.6% from 3-point range (10 of 21).

“Every day is a learning experience with this team,” Hodge said. “This is kind of the next check point in our season, the next chapter in the book. We’re going to have to play well. Clemson is a great team with a great coach.

“We’ll get the chance to go do what you ultimately want to do if you get to the NCAA tournament. You have to go and beat a good team on a neutral floor.”