HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall outscored Savannah State by 14 in
the second half to remain undefeated in the Cam Henderson Center in a
64-48 win over the Tigers on Wednesday.
The win improved the Thundering Herd to 7-5 on the season and 6-0 in Henderson. Savannah State fell to 5-7.
"Excellent win, but we have to get better," said head coach Tom
Herrion. "There's no mistake about it. That was as consistent of 40
minutes we've played all season in my opinion."
For the fourth-straight game, junior guard D.D. Scarver
led the team in scoring with 18 points. He was 5-of-11 from the field including 3-of-6 from three-point range.
Senior Dennis Tinnon scored 14
points on 6-of-7 shooting. He started the game 6-of-6, his first miss
coming late in the second half. Junior forward Elijah
Pittman rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points, all
coming in the second half when Marshall outscored Savannah State 37-48.
The Herd matched the Tigers'
full-court press with stifling perimeter defense. For the first time
since Dec. 29, 1991, a Marshall opponent was held without
a made three-pointer as Savannah State finished 0-for-7.
The Herd shot 5-of-16 from
three-point range and finished 41.7 percent from the floor including a
second half percentage of 47.4. The Tigers finished 33.3
percent from the field.
Marshall fell behind early in
the game, 14-6 at the 12:40 mark, its largest deficit of the contest.
The Herd then went on a 19-4 run over the next six minutes
of play, capped by back-to-back threes from Scarver to take a 25-18
lead. The Tigers closed the half on a 7-2 run as the Herd led 27-25 at
the break.
The Herd never trailed in the
second half and led 43-39 with 8:28 to play before going on a 17-5 run
to extend its lead to 60-44 with 1:06 to play.
"At times, we were really, really good, but too many turnovers," said
Herrion, who donned a green jacket in memory of the lives lost at Sandy
Hook Elementary in Newton, Conn. "Nineteen is a bad number. But in the
second half we were
so much more efficient."
Marshall outrebounded Savannah State 41-38. Nigel Spikes, Pittman and Tinnon all recorded a team-high six rebounds.
"I would have liked to stretch the rebound margin a little more for
us," Herrion said. "We have to continue to address that. We have to
continue to be a better rebounding team. It's a good win for our kids,
coming out of exams. They've
had a great attitude, so I'm happy for them."
Rashad Hassan led the Tigers
with 11 points and eight rebounds. Preston Blackman had a solid
all-around game with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Marshall will next be in action
on Saturday when it travels to Lexington, Ky. to face No. 23 Kentucky at
4 p.m. The game at Rupp Arena will be televised on
ESPN2.
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