HUNTINGTON -- If someone is into comparing scores and playing games on paper, Ohio would be favored to defeat Marshall on Saturday.

Based on results against three common opponents in the Global Sports Invitational men's basketball event, the Bobcats have the edge. Ohio won against Middle Tennessee State by 13 points, North Carolina A&T by 11 and Lamar by 25. Marshall (3-1) beat Middle Tennessee State by 16, North Carolina A&T by 3 and Lamar by 13.

But, Marshall head coach Donnie Jones isn't looking at scores from those games.

Ohio (4-0) also has a win against Ohio Valley, an NCAA Division II school, 101-72, while Marshall's other game was a loss at Division I postseason-tested Old Dominion, 70-62.

"I hope that helped us," Jones said. "We went on the road and played against a very physical team."

Marshall meets its oldest Division I rival for the 95th time at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in the Charleston Civic Center. Ohio leads the series that began in 1931, 50-44, but Marshall won last season in Huntington, 73-68.

Lamar head coach Steve Roccaforte, whose team lost to Marshall and Ohio, said the Thundering Herd is much better.

"And no disrespect to Ohio because you saw our score (71-46)," Roccaforte said. "With 10 minutes to go we were down six and missed two layups and gave up a three on the other end."

Sophomore guard Shaq Johnson leads Marshall in scoring at 12.5 per game, and is followed closely by senior forward Tyler WIlkerson (12.3) and sophomore point guard Damier Pitts (12.0). The 6-foot-8 Whiteside leads the team in rebounds (8.5) while freshman 7-footer Hassan Whiteside averages 9.0 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Wilkerson blocked seven shots Wednesday when Marshall tied the school record with 13 blocks and defeated Lamar, 87-74. Whiteside rejected four shots.

While the blocked shots were inspring, they also helped lead to Lamar (2-4) getting 24 offensive rebounds.

Jones is OK with blocking shots, but wants to finish plays.

"Sometimes that kills our defense because we're trying to block everything and that's why we're giving up a lot of offensive rebounds," he said.

Ohio, averaging 86.5 points, is the best offensive team Marshall has faced, Jones said.

Five Bobcats average double-figure points led by freshman guard D.J. Cooper (14.8). The 5-11 Cooper also is second in rebounding (7.3) and first in assists (29) and steals (10).

The Bobcats have some size with 6-10 senior Kenneth van Kempen (4.5 ppg, 8.5 reb), 6-8, 263-pound freshman Reggie Keely (8.3 ppg, 4.8 reb) and 6-8 freshman Ivo Baltic (9.3 ppg, 5.8 reb).

"They're much improved from last season," Jones said.

Ohio also has a player waiting in the wings who might join the team Saturday.

Junior guard Armon Bassett, a transfer from UAB who began his career playing on two NCAA tournament teams at Indiana University, became eligible at the conclusion of fall quarter. Bassett did not play at UAB. He averaged 11.4 points as an All-Big Ten third team selection at Indiana in 2007-08 and topped the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (45.4).

National Video