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SPORTS
Herd gets back on track
Dago Pena, left, talks with Dennis Tinnon as Marshall takes on Tulane during the C-USA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON — Marshall’s Thundering Herd was its old defending and rebounding self Wednesday night in a 63-44 men’s basketball victory over Tulane.
Marshall stopped Tulane at 22 points in each half and a season-low total.
The Herd pounded the backboards to the tune of a plus-23 advantage.
Those statistics were exactly what Marshall (14-8 overall and 5-3 Conference USA) needed to post a suspense-free victory and put the skids on a four-game losing streak while playing in front of 5,590 spectators in Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall is tied with UCF for fourth place in the conference standings, right behind idle Tulsa (13-9, 6-2), which the Herd visits Saturday night.
“We needed that win tonight,” said Marshall big man Nigel Spikes. “We were tired of losing. That’s not us.
“We came back and did what we had to do and got a win. This is just a stepping stone. I feel like we’re back on the right track.”
The 44 points was the fewest ever allowed by Marshall in a C-USA game. That total also tied Jacksonville State for the poorest production against Marshall this season.
Marshall also had more rebounds (45) than the Green Wave had points.
A 20 to five edge in offensive rebounds led to Marshall gaining a 16-2 advantage in second-chance points.
“I’m really happy for my kids,” Marshall head coach Tom Herrion said. “Their attitude has been phenomenal in this stretch. Our practices the last two days and our shootaround today were outstanding, reflective of the attitude of our kids (and) leadership of the older guys.
“We got back to our fabric — defense and rebounding.”
Tulane had the early lead at 10-5 at 15:41 of the first half when Marshall took off on a 28-4 surge and pulled away, 33-14, at 2:34 of the period.
Herd guard Shaq Johnson nailed a flurry of three 3-point shots in the opening 11 minutes. Tulane attempted to guard Johnson closer and fouled him on another 3-point shot. Johnson made all three foul shots.
Dre Kane scored seven consecutive Marshall points in the spurt.
Tulane (14-8, 2-6) got back within 10 early in the second period before Marshall blew out to a 63-41 lead with 2:33 to go and Herrion cleared the bench.
Tulane’s 44 points followed a 63-point performance in one half just a week ago in a win over SMU.
“You hold a team in our league to 44 points, that’s an outstanding effort,” Herrion said.
Marshall’s balanced scoring was led by Kane with 13. Johnson followed with 12, Rob Goff 10, Damier Pitts 10 and Spikes nine. Rebounding leaders were Dennis Tinnon with 12, Spikes (seven), Kane (six) and Goff (six).
Tulane scoring leader Ricky Tarrant, a freshman guard averaging 13.8 points, picked up two early fouls and disn’t score until the second half. Tarrant, who scored 33 against SMU, finished with 11, the same as backcourt mate Jordan Callahan.
Josh Davis scored seven and topped the Green Wave with six rebounds.
“That stretch of the first half, I think it was Johnson’s threes and some real good work on the boards, busted it open there,” Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said.
Marshall’s shooting wasn’t great at 40.4 percent from the floor and 10-for-16 at the foul line for 62.5 percent, but the Herd tracked down 20 of its misses on offensive rebounds.
With eight assists Pitts led an offense that helped on 17 of its 23 field goals.
Tinnon had double-figure rebounds for the 14th game this season.
The last time Marshall held a league opponent to 44 points or less was a Jan. 28, 1950 victory over Tennessee Tech, 88-43, in the Ohio Valley Conference.
