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Marshall Takes On Ohio In Global Sports Invitational Finale Saturday Night
Nov. 27, 2009
Marshall University concludes the Global Sports Invitational Saturday night in Charleston, W.Va. when the Thundering Herd take on Ohio University in the Charleston Civic Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Thundering Herd/ISP Television Network. Marshall and Ohio have met 94 times since 1931, the most games Marshall has played against a a NCAA Division I foe in school history. The Bobcats lead the all-time series 50-44 after the Thundering Herd handed Ohio a 73-68 defeat last season in the Cam Henderson Center. This is the first time in the series history that the game will be played at a neutral site. Ohio is 4-0 on the year and like Marshall, the Bobcats are 3-0 in Global Sports Invitational play. Ohio has five players scoring in double figures led by D.J Cooper who is scoring 14.8 points per game. Cooper, a 5-11 freshman guard, is team leader in assists (29), steals (10), and he is second on the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg). Marshall tied the school record for most blocks in a game as the Thundering Herd defeated Lamar 87-74 in game three of the Global Sports Invitational Nov. 25 in Huntington. The Herd blocked 13 shots to tie the school mark which was set against the University of Charleston Nov. 17, 2000. Marshall was led by Tyler Wilkerson (Sr., Lexington, Ky.) who blocked a career high seven shots. Wilkerson's tally was the most in a game by a MU player since Latece Williams tied Omar Roland's (vs. UT-Chattanooga, 1/13/9) school record with nine which he posted against Charleston in 2000.
The Thundering Herd blocked nine shots in the first half while limiting the Cardinals to 28.1% shooting (9-32) in the opening half. The strong Herd defense led to a 41-25 MU advantage heading into the break. Marshall increased the lead to as much as 21 in the closing frame, but Lamar chipped away, closing to within 12 (75-63) on a Reggie Mathis three-pointer with 5:04 remaining. On the ensuing Marshall possession, a Damier Pitts (So., Charlotte, N.C.) three-point lead made it a 15-point game. An Anthony Miles layup got Lamar to back to 13, but Pitts was fouled by Miles the next time down and his two free throws created a five-possession advantage at 80-65. The Herd got the ball back which led to Tirrell Baines (Laurens, S.C.) being fouled. The 6-6 forward made both of his attempts to push the advantage to 82-65. Marshall got the lead back up to 19 in the final portion of the game as the Thundering Herd would go onto a 13-point victory. Wilkerson led all scorers with 18 points as the 6-8 forward went 7-of-11 from the field. Hassan Whiteside (Fr., Gastonia, N.C.) charted his first career double-double with 14 points and a game high 12 rebounds. Whiteside, a 7-0 post player, Pitts scored points and dished out a game high seven assists. Shaquille Johnson (So., Jacksonville, Fla.) scored 13 points, pulled down six rebounds, and had three assists. Mathis and Justin Nabors led the Cardinals as the duo each scored 16 points. Miles added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Kendrick Harris scored 12. Tickets, ranging from $10-25, are still available for the game. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or at the Charleston Civic Center Box Office.
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