Marshall University Athletics
Buffalo Tops Men's Basketball, 82-78
1/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Buffalo Tops Men's Basketball, 82-78
1/19/2002
- Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Darcel Williams recorded a team-high 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead the University at Buffalo to an 82-78 Mid-American Conference win over Marshall University Saturday.
Trailing 46-41 at the half, Buffalo (9-8, 4-3 MAC) used a 21-3 run that included a go ahead jumper by Williams at the 17:26 mark to take the lead for good. Marshall managed to chip away at the lead, but could only manage to narrow the score to four points in the closing seconds.
?It was a hard fought game,? Buffalo Coach Reggie Witherspoon said. ?This is an especially hard place to come in and get a win. We feel blessed we were able to get a win here tonight.?
In addition to Williams, the Bulls, received double-figure performances from Louis Campbell (15 pts.), Turner Battle (11 pts.), and Davis Lawerence (11 pts.).
?They are vastly improved and have a good team,? Marshall Coach Greg White said. ?We lost our poise tonight. It was just one of those Murphy?s Law type games. where nothing would go right.?
Marshall (8-8, 3-4 MAC) was led by the duo of Ronald Blackshear and Latece Williams. Blackshear scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench for Marshall, while Latece Williams pulled down a career and game-high 16 rebounds to go with his 10 points.
The Thundering Herd found itself in foul trouble early, with senior Tamar Slay picking up his fourth foul on a technical at the 12:37 mark of the first half. With Slay and senior J.R. VanHoose on the bench with two early fouls, the Herd managed to build a double-digit lead in the first half thanks to the solid inside play of Williams and hot outside shooting from Blackshear.
Buffalo countered with a spurt of its own to make the halftime score 46-41 Marshall. In the second half Marshall went cold hitting only nine of 29 shots from the floor (31%), after shooting 15-30 (50%) in the first half. The game also got sloppy, with both teams combining for 54 fouls, five of which were technicals.
For the game, Marshall out-rebounded Buffalo 47-38, while the Bulls held an 11 to 16 advantage in turnovers.
The Thundering Herd now turns its attention to in-state rival West Virginia University. Marshall will square of with WVU Wednesday in the Toyota Capital Classic at the Charleston Civic Center. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m.
