Marshall University Athletics
Rutgers Too Much for Men's Basketball
12/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Rutgers Too Much for Men's Basketball
12/2/2002
- Box Score
Piscataway, N.J. - Senior Jerome Coleman scored 22 first-half points, en route to a 28-point performance, helping Rutgers University build a 26-point first half lead that Marshall University was not able to overcome in a 75-56 loss at the Louis Brown Athletic Center Monday night.
"Rutgers was a better team tonight. They are a better team period," Marshall head coach Greg White said. "We needed to come in here and play with poise and confidence to have a chance tonight and we didn't. We knew this would be a challenge, we just have to learn from it and move on."
"Coleman is a pro," White said. "He is an all-Big East player and he showed it."
Marshall battled Rutgers early on and trailed the Scarlet Knights only by two (13-11) at the 13:05 mark, before Rutgers took control. The Scarlet Knights went on to out-score Marshall 36 to 12 before the half to take a commanding 49-23 lead into the locker room.
Rutgers used tremendous man-to-man defense to force 21 turnovers that led to 20 Scarlet Knight points.
The Scarlet Knights limited Marshall standouts Ronald Blackshear and Marvin Black all night. Blackshear, who entered the game averaging 27.5 points per game, finished the night with a season-low 11 points and managed to hit only four of 12 shots from the floor. Black was limited to only two points and played only fifteen points before fouling out with 14:10 to go.
One positive for Marshall was the team's no quit attitude that led to a second-half comeback. The Thundering Herd managed to out-score Rutgers 33-26 in the second half, thanks to the strong play of sophomore David Anderson.
"David Anderson played very well tonight," White said. "He played strong, taking the ball to the rim."
Anderson finished the night with a team-high 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
"We just have to learn from this and get better," Anderson said.
Marshall's Ardo Armpalu added 12 points in a strong effort.
The Thundering Herd shot only 38% from the floor and only 28.6% from three point range. In contrast, Rutgers shot 49.1% from the floor and 38.1% from three-point range.
Rutgers out-rebounded Marshall 38-27 and edged Marshall in turnovers 18-21.
The Thundering Herd will open Mid-American Conference play on the road at Northern Illinois Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Eastern time.