Marshall University Athletics
West Virginia Edges Marshall, 65-61
1/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
West Virginia Edges Marshall, 65-61
1/22/2003
CHARLESTON, W.Va.- The Toyota Capital Classic once again lived up to its name Wednesday as West Virginia University managed to edge Marshall University in a thrilling 65-61 battle before more than 11,900 fans at the Charleston Civic Center.
Junior guard Ronald Blackshear finished with a team high 17 points, but it wasn?t enough to match Drew Schifino?s game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers. The Thundering Herd had four players finish in double digits. David Anderson had 12 and Ardo Armpalu and Marvin Black had 10 a peice.
The Thundering Herd out-rebounded WVU 37-36. Anderson pulled down seven rebounds to lead Marshall, while Black had six. Marshal shot nearly 39 percent from the floor, while WVU connected on 46.2% of its shots.
West Virginia native Monty Wright, playing in his last Capital City Classic, scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds in Marshall?s losing effort.
Marshall trailed at halftime 36-32, which proved to be the deciding factor. Both teams played neck and neck in the second half, scoring 29 points each and both teams shot 38 percent from the floor.
The Thundering Herd took an early 14-13 lead in the first half and didn?t lead again until the 7:05 mark in the second half.
The Thundering Herd cut West Virginia?s lead to two points with 39 seconds left in the game, but couldn?t get over the hump.
Marshall returns home to take on The University at Buffalo in Mid-American Conference action Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
