Marshall University Athletics
Illinois State Holds Off Marshall, 57-53
2/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Illinois State Holds Off Marshall, 57-53
2/22/2003
- Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Gregg Alexander scored 21 points to lead Illinois State to a 57-53 win over Marshall in ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday action.
Alexander hit eight of 12 shots from the floor, including four of six three-point attempts, to bolster Illinois State and spoil a tremendous 12-point, 18-rebound, and five assist effort by Marshall's Marvin Black.
The Redbirds (6-18 overall) built a 27-22 lead at halftime, thanks to a cold shooting Thundering Herd squad that managed to connect on only nine of its 33 first-half shots. ISU then opened the second half with an 11-0 run to push their lead to 16, before Marshall mounted a comeback attempt.
Marshall (11-12 overall) was ignited by back-to-back Ronald Blackshear three-pointers that cut the lead to 10 at the 13:29 mark.
Over the next, eight minutes Marshall would mount a comeback that would cut the Redbird lead down to one point (48-49) at the 6:31 mark thanks in no small part to a strong effort from Marvin Black. The junior forward from Cleveland, Ohio, would make every Marshall rebound during this stretch (6), steal the ball twice, and record two assists. However, the Thundering Herd could not overcome the Redbirds down the stretch.
Black finished with a career-high 18 rebounds to go along with 12 points, two steals, and a game-high five assists.
Marshall's Ronald Blackshear led the Herd with 16 points, while A.W. Hamilton added 10.
In addition to Alexander's 21 points, ISU recieved double-digit scoring efforts from Baboucarr Bojang (11) and Casey Reid (10).
ISU out-rebounded Marshall, 38-35 and connected on 43.9% of its shots, while limiting Marshall to a 36.2% field goal percentage.
Marshall will now return to conference action by hosting defending MAC Champion and current MAC East Division leader Kent State, Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
