Marshall University Athletics
Western Michigan Edges Marshall, 79-75
2/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Western Michigan Edges Marshall, 79-75
2/5/2003
- Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Center Anthony Kann scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Western Michigan University to a 79-75 win over Marshall University in Mid-American Conference basketball action Wednesday.
?Kann was a load underneath,? Marshall head coach Greg White said. ?He?s an experienced player and he took advantage of our youthfulness in the post.?
In addition to Kann, WMU (13-6, 5-5 MAC) got a 25-point, 12 rebound effort from Mike Williams that was key in countering a solid shooting Marshall squad. For the game, Western Michigan out-rebound the Herd 39-22.
Marshall (9-10, 5-6 MAC) was led by Ronald Blackshear?s 28 points. The Thundering Herd?s only other double-digit scorer was junior Marvin Black who contributed 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
"Overall I am pleased with the effort we showed tonight," White said. "If we play with this same intensity we are going to win a lot of games down the stretch."
The Thundering Herd shot a solid .491 from the floor and .409 from behind the three-point line. Marshall also only turned the ball over 10 times and connected on 14 of 16 free throw attempts (.875) to dominate the majority of the statistical categories. In contrast, Western Michigan shot only .424 from the floor, .250 from three-point range, and turned the ball over 14 times. The major statistical difference being that Western Michigan went to the free throw line 30 times and took advantage of it by connecting on 26 shots from the charity stripe.
Marshall led at halftime by the score of 33-31 and opened up an 11-point lead to start the second half thanks to three consecutive three-pointers. However, Western Michigan managed a 15-0 run to counter and take the game into a see-saw battle down the stretch.
The Thundering Herd will now attempt to get back on track at home. Marshall will attempt to end its current four-game skid when it hosts Bowling Green Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
