Marshall University Athletics
Herd Men Face Zips In Crucial MAC Tilt
3/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Herd Men Face Zips In Crucial MAC Tilt
3/2/2004
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A first-round Mid-American Conference Tournament home game is in the balance Wednesday night when the Akron Zips invade the Henderson Center to take on the Thundering Herd. Marshall must defeat the Zips to keep their dreams of hosting a tournament game alive.
Marshall also hopes to avenge an earlier loss to the Zips on February 2nd at James A. Rhodes Arena. John Hollingsworth scored 19 points as the Akron Zips defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd, 85-69, at the J.A.R. The story of the game was field goal shooting - Akron shot a blistering 61.7 percent from the floor in the contest, while Marshall shot just 38.9 percent. Hollingsworth was suspended last week by Zips' head coach Dan Hipsher indefintely for academic reasons, and will not make the trip for Akron.
Akron emerged from a week break to take out East Division leader Kent State, 64-61, at the J.A.R. on Sunday afternoon behind Derrick Tarver?s 33 points. The Zips are 13-12, 7-9 in the MAC, and have alternated wins and losses in their last seven games. Tarver leads the Mid-American Conference in scoring, averaging 22.2 points per game.
In Marshall's last time out, the Herd kept their MAC Tournament hosting hopes alive with a 71-68 win over Ohio on Sunday. The win marked the first time the Herd has swept the Bobcats since 1997-98. Marshall led by as many as 22 early in the second half, but the Bobcats used a ferocious full-court defensive attack to press back into the game. Although the Herd never trailed in the contest, Ohio cut Marshall?s lead to one on a few occassions late in the game. Tre Whitted (Wilmington, N.C.) led the Herd with a career-high 17 points.
The Herd need a win over the Zips and Miami RedHawks on Saturday to secure a spot in the Henderson Center Monday night. It is too early to predict the other scenarios if Marshall loses to Miami on Saturday. The Zips, Eastern Michigan, and Bowling Green are the other three teams battling for a home court game.
The Thundering Herd leads the all-time series between the two schools, 10-7. MU is 3-1 against the Zips in the Henderson Center since rejoining the MAC in 1997-98, with their lone loss at home coming in the inaugural season, 65-62.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Last Regular Season Tip-Off Club Meeting Wednesday
Wednesday's Tip-off Luncheon is the last one of the regular season. All tip-off club members are invited to the noon luncheon at the Radisson Hotel in Huntington.
Jividens Power Equipment To Give Away Arctic Cat ATV
Three contestants will have a free throw shooting contest at the half of the Marshall/Akron men's game to win an Arctic Cat ATV from Jividens Power Equipment.
