Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Maryland Eastern Shore
Marshall Men Fly Over Fighting Hawks, 66-56
12/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2005
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall senior center Mark Patton (Barboursville, W.Va.) tied a career high with 21 points to lead the Thundering Herd to a 66-56 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore Thursday night in the Henderson Center.
Although the Thundering Herd never trailed in Thursday's game, the Fighting Hawks stayed in the contest and never allowed Marshall to pull away. MU's lead grew to as many as 17 with 11:53 to play in the game, but UMES responded after that point with seven consecutive points to make the score, 47-37. The lead stayed around ten for the rest of the way for the Thundering Herd.
"I feel like we stepped forward today," said Patton. "It may not have been a huge step, but that's what we have been trying to do. We stepped forward and got the job done.
"It feels good to get the win; it will motivate us to work hard at practice and at the game. That is something that we lack with the losses. We have to be ready to play."
Marshall also got double-digit scoring contributions from Joe Miles (Forestville, Md.), who scored 13, and freshman Markel Humphrey (Ellenwood, Ga.), who poured in a career-high 10 points. Patton and forward Travis Aikens (Orlando, Fla.) led the Herd on the boards with eight rebounds apiece.
"I'm happy to get the win," said Marshall head coach Ron Jirsa. "I feel like we worked hard on defense. We had seven straight stops to start the second half and that is important for us. It is important for us to realize how important those stops are at the beginning of the game, end of the half, beginning of the half and throughout the whole game. We did a much better job on that tonight.
"I thought Mark played well. I was happy that Markel got some extended minutes. We really need him in the rotation. I thought we were able to push the ball up the court some. We did not handle the ball well, again, but I thought our tempo was better. We have got to play that way."
The Fighting Hawks were led by Antonio McMillan, who scored 17 points. Tim Parham added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Troy Jackson chipped in 10 points for Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Marshall's next game is at home Sunday afternoon against Youngstown State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
