Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Men Hosts Appalachian State Saturday Evening
12/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2005
Marshall Game Notes
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Appalachian State Game Notes
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Former Southern Conference rival Appalachian State travels north to take on the Thundering Herd Saturday evening at Cam Henderson Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Herd and Mountaineers have not met since the 1997 season, when Marshall was a member of the Southern Conference. Marshall leads the all-time series with Appalachian State, 31-16, with the Herd taking the last meeting 84-78, at the Southern Conference Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., on March 1, 1997. All-time against the Mountaineers in Huntington, MU is 21-3 and 17-2 in the Henderson Center. The Herd will also play Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., on January 4 as part of a same-season home-and-home agreement.
Appalachian State is 3-5 heading into Saturday's contest in the Henderson Center. The Mountaineers are led by D.J. Thompson, who averages 17.1 points per game; Nathan Cranford is the only other player averaging double-digits at 11.5 points per contest. ASU last played on December 10 at N.C. State, a game it lost, 92-68. Cranford led the Mountaineer effort with 18 points. Saturday's meeting is ASU's third consecutive road game, with one more away contest on the slate before the Christmas break December 20 at Arkansas-Little Rock.
Marshall (3-3) won its second consecutive game with a 73-70 win over Youngstown State on December 4 in the Henderson Center. Junior forward Travis Aikens led five players in double-figures with 17 points, and junior point guard Chris Ross led the team in rebounding with six. The Herd took control of a close game midway through the second half with a 10-2 run, and then held on with key defensive stops in the waning minutes of the game.
The Herd is returning from a 12-day break for final exams with Saturday's game against Appalachian State. Marshall is also in the middle of a four-game home stand, with tonight's game being the third game in the stretch. MU closes out the homestretch with Charleston Southern on December 20.
Marshall posted its best shooting percentages and turnover totals in 2005-06 against Youngstown State on December 4th. MU fired in 44.6% (25-56) of its shots against the Penguins, including 8-of-19 from beyond-the-arc (42.1%), which was also a season-best. The 15 turnovers committed vs. YSU was also a season best - in fact, Marshall had 16 assists, the first time this season the Herd has had more assists than turnovers. It was also the Herd's most balanced game of the year, with five players scoring in double figures.
Marshall boasts a record of 95-28 at home since 1996 and is 3-0 so far in 2005-06. The Herd has also posted a record of 34-5 in non-conference contests, including wins over Wake Forest, Georgia, and UMass.
Marshall will attempt to win its third consecutive game Saturday against Appalachian State - the Herd has not won three straight since January 4-11 of 2003, when MU beat Western Michigan at home, Buffalo on the road, and Toledo at home.
Former Marshall head football coach Bob Pruett will sign books from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday night before Marshall takes on the Mountaineers. Signing tables, where the book will be available for purchase, will be located on the west end of Henderson Center, on the main concourse just past the multiple doors across from the parking garage bridge. Pruett will be signing copies of the Deluxe Collector's Edition of Purpose and Passion: Bobby Pruett and the Marshall Years.
Proceeds from the book sales will be divided evenly between the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, the Marshall University Alumni Association and the Huntington Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Tip off is set for 7 p.m., and can be heard live in the region on the ISP/Thundering Herd Network or on the Internet at www.HerdZone.com.
