Marshall University Athletics
Miami Takes Out Herd Men, 59-51
2/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Miami Takes Out Herd Men, 59-51
2/16/2005
OXFORD, Ohio ? RedHawk forward Danny Horace scored a game-high 15 points to lead Miami to a 59-51 victory over the Thundering Herd Tuesday evening in Mid-American Conference action at Millett Hall.
The RedHawks improve to 16-6, 11-3 in the MAC, while the Thundering Herd fall to 5-18 overall, 2-12 in league play.
The story of the game was Miami?s outstanding rebounding effort ? the RedHawks out-rebounded Marshall 38-25 on the night, and 14-7 on the offensive glass. Although both teams shot around 40% for the game (Marshall, 39.6; Miami, 40.8), the RedHawks used the offensive rebounds to take control of the game with key second shots.
?Miami played a good game and really rebounded the ball well,? said Marshall coach Ron Jirsa. ?They had 14 offensive rebounds and out-rebounded us, and that was a big key to the game. I didn?t think we showed poise down the stretch of the game, especially late when our possessions became fewer and fewer.?
The Thundering Herd made two big runs at the RedHawks in the game, both in the beginnings of the two halves. Marshall out-scored Miami, 15-6, out of the gate, but Miami responded with good defense and clutch outside shooting. Senior forward David Anderson (Levittown, P.R.) knocked in a lay-up to cut the Miami lead to 21-20 with 6:30 to go in the first half, but for the next four minutes after Anderson?s basket, the RedHawks held the Thundering Herd scoreless and pushed their lead to only 26-21. However, the Herd could only muster three more points of its own the rest of the half, and Miami took a 33-24 lead into the break.
The beginning of the second half was much like the first, with Marshall making an early half run at the RedHawks. The Herd out-scored Miami, 12-2, to start the second half, and Marshall jumped out on top of the RedHawks, 39-35. Miami then strung together the next six points to take the lead for good at 41-39. Like the first half, the RedHawks put the defensive clamps on Marshall, holding the Herd scoreless from the 8:50 mark to the 3:03 mark to put the game away.
?We got off to a good start, but we knew they weren?t going to quit,? said Ronny Dawn (Fort Thomas, Ky.) . ?They were beating us by eight on the offensive boards in the first half, and that was a big part of their comeback. It?s tough to hold a team off when they get 14 offensive rebounds and all of those second shots.?
Guards Ronny Dawn and Tre Whitted (Wilmington, N.C.) led the Herd scoring effort with 11 points apiece. Anderson chipped in ten points to close out Marshall?s double-digit scorers.
Horace led Miami with 15 points and nine rebounds. Monty St. Clair was the only other Miami player in double-figures with 11 points.
Marshall enjoys an eight day break before taking on the Buffalo Bulls on Wednesday, February 23rd at the Henderson Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
