Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Princeton
Herd Holds Off Princeton, 66-60
12/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2007
Princeton at Marshall Game Book 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior Markel Humphrey (Atlanta, Ga.) went 6-for-7 from the floor for a game-high 19 points to lead Marshall to a 66-60 win over visiting Princeton in men's basketball action at the Cam Henderson Center on Saturday.
It was a tale of two halves as Marshall (6-3) came out firing in the opening stanza to the tune of a 59.1 percent shooting clip from the floor to take a 32-22 halftime lead. After the break, Princeton (2-9) seized the hot-hand, sinking 68.2 percent of their second-half shots to make much of the remaining five minutes of action a one or two possession game.
Both teams shot 50 percent for the game.
After Marshall ended a tight first half on a 10-2 run for a 10-point halftime lead, the famed shot-clock eating, back-door passing of the Princeton offense came alive in the second half. Princeton guard Lincoln Gunn accepted a back-door feed and layup from Zach Finley on the Tigers' first possession after halftime, starting a run that would get PU to within four points, 34-30.
Marshall, however, answered Princeton's push with a 10-4 run, capped by a Taurean Marshall (Fort Washington, Md.) 3-pointer from the corner that gave MU a 44-34 edge with 11:10 remaining. The momentum jumped back to the Tigers as a Kevin Steuerer layup was followed by a Marcus Schroeder 3-pointer to trim their deficit to five points.
Humphrey and freshman Tirrell Baines (Laurens, S.C.) took it upon themselves to carry the Herd offense, scoring 15 of the Herd's final 22 points of the game, sparked by a Baines three-point play. Princeton did not waiver in the game's final nine minutes, closing to within three points with 5:29 left. Humphrey, however, went 7-for-9 from the free-throw line in the second half to keep the Tigers at bay.
Gunn hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to make it a 61-58 affair, but a 5-for-6 effort from the charity stripe to close the game sealed MU's seventh straight home win. Marshall went 19-for-25 from the free-throw line (76 percent). The Herd has hit 40 of its last 48 free throw attempts (83.3 percent) over the last two games.
"We showed mental toughness down the stretch to win this game," Marshall first-year head coach Donnie Jones said. "We are really competing hard, which is very important at this stage."
Humphrey added seven rebounds and a block to his 19 points, which extended his games with double-digit points streak to 18 games. Baines netted 10 points with three rebounds - all offensive - while guard Darryl Merthie (Lake Mary, Fla.) scored nine points with two assists and a steal. Starting point guard Pierre-Marie Altidor Cespedes (Montreal, Quebec) scored a season-high seven points with a game-high five assists.
Princeton was led by 12 points by forward Kyle Koncz, all of which came before halftime. The senior was held scoreless in the second half thanks to blanketing defense by Altidor Cespedes. Schroeder, Steuerer and Mike Strittmatter scored 10 points apiece for first-year Princeton coach Sydney Johnson.
Jones was impressed with Princeton's grit and determination after halftime and that of his own team. "Very rarely do you get a win when you give up 67 percent shooting in the second half," Jones said. "But we tried to limit them to one shot on defense while we tried to pound it in on offense.
"We were going to have to grind it out on every possession until the end."
Marshall out-rebounded Princeton, 28-20, and avenged its loss at Jadwin Gym to the Tigers last season.
The Herd will be off until Saturday, Dec. 29, when it plays host to Lipscomb at 3 p.m.
