Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Tulane
Herd Wins Third Striaght, Drops Tulane 68-54
2/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2008
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University men's basketball team won its third straight Conference USA game, a program first, using a workmanlike effort in defeating Tulane, 68-54, on Saturday night at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall (14-10, 6-5 C-USA) never trailed and utilized a 42-29 rebounding advantage, including 16-4 on the offensive glass, to cruise past the Green Wave (15-9, 5-5) and jump Tulane in the conference standings.
Sophomore Tyler Wilkerson posted his third double-double, scoring a game-high 15 points with 10 rebounds (six offensive). Wilkerson, who was limited to 10 minutes and two points at SMU on Wednesday, bounced back with a 4-for-7 shooting night with two steals in 28 minutes.
In total, four MU players reached double digits in points: Darryl Merthie (14 points), Tirrell Baines (13) and Mark Doris (10). Dorris added a game-high five assists while Merthie tied his career-high with seven rebounds.
Wilkerson scored the first points of the game after an offensive rebound, the first of Marshall's 15 second-chance points. After a tight first nine minutes of the game, Marshall began to pull away midway through the period. The Herd's 21-7 run, spanning nine-plus minutes, gave MU its biggest lead of the first half, 30-15, with 4:17 remaining.
All three of MU's first-half 3-pointers came during the Herd scoring surge, including two by Merthie and one by Humphrey. Marshall entered halftime up 37-25.
The Herd dominated the glass in the first half to the tune of 26-11, including 13 offensive rebounds.
It was more of the same in the second half as Marshall did not allow Tulane to get closer than nine points. When the Green Wave crept to within 42-33 at 15:25, Pierre-Marie Altidor Cespedes nailed a trey a minute later off a nice assist from Merthie to get back up 12 points.
Dorris was fouled while sinking a 3-pointer at 10:57 (missed free throw) to push Marshall ahead 55-42. Dorris' second and final trey of the game, with 2:02 remaining and the Herd running out the shot clock, turned out to be the final points of the game.
David Gomez matched Wilkerson in scoring with a team-high 15 points for Tulane. Gomez, the team leader in rebounding (6.2 rpg), pulled down only two rebounds. Donnavan Stith recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wave was just 1-for-10 from 3-point range while MU went 6-for-14 from distance.
Altidor Cespedes played a career-high 40 minutes with three points and three assists. Robbie Jackson netted five points in nine minutes off the bench. Humphrey grabbed eight boards and dished out three assists in 35 minutes.
The win puts Marshall a game above .500 in conference play for the first time in its three-year history in the league (excluding 1-0 starts). The Herd has won eight of its last 10 C-USA home games.
The Herd will face UTEP in its next contest, Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at the Cam Henderson Center.
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