Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
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Marshall Men's Basketball Takes Global Invitational Title
11/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2009
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Freshman center Hassan Whiteside posted a career-best game, just missing a triple-double, with 14 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocks to lead the Marshall University men's basketball team past Ohio University 60-53 at the Charleston Civic Center on Saturday evening.
The win awards the Thundering Herd with the Global Sports Invitational Championship by earning victories in all four games of the tournament. The Herd defeated North Carolina A&T, Middle Tennessee State, Lamar and Ohio.
MU (4-1) outscored Ohio (4-1) in the paint (34-18) and off the bench (23-14) to bring the all-time series to 50-45 in favor of the Bobcats.
Whiteside tied a Marshall school record for blocks in a game with nine, which was previously set by Latece Williams (11/17/00) and Omar Roland (1/13/89). The Gastonia, N.C., native finished 7-for-11 from the field and tied his career high with 14 points. The 17 boards (11 defensive, six offensive) along with his nine blocks were both personal bests. The game also marked his second consecutive double-double.
"I'm proud of all the blocks I had tonight because it swung the momentum in our favor," Whiteside said. "I think by my fifth block Ohio started shooting more threes. That allowed us to put more ball pressure on them forcing them into bad shots."
Tyler Wilkerson reached double-figures for the fourth-straight game, totaling 10 points while adding seven rebounds. Shaquille Johnson and Darryl Merthie each chipped in with nine points apiece, with the pair combining for a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.
In the first eight minutes of action, both the Thundering Herd and Bobcats struggled to find the bottom of the net. The two teams combine to shoot 7-for-24 overall (1-for-10 on 3-pointers) bringing the score to a 9-all.
Following a media timeout, junior Antonio Haymon drove baseline for a two-handed dunk to give the Herd an 11-9 advantage.
MU fell behind 14-11 after Ohio's Tommy Freeman sank a 3-pointer from the left corner. The Herd answered back by embarking on a 16-2 run to bring the score to 27-16 with 4:53 left in the opening half.
The run was highlighted by three-pointers from Damier Pitts and Merthie along with a put-back dunk from Hassan Whiteside to force the Bobcats into their first timeout.
Consecutive layups by Nigel Spikes and Whiteside built the Herd lead to its largest of the first stanza, 34-21, heading into the locker room for half time.
OU utilized a 9-3 rally to open the second half, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Freeman and D.J. Cooper, shrinking the Herd cushion to 37-30 with 15:39 left.
Leading 41-34, MU went on a 6-2 spurt, including a steal from Shaquille Johnson, which he left for Whiteside for a breakaway dunk to hold an 11-point edge, 47-36, at the 11:23 mark.
A 9-0 run by the Bobcats cut the MU advantage to four points, 47-43 after Johnson hit his fourth 3-pointer of the night with 6:36 left.
A Whiteside elbow jumper and Merthie runner in the lane sandwiched around a Cooper bucket put MU up 53-46 with 2:26 remaining in the contest.
Cooper drained a 3-pointer with 1:20 left putting the Bobcats within four, 55-51. The Herd made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to hold on and defeat OU, 60-53.
Freeman led the Bobcats' offense with 16 points including a game-high four 3-pointers. Cooper added 15 points and three steals in the loss.
"That was a typical rivalry game," head coach Donnie Jones said. "I'm proud of our team that we were able to hold on and win it. That was a very good Ohio team. Defensive rebounding was the key tonight, and we have been preaching that in all the games we have played."
The next game for the Herd is on Thursday, Dec. 3 against Salem International. The game is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Cam Henderson Center.
