Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
High Point
Marshall Wins Seventh In Row 109-76 Over High Point
12/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W. Va.--All five starters scored in double figures as Marshall University defeated High Point University (4-5) 109-76 in men's basketball action Dec. 20 in the Cam Henderson Center. The marked the second consecutive 100-point outburst from MU and the third time this season, Marshall visited "Century City". Forward Tyler Wilkerson (Lexington, Ky.) and point guard Damier Pitts (Charlotte, N.C.) each charted 18 points to pace the Herd.
Wilkerson, a 6-8 senior, went 7-of-10 from the field and added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the year. Pitts was 6-of-10 from outside and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Guard Shaquille Johnson (So., Jacksonville, Fla.) connected on 5-of-7 attempts from the field and 5-of-7 attempts from the free throw line for 17 points. Freshman center Hassan Whiteside (Fr. Gastonia, N.C.) made his first start of the year and connected on a season best seven free throws on his way to 13 points. Whiteside recorded his third consecutive double-double as he also hauled in 10 rebounds. Senior guard Darryl Merthie (Sanford, Fla.) rounded out the double-digits for the starters with 13 points. Sophomore forward Nigel Spikes scored a season best 11 points (4-of-5) from the field.
Marshall shot 56.5% From the field, making 21-of-30 shots in the second half. The Thundering Herd scored 67 points in the second half, the fourth most in a half in school history. Marshall held the Panthers to 39.1% from the field (27-of-69). MU was 32-of-45 from the free throw line. Marshall led 42-26 at halftime and led by as much as 36 in the second half. The 45 attempts were the ninth most in a game in school history (the most since 44 against UNC-Greensboro in 2006) and the 32 free throws were the sixth most in school history (the most since last season's 30 against Cumberlands). Marshall outrebounded High Point 49-28 and forced 15 turnovers which led to 23 points. The Herd won its seventh consecutive game, marking the longest winning streak for the program since the 2000-01 season. Marshall is 9-1 for the first time since that 2000-01 campaign.
"I thought we played really good team basketball tonight," said Marshall head coach Donnie Jones. "Both our starters and our bench played really well tonight. I thought we did an excellent job of rebounding as we were able to outrebound High Point by over 20."
Next up for the Thundering Herd is a Tuesday date with No. 10 North Carolina at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and can been seen on Fox Sports South and the New England Sports Network (NESN).
