Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Rio Grande
Men's Basketball Cruises Past Rio Grande, 92-59
2/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2009
Huntington, W.Va. -
Adam Williams recorded his first career double-double, grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds and scoring a career-high 12 points, to lead a balanced Marshall University squad to a 92-59 win over Rio Grande, Tuesday.
""Words can't describe how good it feels. Every day you go to practice and work hard and finally it just came," Williams said. "This is a win that we needed."
Williams joined three other Marshall players in double figures. Markel Humphrey and Chris Lutz lead the way with 23 points each, while Darryl Merthie added 10 for a Marshall squad that improved to 11-13 overall. Humphrey finished the game with seven rebounds and two steals, while Lutz added six assists to go with his 9-of-12 shooting performance that included hitting four of five three-point shots. Williams played a game and career-high 35 minutes en route to his double-double and contributed three assists with no turnovers.
The Thundering Herd has now won two straight as it prepares to return to C-USA action with a contest at UTEP on Saturday.
"We're (Lutz, Humphrey, Adams) all upperclassmen," Williams said. "I know it's an old cliché, but it has a lot to do with it. We've been around and know what it takes to win games and how to lose games; we know both sides. I think that our experience at the end of the day and leading this team is what's helping us turn around."
Marshall held a 46-29 lead at halftime and extended its lead to as much as 35 points in the second half. The Thundering Herd played the game with only eight players available. Marshall, already without starting center Tyler Wilkerson, played without freshman guard Dago Pena and junior forward Octavious Spann who are nursing injuries.
Freshmen Damier Pitts and Shaquille Johnson scored nine and seven points, respectively. The duo also added six assists each off of the bench.
"I think we're starting to get a little chemistry among ourselves," Marshall Head Coach Donnie Jones said. "We just have to find a way since we are obviously limited in some ways from a depth stand point, but as long as you have the right five out there you have a chance to win on any given night."
Rio Grande (17-10 overall) was paced by Brandon Ivery's 16 points. The RedStorm also received 11 points from Brett Beucler and nine from P.J. Rase.
Marshall out-rebounded Rio Grande 41 to 33 and scored 29 points off of RedStorm turnovers, while limiting Rio to 41.9% shooting from the floor (26-of-62) and only 23% from three (3-of-13). Meanwhile, the Thundering Herd shot 57% from the floor (36-of-63) and was 7-of-20 from behind the three-point arc (35%).
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