Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Rice*
Men's Basketball Wins Third Straight
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 4, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University's Markel Humphrey recorded a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds, in his final game at the Cam Henderson Center, to lead the Thundering Herd to a 76-62 Conference USA victory over visiting Rice Wednesday.
"It's been fun. There are a lot of memories here," Humphrey said. "I enjoyed every moment of it. I had fun with my teammates, coaches and the fans."
Humphrey celebrated his "senior night" by hitting 8-of-11 shots from the field to lead a balanced Marshall attack that had three other players reach double digits in scoring. Sophomore Tirrell Baines scored 18 points, while junior Chris Lutz netted 12 and freshman Damier Pitts added 10. Lutz also recorded a game-high nine assists.
It was the final home game for Humphrey, who is the only player in Marshall History to be ranked in the top 20 in career scoring, rebounds and assists, and teammate Adam Williams. Williams started for the fifth straight game and opened the contest with a steal that he converted into a layup.
"There is always emotion on senior night but after the ceremony, Markel and I talked and we said to each other it's time to focus and I think we did a good job of that," Williams said. "It was another game for us, but it was very special."
Marshall (15-15 overall, 7-8 C-USA) has now won three straight and six of its last eight games heading into the regular season finale at UAB on Saturday. Rice falls to 9-20 overall and is 4-10 in C-USA.
"I think what you have seen the last month and a half is the product of our team coming together," Williams added. "Everyone has established their role and everybody knows when they get on the floor what they are supposed to do and they do it."
The Owls were led by a trio of double digit scorers. Rodney Foster scored 17 points, while Trey Stanton added 16 and Aleks Perka 12. Rice battled the Thundering Herd and held a 39-36 lead at halftime; however Marshall managed to pull away in the second half.
The Thundering Herd out-rebounded the Owls 29-22 and took advantage of 13 Owl turnovers against only 10 of its own. Marshall shot 56% from the field, while Rice shot 53%. The Owls enjoyed a great night from behind the arc, hitting 60% of their three-pointers in the game (6-of-10). Five of those made three pointers came in the first half.
A crowd of 5,279 watched the game as Marshall fans paid tribute to Humphrey and Williams in a brief pre-game ceremony. Marshall drew more than 5,000 fans to eight games at the Henderson Center this season, the highest total of 5,000+ home games in Huntington since the 2000-01 season (12).
"I'm really proud of both of those seniors; what they give to this University and what they've given to this team with what we have been through in the last month and really throughout the season," Marshall Head Coach Donnie Jones said. "These kids have continued to fight and play hard. It couldn't be a better ending tonight for both of those guys."
