Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
West Virginia
Marshall Falls in Capital Classic 78-62
1/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2012
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF) 
| Photo Gallery 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Sophomore guard DeAndre Kane scored a team-high 19 points, but the Marshall men's basketball team fell 78-62 against West Virginia in the annual Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic Wednesday at the Charleston Civic Center.
For the first time all-season, the Thundering Herd (13-5) lost the battle of the boards as it was outrebounded 37-27 by the Mountaineers (14-5).
"They took it to us from a physicality standpoint, under the basket and on the glass," said Marshall head coach Tom Herrion. "They beat us to every 50-50 ball. Obviously that's discouraging and disappointing.
The game was hyped as a matchup of two of the top rebounders in the NCAA. Marshall's Dennis Tinnon recorded 10 rebounds and six points, while WVU's Kevin Jones brought down seven rebounds to go with a game-high 25 points.
Kane was 9-of-18 from the field and added three assists and two rebounds.
Senior guard Damier Pitts made 3-of-7 three-point attempts to keep the Herd within striking distance. He recorded 15 points along with three assists and four rebounds.
Trailing 17-13 with 8:30 to play in the first half, Marshall went on a 14-3 to grab its largest lead of the game, 27-20 at the 3:12 mark. However, WVU went on a run of its own, 7-0 including a Darryl Bryant three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game 30-30 at halftime.
The Herd held a brief lead of one-point, 37-36, after a Kane jumper with 16:36 to play. After the Mountaineers went ahead by 10 points with 6:49 remaining, their lead never dipped below double-figures.
"It was a really bad finish to the half for us," Herrion said. "I didn't think we responded well coming out of halftime. We weren't able to get in a flow offensively, missed some chippies and didn't get to the foul line at all."
WVU shot 51.9 percent from the field, the second highest percentage of a Marshall opponent this season (Iona). Marshall shot 45 percent from the field including 26.3 percent (5-for-19) from three-point range. The Mountaineers shot 35.7 percent (5-for-14) from beyond-the-arc.
"Give them (WVU) credit," Herrion said. "They were the aggressor. I thought we were grossly outplayed in a number of areas."
Marshall will resume Conference USA play Saturday as it plays at Southern Miss at 6 p.m. ET.
NOTES: WVU leads the all-time series 29-12... Attendance at the Civic Center was 12,684... MU's 16 points loss ties for the largest margin this season (Akron)... Marshall held a slight edge in points scored in the paint, 37-34 and lost for the first time while holding that advantage.
