Marshall University Athletics
Marshall to Close Non-Conference Play at Home
1/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2014
GAME 15: PRESBYTERIAN (4-10, 0-0 Big South) at MARSHALL (5-9, 0-0 C-USA)
Sunday, Jan. 5 - 2 p.m. ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center (9,043)
| Live Video | Live Radio | Twitter
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Only one thing stands between Marshall men's basketball and the start of Conference USA play, a contest with Presbyterian College. The Thundering Host will host PC to close out non-conference play, Sunday, Jan. 5, at 2 p.m. in Cam Henderson Center.
General admission tickets are $10 and may be purchased by going to HerdZone.com or by calling 800-THE-HERD. The game can be viewed and heard online via Herd All-Access by going to HerdZone.com. A Herd All-Access subscription for the season is $9.95 per month or $79.95 for one year.
In-game Twitter updates @HerdMBB, results and a recap from the night's action will be available at HerdZone.com.
HAVE YOU HERD?
With multiple chances to take a late lead on the road with seconds remaining, Marshall's chances rimmed out as the Herd fell, 59-58, to Akron at James A. Rhodes Arena, Thursday night.
Freshman forward Ryan Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the Herd with 16 points on the night, while freshman guard Kareem Canty (Harlem, N.Y.), sohpmore guard Chris Thomas (Denver) and sophomore forward TyQuane Goard (Charleston, W.Va.) each added 10 of their own.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Herd is 5-2 this season in the friendly confines of Cam Henderson Center and 43-13 at home under coach Tom Herrion. With added support from its Kelly Green-clad fans, Marshall is 355-112 at the Henderson Center over 33 seasons, good for a .760 winning percentage.
NO CRAVING CUPCAKES
Marshall has played a tough non-conference schedule to this point with games against two Southeastern Conference members, one Big Ten member and one Big 12 member. As a result, the Herd has a strength of schedule of 84 out of 351 Division I men's basketball programs. Only one C-USA member has played a tougher schedule, Tulsa, which has a strength of schedule of 27.
MIXING IT UP
As a result of bumps and bruises throughout the season to some of the Herd's starters, coach Tom Herrion has used five different starting lineups in 14 games this season. No same starting lineup has been used more than four times this year.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Marshall has yet to win a game this season in which it failed to reach the 70-point plateau. The Herd is 1-7 when scoring 79 or less points and 4-2 when scoring above 80. Having a 5-3 record when keeping opponents below 79 points of offense, Marshall is 0-6 when allowing the opposition to score more than 80 points.
AT THE WIRE
So far this season, the Herd has seen seven of its games decided by 10 points or less and Marshall has posted a 1-7 mark in those close contests. Now 0-3 in games decided by five points or less, the lone Herd victory in a game decided by 10 or fewer points game against Western Kentucky (Nov. 26), 74-64.
ON THE LINE
Free throws have been a point of emphasis for the Herd this season as Marshall is 4-2 when converting more attempts from the charity stripe than opponents and 1-7 when making less free throws than the opposition. The Herd is shooting 60.5 percent from the line this season (260-of-430). Marshall's 170 missed free throw attempts rank first in NCAA Division I men's basketball.
GOARDING THE BOARDS
Goard has come on strong since he was inserted into the starting lineup against Vanderbilt (Dec. 5). Goard is averaging 25 minutes per game and is a team best 64.3 percent from the field (36-of-56) this season.
The transfer swingman has used his length and athleticism to help the Herd in its rebounding efforts as he is averaging 5.2 per game. 28 of his 73 total rebounds have come on the offensive glass, creating second-change opportunities for Marshall. Goard recorded his first career double-double on 21 points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes against Arkansas State (Dec. 21). Goard also went 11-of-13 from the line against the Red Wolves.
A HELPING HAND
The benefit of having a true point guard has helped the Herd greatly this year and Canty has been the primary reason for that. An average of 6.9 assists per game has the freshman ranking eighth in the country in dimes, while he is the top assist man in C-USA. Canty has recorded three double-doubles on the season, all coming from a combination of points and assists. He most recently recorded 14 assists against Alice Lloyd (Dec. 17), setting a career best and tying for fourth-most steals in a single game by a member of the Herd in the history of the program.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
With numerous scoring threats in the Marshall lineup, four members of the Herd are averaging double figures in scoring, three of which have become a mainstay in the Herd's starting lineup: Canty with 16.8, Taylor with 13.3 and Thomas with 11.9. The Herd has received scoring help from more than its top four scorers as Marshall has had three or more of its own score in double figures in 13 of 14 games this season.
Unfortunately it has not always been enough as the Herd is 4-9 this season when three or more of its own score in double figures and 1-0 when two or less reach 10 points.
SCOUTING THE BLUE HOSE
Presbyterian has lost three of its last four games and is coming off a, 71-59, loss at Samford (Dec. 30). PC is 1-8 away from home this season and 1-6 in true road games with the lone win having come at UNC Greensboro (Dec. 3).
Three members of the Blue Hose are averaging double figures in scoring with junior guard Jordan Downing leading PC in scoring with 19.4 per game. Junior center Russell McCray has been a force for the Blue Hose as he is averaging 12.1 points per game and a team high 9.4 rebounds per game.
Sunday's matchup will be just the second meeting between Marshall and Presbyterian with the first meeting having come Dec. 2, 1970 in Huntington, with the Herd having won, 91-59.
UP NEXT
The Herd will head to Texas for a two-game trip to take on UTSA (Jan. 9) and UTEP (Jan. 11).
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