Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Cleveland State
Marshall Falls to Cleveland State
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Visiting Cleveland State hit three 3-pointers in a span of 1:41 late in the game Friday night and held off Marshall for a 68-59 men's basketball victory at the Cam Henderson Center.
Herd sophomore forward Ryan Taylor led all scorers with 19 points and also had a game-high nine rebounds, but Marshall (3-3) couldn't overcome a 33-22 halftime deficit created by 29-percent shooting.
Marshall played without senior starting forward Shawn Smith, who has a left shoulder injury and could be out an extended period of time, MU coach Dan D'Antoni said. Senior JP Kambola took Smith's spot in the starting lineup and scored a career-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. It was Kambola's first career start.
Marshall shot 54.5 percent in the second half (12-of-22) and the Herd climbed within 54-51 with just over three minutes remaining before Cleveland State (3-3) got a 3-pointer from the top of the key from guard Trey Lewis. Kambola countered with a 3-pointer for the Herd at 2:27, but then Vikings' big man Marlin Mason hit from behind the arc at 1:47 for a 60-54 advantage.
On CSU's next possession, the Vikings built their lead to 63-55 on another 3-pointer by Lewis. The visitors were 9-of-21 behind the arc.
"We played much better brand of basketball than the last time out," D'Antoni said following the Herd's third straight loss after its 3-0 opening to the season. "I thought we did a much better job defensively, and in the second half, I thought we were more efficient offensively.
"We made threes in the second half (4-of-9) that we didn't make in the first half (2-of-10). Overall, the kids took a step forward. No one likes to lose, but like I've said before, this is a journey with this team."
Cleveland State was led by Mason's 18 points, with Anton Grady adding 17 and Lewis 14. The Vikings made nine steals.
Next up for the Herd is a 7:30 p.m. tipoff Monday against South Carolina (3-3), the first of two power conference teams to visit the Henderson Center in a six-day span. Penn State plays at Marshall on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.
Both games will be televised by the CBS Sports Network.
