Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Charlotte
Herd Can't Strike Gold Against 49ers
1/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A strong second half rally for the Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team came up just short on the final possession as the team dropped a Conference USA contest to the Charlotte 49ers Saturday at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall fell to 4-12 this season and 0-3 in Conference USA play. The 49ers improved to 7-8 and 1-2 in the league.
Both teams traded baskets early on in the first half, with the Herd taking the lead for the first time on a shot by freshman guard Aleksa Nikolic (Serbia) to make it 12-10 Marshall with 14:38 to go. However, Charlotte came back strong, taking the lead for the rest of the half. The Herd went on a 9-4 run to end the half, trailing 41-36 at the break. The 49ers shot a strong 51.6 percent in the first, but went cold as the first period came to a close.
The Herd started the second half slow, with only a free throw until redshirt sophomore forward Ryan Taylor (Indianapolis) hit a jumper with 16:40 to go. The 49ers led by as many as 14, after going up 57-43 with 14:09 remaining.
From that point, Marshall outscored Charlotte 29-20, launching a comeback mainly led by redshirt sophomore Austin Loop (South Webster, Ohio), who had 13 points within that span.
Two Loop free throws pushed the Herd within one point at 73-72 with eight seconds remaining. The Herd fouled South Charleston, W.Va. product Pierria Henry, who made both free throws to give the 49ers a three-point lead. The final possession by the Herd led to a loose-ball turnover, which Torin Dorn turned into a winning dunk for the 49ers.
Loop led all scorers with a career high 26 points. The other Thundering Herd player in double figures was Taylor, who chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Charlotte was led by Henry, who finished with 19 points and added nine assists. Three other 49ers, Keyshawn Woods (18), Dorn (12) and Terrence Williams (11), finished in double digits.
Marshall will make the Florida swing next week, with a Thursday game at FIU at 7:30 p.m. ET and a 5:30 p.m. ET tip at Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
