Herd Rallies, but Can't Catch UTSA

Jan. 22, 2015

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall erased most of a 24-point second-half deficit Thursday night at the Henderson Center, but UTSA hung on and pulled away for an 82-68 Conference USA men's basketball victory behind senior forward Jeromie Hill's 36 points.

It was the ninth straight loss and 15th in the last 16 games for Marshall (4-15, 0-6).

Hill had surpassed his 15.5-point scoring average in the game's first 14 minutes and had 23 first-half points, and with 16:06 remaining the Roadrunners (9-8, 3-3) led 51-27. From that point, Marshall rallied, and Austin Loop's four-point play - a 3-pointer-and-one - cut the deficit to 58-51 with 7:32 left.

That was Loop's first basket of the game, as the Herd sophomore was blanketed most of the night by the tough defense of UTSA's Keon Lewis. But Marshall continued its charge, and got the difference down to 70-65 on a Loop three-point play with 2:29 left.

From that juncture - with the Herd fouling to try and regain possession - the Roadrunners made 10 of their last 11 free throws. Marshall committed 21 second-half fouls.

Marshall shot 51.6 percent in the second half, but dug its hole with a 25-percent first half (8-of-32), and UTSA led 39-23. Sophomore forward Ryan Taylor finished with a double-double for Marshall (21 points, 11 rebounds), his sixth of the season and 13th of his career.

Loop and guard Justin Edmonds scored 12 apiece for MU, which made 13 of its 14 free throws.

UTSA held a commanding 42-29 advantage on the boards, as guard Ryan Bowie had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds to support Hill, whose 36 points are the individual scoring high by a C-USA player this season. UTSA's 7-foot center, Kaj-Bjorn Sherman, had 14 points, and was 7-for-7 on free throws in the final 1:52.

Hill made 13-of-22 field goal attempts, and his 36 points are the most against Marshall since Houston's Aubrey Coleman scored 37 in the Cougars' 81-66 C-USA win at Hofheinz Pavilion on Jan. 31, 2010. The 36 were the most points by a UTSA player since Devin Brown scored 39 in a December 2000 loss to TCU.

The Herd remains home at the Henderson Center for a 3 p.m. tipoff Saturday against UTEP.

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Players Mentioned

Justin Edmonds

Austin Loop

Ryan Taylor

Marshall University Athletics