Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Old Dominion
Herd Struggles Inside, Falls to No. 25 Old Dominion
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Old Dominion won the battle of the backboards and forced 22 Marshall turnovers, and the No. 25-ranked Monarchs took a 72-51 Conference USA men's basketball victory over the host Herd on Thursday night at the Henderson Center.
"We struggled to get the ball inside," said Herd coach Dan D'Antoni, whose team has lost 11 of its last 12 games. "They were too quick for us."
It was ODU's 10th straight victory.
Facing a third ranked team in D'Antoni's first 15 games in his Herd coaching career, Marshall (4-11, 0-2) forced ODU (13-1, 2-0) into 13 first-half turnovers, after the Monarchs came into the contest averaging only 11 per game. But Marshall fell behind 35-25 at halftime due in large part to 31 percent (9-of-29) first-half shooting.
Old Dominion then scored 19 of the first 26 points in the second half, growing its lead to 54-32 with 12:12 to play. That stretch included six Herd turnovers.
The Herd got 10 of its 17 field goals from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Austin Loop led Marshall with 15 points, on five 3-pointers, while Ryan Taylor and Jay Johnson added 13 points apiece. Marshall had points from only two other players, and the Monarchs held Taylor - MU's leading scorer on the season - without a point for nearly 29 minutes after the sophomore forward scored nine of the Herd's first 11 points.
"It's been tough," Loop said. "Like it has been said, at times we're really good. Then, we have our downfalls like the beginning of the second half. I don't know what the run (was) exactly, but we were down 10 and then it went to 18. We've just got to find and sustain effort. Not just effort, but taking care of the ball and making plays."
Old Dominion also had three in double figures, led by center Jonathan Arledge's 13 points. Guards Trey Freeman and Jordan Baker chipped in with 11. The Monarchs had a 36-26 advantage on the boards to go with 10 steals, providing ODU extended possessions. The visitors also had a 30-6 advantage in scoring in the paint.
Marshall stays home for a 7 p.m. tipoff Saturday at the Henderson Center against Charlotte.
