Marshall University Athletics
@HerdMBB to Face Old Southern Conference Foe Western Carolina
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAME 3: Western Carolina (2-1, 0-0, So-Con) vs. Marshall (2-0, 0-0 C-USA)
Saturday, Nov. 19 | 5 p.m. ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center (9,048)
Video | Radio| | Twitter
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ââ'¬" The Marshall men's basketball team will take on former Southern Conference foe, the Western Carolina Catamounts, on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
In addition to coverage from @HerdMBB on Twitter and Instagram, the game can be found on the Thundering Herd IMG Sports Network with WMUL on the call. Live stats will be available through
HAVE YOU HERD
Marshall defeated Morehead State 85-77 to take home the Ellis Johnson trophy. The Herd also improved to 22-11 at home under head coach Dan D'Antoni. Senior guard Stevie Browning had a career-high 32 points, which surpassed his previous high of 23 at UAB (Feb. 25). He has reached double-figure scoring in 25 career games. Senior forward Ryan Taylor had his 28th career double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds, which leads Conference USA. Freshman Phil Bledsoe made his collegiate debut and scored his first points, while Ky're Allison collected his first collegiate assist and block. Sophomore forward Ajdin Penava scored nine points and had a career-high 12 free throw attempts.
OPENING TIP
Marshall will meet the Catamounts for the 44th contest and the first time since the 2009-10 season. Marshall currently leads the series 30-13. From 1977-94, Western Carolina and the Herd faced each other multiple times a year, with both teams splitting a home-and-home each season. The last time the two teams faced each other consistently was in the 1996-97 season, which was Marshall's last in the Southern Conference. After that, the two sides did not meet until the 2002-03 season and then the 2009-10 season. The Herd has won three straight games dating back to Jan. 18, 1997. Marshall is an impressive 20-4 when hosting Western Carolina at home.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
For the last eight seasons the Catamounts have either led or finished second in the Southern Conference in steals per game. The 2016-17 Western Carolina men's basketball roster features nine underclassmen including five incoming freshmen. WCU will rely heavily on its junior class which features Devin Peterson, Haboubacar Mutombo, Ashley Williams and Charlendez Brooks. All four have been with the program for two years.
WHO TO KNOW
Head coach Larry Hunter is ninth among active Division I coaches in career wins with 681. Senior Deriece Parks has had two strong performances to open up the 2016-17 season. After struggling his junior season and hitting just two 3-pointers in 21 attempts, Parks has drained five triples in just two games this season. He currently is tied for first on the team in points per game (11.7) and is third in minutes per game (24.0). Freshman Onno Steger scored double-digits (10 points) in the Catamounts season-opening loss to Miami (Fla.).
LAST TIME THE TWO TEAMS FACED EACH OTHER
On March 16, 2010, Damier Pitts sank a pair of free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to lift Marshall (24-9) past Western Carolina (22-12) 90-88 in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in the Henderson Center.
Pitts tied his own Henderson Center record with 15 made free throws. The 5-10 point guard scored a career high 24 points. He grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. Dago Pena was 6-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range for 18 points. Darryl Merthie tied his season high with 14 points. Merthie added six rebounds and three assists. Tirrell Baines charted 11 points.
#STAMPEDE16
Stay up-to-date on all things Herd men's basketball via social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat (username: HerdZone).
UP NEXT
Marshall will play its second game in three days as it takes on the Jackson State Tigers on Monday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. ET. It will be the second meeting between the two sides, with the first being on Nov. 22, 2010. Marshall leads the series 1-0.
---HerdZone.com---
