Marshall University Athletics
@HerdMBB to Host UTSA
1/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAME 21: MARSHALL (12-8, 5-2 C-USA) vs. UTSA (9-10, 4-2 C-USA)
Thursday, Jan. 26 | 7 p.m. ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center (9,048)
Stream | Radio | | Marshall Game Notes | Twitter
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall men's basketball team will stay at home to host the UTSA Roadrunners on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.
In addition to coverage from @HerdMBB on Twitter and Instagram, the game can be found on the Thundering Herd IMG Sports Network with Steve Cotton on the call and Woody Woodrum handling the analysis. Live stats will be available through HerdZone.com.
SCOUTING UTSA
After being among the bottom of scoring defenses in the nation and C-USA during the 2015-16 season, the Roadrunners rank among the top in the conference. Last season, UTSA gave up 84.3 points per game, but has cut that by 16.1 points, as it is allowing only 67.7 ppg. That is good for No. 4 in C-USA.
UTSA is also limiting opposing teams' offense, allowing 41.8 percent made field goals. It is also boasts one of the stingiest three-point defenses in the league and nation, holding opponents to 32.2 from behind the arc. That is good for second in the league and 76th in the country. The Roadrunners are also one of the top rebounding teams as well. It leads C-USA with 40.4 boards per game, which is good for 17th in the country.
WHO TO KNOW
Jeff Beverly has led UTSA in scoring nine times and he has reached double figures in 14 games. He ranks 10th in C-USA in scoring at 15.4 ppg, while his 6.5 rebounds per game have him tied for first on the team and 12th in the league. Giovanni De Nicolao averaged 15 points, three rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals per game two weeks ago to earn Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors. Byron Frohnen is a fellow recipient of Freshman of the Week honors, as he has earned the award twice this season. He earned his second double-double of the season when he scored 10 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against Utah Valley.
SERIES HISTORY
Marshall will meet UTSA for the fourth contest between the two sides. Both schools met for the first time in the 2013-14 season, which is when UTSA joined C-USA. UTSA leads the series, 2-1.
LAST TIME
Marshall men's basketball sunk 18 3-pointers, one shy of the program record, in a 109-91 win at UTSA at the Convocation Center on Feb. 6, 2016.
With the wire-to-wire win, the Herd snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 12-12, 8-3 in Conference USA. For the second consecutive game, Marshall reached the century mark in regulation time. The last time the Herd posted 100 or more points in regulation in back-to-back games against Division-I opponents was during the 1988-89 season.
The Herd scored 18 or more threes for just the third time in school history, on 52.9 percent shooting from distance (18-of-34).
Austin Loop CHASING HISTORY
As it stands, senior guard Austin Loop is seven 3-pointers away from tying Tamar Slay (1998-02) as the all-time leader for made 3-pointers in program history. When Marshall took on WKU on Jan. 21, Loop surpassed Keith Veney (1995-97) at the No. 2 spot.
#ONEHERD
For all the latest information about Marshall men's basketball, follow @HerdMBB on Twitter and Instagram.
UP NEXT
Marshall will stay at home and host the UTEP Miners on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. UTEP leads the all-time series 7-4.
