Marshall University Athletics
@HerdMBB to Host UTEP
1/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAME 22: MARSHALL (13-8, 6-2 C-USA) vs. UTEP (5-14, 3-4 C-USA)
Saturday, Jan. 28 | 7 p.m. ET
Huntington, W.Va. | Cam Henderson Center (9,048)
Stream | Radio | | Marshall Game Notes | UTEP Game Notes | Twitter
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ââ'¬" The Marshall men's basketball team will stay at home to host the UTEP Miners on Saturday, Jan. 28, 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.
HAVE YOU HERD
Marshall moved to 11-0 at home thanks to the 92-71 victory over UTSA. Jon Elmore registered his fifth double-double of the season. He finished the game with 12 points and 10 assists. Austin Loop now sits at 250 career made three-pointers, one shy of tying a school record set by Tamar Slay (1998-2002). Ot Elmore's back-to-back 3-pointers means that every eligible player for the team has scored points for the Herd. It also marked the first time two brothers on Marshall scored points in the same game. The Herd reached 90+ points for the 10th time this season. It was the third time this season where five Herd players scored in double figures. UTSA's 11.1 percent from 3-pointers was a season-low for Marshall opponents.
SCOUTING THE MINERS
The Miners have outrebounded four of their first seven league opponents and have a rebound margin of +2.0 in league play, fourth in C-USA. UTEP has averaged 62.1 points in its five road games, shooting 44.2 percent (146-for-330) from the field, 33.3 percent (34-for-102) from three-point territory and 58.8 percent (47-for- 80) from the free throw line. UTEP has posted 127 wins under coach Tim Floyd, who is in his seventh season. Opponents have taken 150 free throws to UTEP's 80. The Miners have turned it over 21 more times than their opponents (91-72). They have been outscored 73-41 in points off turnovers in its four C-USA road games.
WHO TO KNOW
Dominic Artis leads the Miners in rebounding (6.5 rpg), assists (6.3 apg), steals (2.0 spg) and minutes (36.5 mpg), and ranks second in scoring (14.7 ppg). No player has finished the season leading UTEP in assists, steals and rebounds. Artis only trails Marshall's Jon Elmore for the most 10-assist games in C-USA this season (four). Omega Harris leads UTEP in scoring (17.4 ppg) and is averaging 18.6 ppg in C-USA play, fifth in the league behind Rice's Egor Koulechov (19.4 ppg), Rice's Marcus Evans (19.1 ppg), Charlotte's Jon Davis (18.9 ppg) and Marshall's Jon Elmore (18.8 ppg). Paul Thomas is averaging 7.1 rebounds in C-USA games.
SERIES HISTORY
Marshall will meet UTEP for the 15th contest between the two sides. The Miners lead the series, 10-4. Marshall won the last contest to advance to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament.
LAST TIME
Junior forward Ryan Taylor (Indianapolis) hit a go-ahead layup with three seconds remaining in regulation to seal an 87-85 victory for third-seeded Marshall (17-15) over sixth-seeded UTEP (19-14) in the Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals on March 10, 2016 at Legacy Arena at The BJCC.
With the win, the Thundering Herd advanced to the semifinals against No. 2 seed Middle Tennessee. It was Marshall's first appearance in the C-USA Semis since the 2011-12 season, and only the second in program history.
Austin Loop CHASING HISTORY
As it stands, senior guard Austin Loop is one 3-pointer away from tying Tamar Slay (1998-02) as the all-time leader for made 3-pointers in program history. When Marshall took on UTSA on Jan. 26, Loop made six threes to bring his career total to 250.
#ONEHERD
For all the latest information about Marshall men's basketball, follow @HerdMBB on Twitter and Instagram.
UP NEXT
Marshall will go on the road to take on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. ET.
