Marshall University Athletics
Wednesday, December 31
Huntington, W.Va.
4 PM
Marshall University
9-5,1-1Sun Belt
84
vs
80
Georgia State
4-11,1-2Sun Belt
1
2
F
Georgia St.
35
45
80
Marshall
33
51
84
Herd Men’s Basketball Closes 2025 with Win Over Georgia State
12/31/2025 7:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Speer paced MU with 26 points, seven assists and seven rebounds
Box Score (PDF) | Championship Fund
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Men's Basketball Team (9-5, 1-1 SBC) rallied in a tightly contested Sun Belt Conference home opener, holding on for an 84-80 victory over Georgia State in the Cam Henderson Center on Wednesday.
"It's good to bring in the New Year with a win," Herd Men's Basketball Head Coach Cornelius 'Corny' Jackson said after the win on New Year's Eve. "That was a heck of a game. Two teams going back-and-forth, and obviously, at the end, we were able to make plays. I'm proud of our guys."
Jalen Speer showcased his full arsenal, finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while knocking down 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in 36 minutes. Speer steadied the Herd throughout the tense second half, repeatedly answering Georgia State runs with timely buckets and assists. His perimeter shooting helped Marshall shoot 40 percent (12-for-30) from three-point range, a key edge over the Panthers.
Marshall trailed 35-33 at halftime but erupted for 51 points in the second half, shooting 63 percent from the field after the break. The Herd's offense found a rhythm behind Speer and the inside-out contributions of Wyatt Fricks, who added 21 points, six rebounds and three blocks while making 7-of-11 shots and six of eight free throws.
Landen Joseph delivered a pivotal second-half stretch, tallying 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. His go-ahead jumper with 5:17 left reclaimed the lead for Marshall at 69-68, energizing the home crowd and sparking a crucial run. The Herd relied on aggressive defense and fast-break execution, outscoring Georgia State 18-11 on the break.
In the game's waning moments, Marshall made the plays under pressure. Caleb Hollenbeck calmly sank a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to extend the lead to five. After a last push from Georgia State, Noah Otshudi sealed the win with a fast-break dunk in the final seconds, ensuring the Herd's first conference victory of the season.
UP NEXT
Marshall closes out the week and begins 2026 against App State at home on Saturday at 4 p.m.
For all the latest information about Marshall Men's Basketball, follow @Herd_MBB on Twitter and @herdmbb on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Men's Basketball Team (9-5, 1-1 SBC) rallied in a tightly contested Sun Belt Conference home opener, holding on for an 84-80 victory over Georgia State in the Cam Henderson Center on Wednesday.
"It's good to bring in the New Year with a win," Herd Men's Basketball Head Coach Cornelius 'Corny' Jackson said after the win on New Year's Eve. "That was a heck of a game. Two teams going back-and-forth, and obviously, at the end, we were able to make plays. I'm proud of our guys."
Jalen Speer showcased his full arsenal, finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while knocking down 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in 36 minutes. Speer steadied the Herd throughout the tense second half, repeatedly answering Georgia State runs with timely buckets and assists. His perimeter shooting helped Marshall shoot 40 percent (12-for-30) from three-point range, a key edge over the Panthers.
Marshall trailed 35-33 at halftime but erupted for 51 points in the second half, shooting 63 percent from the field after the break. The Herd's offense found a rhythm behind Speer and the inside-out contributions of Wyatt Fricks, who added 21 points, six rebounds and three blocks while making 7-of-11 shots and six of eight free throws.
Landen Joseph delivered a pivotal second-half stretch, tallying 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. His go-ahead jumper with 5:17 left reclaimed the lead for Marshall at 69-68, energizing the home crowd and sparking a crucial run. The Herd relied on aggressive defense and fast-break execution, outscoring Georgia State 18-11 on the break.
In the game's waning moments, Marshall made the plays under pressure. Caleb Hollenbeck calmly sank a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to extend the lead to five. After a last push from Georgia State, Noah Otshudi sealed the win with a fast-break dunk in the final seconds, ensuring the Herd's first conference victory of the season.
UP NEXT
Marshall closes out the week and begins 2026 against App State at home on Saturday at 4 p.m.
For all the latest information about Marshall Men's Basketball, follow @Herd_MBB on Twitter and @herdmbb on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
GSU
Marsh
FG%
.435
.492
3FG%
.261
.400
FT%
.870
.636
RB
36
34
TO
13
15
STL
10
11
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Men's BasketballMarshall Men's Basketball: Corny Jackson Post-Game Press Conference (Georgia State)
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Marshall Men's Basketball: Corny Jackson and Players Post Game Press Conference (West Virginia Tech)
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Marshall Men's Basketball: Corny Jackson Weekly Press Conference (WVU Tech Week)
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