Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
16-12,9-6Sun Belt
ODU
11-17,7-8Sun Belt
Marshall Men’s Basketball Holds Off ODU, 81-77
2/20/2025 8:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Mikal Dawson lead Herd to hard-fought road victory
Box Score | Coach Jackson Post-Game Presser
NORFOLK, Va. – Marshall Men's Basketball jumped out to a big lead and held off a late charge by Old Dominion in an 81-77 win over the Monarchs at Chartway Arena in snowy Norfolk, Virginia.
With the win, Marshall moved to 16-12 on the season and 9-6 in the Sun Belt Conference standings.
"We have to be the guys who play physical, play hard, play tough, and I think we got that done today," Marshall Men's Basketball coach Cornelius Jackson said. "These guys really responded."
Marshall led by as many as 18 points with 7:03 left on a Jakob Gibbs layup, but the Monarchs chipped away, cutting the lead to one possession in the final minute.
The Herd was able to force a turnover on an in-bounds play and knocked down free throws down the stretch to earn the win.
Obinna Anochili-Killen finished with 24 points while matching his career-high in field goals. Anochili-Killen finished 11 of 14 from the field on the night and also blocked four shots on the night.
Mikal Dawson also had a banner night, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists with only one turnover.
"Those games are fun because it showed how mentally tough we can be and physically tough to withstand the run," Dawson said. "A team can go on a run like Old Dominion did in the second half. We just have to stay poised and stay true to our work."
Marshall took a 41-26 lead into the locker room after a strong first half that saw the team move the ball well on the offensive end in a 63 percent shooting performance before the break.
The Herd had assists on its first nine baskets and later executed a transition play in which ball movement led to a 3-pointer by Dezayne Mingo, which put the Herd's lead into double-figures.
Mingo scored 12 first-half points to pace the Herd early while Anochili-Killen showcased his mid-range skills often, hitting all five of his first-half attempts to also be in double-figures at the break.
Defensively, the Herd made life hard on the Monarchs on the offensive end, limiting ODU to just eight field goals and 29 percent shooting in the first half.
Marshall now turns its attention to its quick turnaround prior to Saturday afternoon's 1 p.m. contest at App State at Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, N.C.
For all the latest information about Marshall Men's Basketball, follow @Herd_MBB on Twitter and @HerdMBB on Instagram.
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---HerdZone.com---
