Herd MBB Earns Key Win over Southern Miss

Box Score (PDF) | Championship Fund

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Men's Basketball Team (15-8, 7-4 SBC) used a comeback and held off Southern Miss for an 81-77 victory Wednesday night at the Cam Henderson Center.

"That was fun," Herd Men's Basketball Head Coach Cornelius 'Corny' Jackson said after the comeback. "That was a fun game to coach, a fun game to be a part of."

Wyatt Fricks was the catalyst for the rally with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three-point range. Fricks' impact went beyond the box score—his go-ahead three-pointer with 11:34 left, assisted by Wilson Dubinsky, gave Marshall its first lead of the second half at 52-51. The veteran forward also anchored the defense with seven rebounds and a game-best three blocks, leading the team in scoring for the sixth time and in blocks for the seventh time this year.

Noah Otshudi was unflappable under pressure, pouring in 17 points with a season-high 7 free throws and 6 assists, tying his third-best mark of the season. As Southern Miss cut the lead to a single point with just 4 seconds left, Otshudi calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the four-point win—his 19th double-digit scoring game of the year. His playmaking in the backcourt was vital to Marshall's efficient attack, helping the Herd finish at 53.7 percent from the field.

Jalen Speer tallied 15 points and orchestrated the offense with a game-high eight assists, his second straight game with eight helpers. Erich Harding posted career highs with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting

Despite trailing for much of the night, the Herd never let up. After falling behind 38-34 at halftime, Marshall launched its charge with a 13-5 run capped by Fricks' pivotal three. With three minutes remaining, Harding's free throw extended the lead to double digits at 72-62, but Southern Miss responded. The Golden Eagles fought back to trim the gap to 78-77 in the final seconds. Only then did Otshudi's free throws finally put the game away, preserving the Herd's sixth home win in Sun Belt action.

UP NEXT
Marshall closes the week at home against undefeated No. 23/24 Miami (OH) Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Cam Henderson Center.

For all the latest information about Marshall Men's Basketball, follow @Herd_MBB on Twitter and @herdmbb on Instagram.

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Team Stats

Wyatt Fricks

Noah Otshudi

Jalen Speer

Erich Harding

Players Mentioned

Wilson Dubinsky

Wyatt Fricks

Erich Harding

Noah Otshudi

Jalen Speer

Marshall University Athletics