Golden Hurricane blown out at Marshall
BY Staff Reports
Thursday, January 10, 2013
1/10/13 at 6:50 AM
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - In its previous two games, Marshall lost at home to Delaware State and was dealt a 37-point blowout defeat at Ohio.
Entering Wednesday's Conference USA contest against the University of Tulsa, Marshall had a 7-8 record. There was nothing to suggest that the Thundering Herd might overwhelm the Golden Hurricane - but it did.
Driven by a 19-0 run, Marshall converted on seven first-half 3-pointers, surged to a 23-point halftime lead and went on to rout Tulsa 79-61 at the Cam Henderson Center.
During the second half, the Hurricane trailed by as many as 27 points and never drew closer than 15.
"(The Thundering Herd) had a lot of energy, playing at home," said Hurricane coach Danny Manning, who was popped with a second-half technical foul. "We have to respond better on the road. We have to come out and have a better approach. That's all on me."
With Elijah Pittman scoring 19 points and D.D. Scarver and DeAndre Kane adding 16 points apiece, Marshall improved to 8-8 overall, 1-0 in Conference USA.
For Tulsa (9-7, 1-1), the top three scorers were freshmen - James Woodard with 12 points, Shaq Harrison with 12 and Rashad Ray with 11.
"The young guys played the hardest," Manning said.
From 3-point range, TU was 3-of-14. Hurricane guards Scottie Haralson and Pat Swilling Jr., who connected on the final-minute 3-point baskets that lifted TU to a 48-47 league win at SMU on Sunday, struggled against Marshall. On shots from the field, they were a combined 5-of-20.
For the seventh time this season, Hurricane senior forward Kauri Black fouled out.
In the first half, TU had a 6-5 lead - and then never led again. During a span of eight minutes, Marshall outscored the Hurricane 19-0. With 5:14 left in the half, following a Tulsa turnover, Scarver scored on a dunk and drew a foul from Swilling. Scarver's 3-point play gave Marshall a 34-12 lead.
Moments later, as he was fouled by Haralson, Pittman banked in a 3-point shot. Pittman's free throw completed the 4-point play and resulted in a 38-15 difference.
At halftime, Marshall led 43-20.
Once again, TU was without forwards Rashad Smith, D'Andre Wright and Brandon Swannegan. All three remain sidelined with leg injuries, and their status is uncertain for Tulsa's next two conference games. The Hurricane hosts Rice at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and hosts UTEP next Wednesday.
Smith hasn't played since Nov. 17, while Wright has missed four games. Swannegan has missed nine games.
"First two road games (in league play), we split," Manning said. "In a perfect world, we win two. We've got to go back now and hold serve on our home court."
Original Print Headline: Hurricane blown out at Marshall
Men's basketball
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Vs. Rice
5:30 p.m. Saturday
