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Winless road streak continues

The Thundering Herd’s road winless streak continues as the Herd traveled to Birmingham to take on UAB and got blown out 75-61 in Bartow Arena.

Marshall (10-14, 3-6 Conference USA) has now lost back-to-back games and has now dropped nine of its last 11 games. The loss also drops the Herd to 0-9 in true road games this season.

“It’s just a lack of consistency and it’s clearly another disappointing loss for our club,” said Marshall head coach Tom Herrion.

The Herd jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but that would be the only time Marshall would lead in the game. The Blazers stretched their lead out by as many as 16 points in the first half, and took a 13 point advantage into the halftime break.

“We fell behind early, and they made some shots,” Herrion said. “We still aren’t making enough plays defensively to change the game and put ourselves in better position to win.”

Coming out of the half, Marshall looked poised to make a comeback as the Herd cut the Blazers’ lead to just 10 points. UAB however, would once again pull away from the Herd, this time by as many as 22 points.

Trailing by more than 15 points for most of the second half, Marshall made yet another run with just minutes remaining when the Herd defense went to a full court press. The Herd cut UAB’s lead to 11 with three minutes remaining, but on the next trip down the floor UAB’s Jordan Swing sank a corner three to put the game away.

For Marshall, DeAndre Kane carried much of the load scoring 23 points, including 18 in the second half. When Marshall showed its full court press, Kane forced multiple UAB turnovers allowing the Herd to climb back within 11.

“It was too little too late. We didn’t have anybody playing really well. It’s not about one guy right now,” Herrion said.

Defensively, Marshall allowed UAB to shoot 48 percent from the field including 9-16 (56 percent) from beyond the three point arc. The Herd also lost the rebound battle as UAB out rebounded Marshall 37-29.

Just seven players saw action for UAB, and all of them scored. Against Marshall’s defense, four of the seven players scored 12 or more points. The Blazers were led in scoring by Rod Rucker, who scored 18 points and also snatched down 10 rebounds.

Marshall once again struggled to find its way on the offensive end of the floor. While the Herd did shoot 45 percent, Marshall left 10 points at the free throw line, as the Herd shot just 14-24 from the stripe.

The Herd also struggled from long range, shooting just 3-14 from deep. Entering the game, D.D. Scarver was the only player in C=USA who had hit a three in every game this season. That streak ended against UAB as Scarver scored just one point, going 0-7 from the floor and 0-2 from long range.

After being on the road for back-to-back games, the Herd will now return home for a pair. Marshall will next take the floor Wednesday, Feb. 13 against the Rice Owls.

— Jarrod Clay





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