HUNTINGTON, W.Va.– There’s no rest for the weary as the Marshall Thundering Herd men’s basketball team will be back in action today, playing host to Tulsa inside the Cam Henderson Center.
On Thursday, Marshall fell behind to North Texas early and couldn’t claw back, as the Herd fell 80-65 to the Mean Green. While Marshall and North Texas were squaring off, Tulsa was doing battle with Charlotte in a game that ultimately went the way of the 49ers by a score of 90-86 in overtime. The 49ers overcame an 8 point deficit with 1:16 to play to tie the ball game then come away with the victory in overtime. Shaquille Harrison and Rashad Ray led the Golden Hurricane on Thursday evening with 26 and 19 points respectively.
Marshall head coach Tom Herrion says the result from Thursday night cannot be a hindrance to Saturday’s efforts against Tulsa.
“I said it last night and I’ll say it again until I’m blue in the face, we have to turn the page very quickly,” Herrion says. “It’s not going to get any easier come 12 o’clock tomorrow with Tulsa coming in playing their best basketball of the season.”
In last season’s matchup between Tulsa and Marshall, the Golden Hurricane fell 79-61 to the Herd. In that game, Tulsa had just three players score in double-figures, those being Harrison, Ray and James Woodard. For Marshall, not a single player who scored against Tulsa last season will be dressed for this battle against the Golden Hurricane.
Prior to falling Thursday to Charlotte, Tulsa had won its last three games and is 2-1 in conference play, and despite being just 7-10 overall when it comes into Huntington on Saturday. Marshall is 6-12 and has lost 10 of its last 11 games against Division I opponents.
— Braxton Crisp