Herd ends skid, clinches C-USA tourney berth

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s postseason possibilities, once in doubt after dropping its first six Conference USA games, took a turn Thursday when the Herd secured a spot in the C-USA tournament with a 87-69 win over FIU.

The win was the Herd’s fifth straight at the Cam Henderson Center.

“It is great for the kids and fans. I live right in the moment. We try to do the best we can. We will come out tomorrow morning and watch film and get out on the floor,” said coach Dan D’Antoni.

Marshall started the conference season 0-6 and was in danger of failing to make the 12-team field for the C-USA tournament next month in Birmingham, Ala. But D’Antoni’s team has played considerably better of late, going 6-3 and bumping up to 10th in the conference standings and just a game behind Rice and UTSA.

“We can see us as a team maturing, from us going on our losing streak to now when we’re getting hot and winning games you can see us maturing and coming together as a team,” said Ryan Taylor. “I think we’re not a slouch in the conference. My team and the coaching staff think that as well. Teams don’t take us lightly, so we have to come out every night and bring our A-game.”

Marshall hit 11 3-pointers and led by as many as 28 points against FIU. Austin Loop led the Herd with 20 points, shooting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

“I questioned early if I was going to get any good looks,” said Loop. “It helps when you have guys like them feeding me the ball. We have Taylor knocking down shots and Justin [Edmonds]; I don’t know how you guard him. We spread the floor so much and just get open shots.”

Justin Edmonds also got hot for the Herd, going 6-of-14 from the field and scoring 19 points. Five players finished in double figures as Marshall shot 50 percent as a team on the night.

“We didn’t turn the ball over. And when you get to the rim, and you force the defense down, it just so happens you get a few,” said D’Antoni. “They didn’t really try to take it away from us. Some teams, they try to take threes away but with this team we were able to play a normal style. Load it up and let it go.”

Marshall’s final home game of the season comes up Saturday as the Herd entertains FAU. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.





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