HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall snapped a four-game losing streak to rival Ohio University as Jon Elmore poured in a team-high 28 points in a 98-88 win Wednesday night.
Marshall (5-1) took over the game during a 7:20 run in the second half in which it hit 10-of-16 from the floor, including four 3-pointers, The game flipped from a 60-58 back and forth battle to a 87-71 Herd blowout.
“We get up and down with lots of transition buckets and shots, ” Elmore said. “Pretty much everybody had double-digit scoring. I felt like I was shooting good tonight, but credit to our team. We moved the ball and executed.”
It’s Marshall’s first win over Ohio (4-1) since a 65-57 win on Dec. 4, 2010.
Ryan Taylor, back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension vs. Morehead State following his double-technical foul at Ohio State, notched his 29th career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
“Once we get the ball moving, and that’s what hurt us at Ohio State, we didn’t have Ryan and the second point guard,” said coach Dan D’Antoni. “You can see how much better our movement is and allows us to have that athletic body. He’s a big part of that.”
Five players finished in double-digits in scoring for the Herd including Stevie Browning with 16 points. Austin Loop had 15 points and Ajdin Penava finished with 10.
Marshall shot 53 percent from the field in the second half and was 11-for-27 from 3-point range for the game. Loop was 5-for-8 on 3s while Elmore and Browning were both 3-of-4 from outside.
“I would think the majority of our games should be like that. You’re going to have one game where it doesn’t happen but the way we play gives us a chance against anybody,” said D’Antoni.
Marshall and Ohio traded the lead back and forth through the first half and the start of the second, but the Herd took the lead for good with 13:17 remaining when Taylor converted the conventional three-point play at the foul line. The Herd quickly expanded the advantage to five points on a Browning layup and Elmore jumper.
“We knew coming in Ohio was picked preseason pretty high in their conference,” said D’Antoni. “They’re a good team with good players. It was a well-balanced scoring night for everybody. Everybody played big minutes and played well.”
The next two games are on the road as Marshall plays at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday and at UT-Chattanooga on Tuesday.