3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Marshall’s perimeter shooting carries Herd by FAU, 94-82

— By David Walsh

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University’s three-point shooting finds itself on the uptick at the right time.

The Thundering Herd made 12 threes on 22 attempts and five players reached double figures as Marshall knocked off Florida Atlantic, 94-82, Wednesday night on Senior Night at Cam Henderson Center with 5,426 in attendance.

Jannson Williams, who had struggled with his shot earlier but still proved a force on defense, made four from behind the arc and Andy Taylor, Jarrod West and Darius George each had two as the Herd rolled up a season-high in points in the Conference USA home finale.

“They should be doing that,” Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni said. “We were upside down on that early. Trying to find a solution, trying to find the rhythm, the team chemistry like we had.”

D’Antoni flirted with different lineups and kept believing all along Williams, Mikel Beyers and Taylor would discover that touch.

“Sometimes it’s not phyical. It’s mental,” D’Antoni said.

Taevion Kinsey, the Herd’s leading scorer, finished with a team-high 20 points and six assists. Williams added 18 points and blocked five shots. Taylor hit for 16 and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Beyers contributed 12 points and West 10.

“The pace of the game played in our favor,” Taylor said. “We made quick decisions. You watch a guy hit 10 or 15 in a row (practice) you know he can still knock down those shots. The dude’s 6-9, shoots like that, you’ve got to hit him.”

Taylor knew he and the other guards needed to rebound better and responded.

“Scrappy,” Taylor said. “Coach Dan’s been on me and TK (Kinsey). Teams shoot and we stood and watched. Had to change that. Got tired actually.”

Williams said it boiled down to execution.

“We utilized coach Dan’s offense well tonight,” Williams said. “When shots don’t fall, you can’t do anything about it.”

Kinsey agreed.

“One of the best we’ve played,” Kinsey said of approaching 100. “Play around 100, got 94. Confidence booster for all of us.”

Jailyn Ingram led the Owls (16-15, 8-10 in C-USA) with 19 points. Robertson added 14 and Maitre 10.

The Herd has no seniors on its roster. Prior to the game, Marshall recognized managers Ryan Thomas and Tanner Mullins.

A three-pointer by Williams, with the assist to Taylor, gave the Herd (15-5, 9-8 C-USA) its biggest lead at 14 points, 72-58, with 1:58 left. The Owls still continued to battle down the stretch.

Marshall made 20-of-27 free throws. The Herd is last in C-USA in that category. Marshall also had 20 assists and seven blocked shots. West, with two steals (202 total), is now seven away to pass Skip Henderson and become the school’s all-time leader in that category.

Marshall leads the series with FAU, 8-3. The Owls are 1-5 all-time in Huntington. They posted a 14-3 record at home and went 2-12 on the road. FAU’s now prepares for the C-USA Tournament scheduled March 11-14 at the Ford Center at The Star, in Frisco, Texas.

Marshall closes out the regular season Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, against UTSA. Game time is 4 p.m. Old Dominion pounded the Roadrunners, 84-59, Tuesday night.

During last off-season, FAU coach Dusty May met with D’Antoni and got pointers on how the Herd offense works.

“They play as close to us as anyone,” D’Antoni said. “I showed him. Coached him up. The better they get, they force us to be better. They have the pieces to be good.”

Guards Cornelius Taylor, Michael Forest, D.J. Robertson and Richardson Maitre shoulder the load for the Owls. On the flip side, the Herd features guards West, Kinsey and Taylor.

“They’ve got three good guards,” D’Antoni said. “We’ve got three good guards. Told them take that as a challenge. Taylor … not awed by it (double-double). He should play like that. Don’t want him to think he’s reached his peak. In my mind, he hasn’t.”

After Saturday’s game, the Herd will head to the tournament site and remain in Texas as long as it plays. Marshall is currently No. 6 and in Pod 2.





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