Coming off three consecutive conference losses, the Thundering Herd bounced back to defeat UCF 75-71 on Saturday.
With former Marshall coach Donnie Jones visiting for what could be the final time, the Herd used its best performance of the season in beating the Knights (15-6, 5-2 C-USA).
“I’m proud of my group, they did a great job finding a way to win the game today. We just kind of grinded it out,” said Marshall coach Tom Herrion.
The Herd shot 52 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures, led by Elijah Pittman’s 20 points. while D.D. Scarver adding 16, Dennis Tinnon 13 and Nigel Spikes 11.
Junior DeAndre Kane only scored six points, but played the role of facilitator by recording 12 assists.
“We were really efficient, I thought, on offense. Our ball movement was good, and we made some big plays down the stretch which you got to do against a good team like that,” Herrion said.
Defensively, Spikes stole the show with arguably the best performance of his career, highlighted by a career-high nine blocks.
Spikes is the only senior on the Thundering Herd roster who played for Jones at Marshall, but said his performance had nothing to do with proving something to his former coach.
“That whole Donnie Jones thing is over with. It’s all about basketball, but we just really wanted to win. We were desperate today and that’s how we played, we needed the win and we went out and got it,” Spike said.
With the Knights bound for the Big East next season, Jones is unlikely to schedule a nonconference game in Huntington, where he worked as a graduate assistant and head coach before stunning the fan base by leaving for UCF.
During Marshall’s previous three-game losing skid, The Herd’s defense had been a major liability, but it changed the tide against the Knights.
“That was good bounce back for our guys. I just thought defensively we were really, really good. Our first shot defense was outstanding.” — Tom Herrion
Marshall held UCF to 41 percent from the field, below the Knights’ season average of 47 percent. The Herd also forced 12 turnovers and blocked 14 shots.
“That was good bounce-back for our guys. I just thought defensively we were really, really good. Our first shot defense was outstanding,” Herrion said.
Marshall now goes on its second two-game road trip on the season, visiting Tulane on Wednesday before facing UAB on Feb. 9. The Herd is 0-8 in true road games this season.
“This is a good win to get our confidence back,” Kane said. “We haven’t won a road game yet, so we have to get ready for a good Tulane team. We’ve got to get in here to do whatever we have to do to get ready.”