— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University had just routed Bluefield State, 86-50, and Thundering Herd players and coach Dan D’Antoni wanted to talk about defense.
“Defense has held us in there all year,” said D’Antoni, who collected career win No. 99. “It makes us competitive. We just have to get the offense to click.”
Marshall (3-6) ended a three-game losing streak. The game counted as an exhibition for the Big Blues (3-5). Attendance at Cam Henderson Center for the annual Canned Food Drive promotion was 5,106.
“We came out a little flat again,” Marshall guard Jarrod West said. “We missed a lot of wide open shots that left them in the game. In the second half we played a lot harder. We have to sustain that for 40 minutes. Defense, you can hang your hat on that every night.”
“Our defense was very good. It got us playing better on offense,” the Herd’s Goran Miladinovic added. “The full-court press helped us. We can cover and recover.”
West led the Herd with 18 points to go with six steals.
Mikel Beyers came off the bench to score 13 (matching his career high) and Miladinovic finished with 10.
The Herd forced 26 turnovers and held the Big Blues to 26.5 percent shooting (18-for-68).
Marshall also blocked 14 shots with Beyers leading the team with four. The Herd entered the game averaging 6.9 rejections a game.
“Defense is a big thing for us,” West said. “We can take chances. If we do get beat, we’ve got the big guys behind us.”
Marquez Cooper led Bluefield State with 13 points and Chris Knight contributed 12.
On offense, though, the Herd turned the ball over a season-high 20 times and made just 6-of-28 three-pointers and 16-of-27 free throws. Marshall led by 10 at the half (34-24), then pulled away over the final 20 minutes.
“We’re a young club,” D’Antoni said. “We’re trying to feel our way through. I’m pushing them. I don’t want them to lose confidence. We played 11-12 people the first half. It’s hard to get a rhythm.”
West runs the offense, so when he’s out Taevion Kinsey takes over along with other reserves.
West’s workload should decrease a bit come second semester as guard Andrew Taylor becomes eligible. He’s a transfer from Furman. Taylor could have his coming out party Monday when the Herd takes on Morehead State at 7 p.m. at Ellis Johnson Arena in Morehead, Ky.
“Sub, the offense slips, then the defense,” D’Antoni said. “We get on shaky ground. We’re fragile. With TK (foul trouble) out, there’s one ball handler on the floor. There’s a big load put on Jarrod. Andy’s first time, that will help.”
Marshall’s next home game is Dec. 19 against Eastern Kentucky.
While D’Antoni likes the defense, the offense does continue to struggle a bit.
“We’re not making 3s, not making free throws and too many turnovers,” D’Antoni said. “We’ve got to reverse that (turnovers-assists). I feel confident we’ll have everything right. I like our team.”
Marshall dominated in points in the paint (48-18), fastbreak points (22-4) and bench points (37-12). The Herd collected seven of its nine dunks in the second half.