— By David Walsh
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — More points in the rematch, but the same outcome.
Western Kentucky used a late first-half surge to open up a 13-point lead, then held off numerous Marshall charges in the second half to defeat the Thundering Herd, 91-84, on Saturday. The contest was held in front of a 6,270 fans inside E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Hilltoppers rallied from a 19-point first-half deficit to knock off Marshall, 64-60, Wednesday at Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Western Kentucky, now 14-6 and 7-1 in Conference USA, extended its winning streak to five in a row.
Marshall (9-12, 3-5) has dropped four of its last five games.
Taevion Kinsey scored on a layup with 4:15 left to cut the deficit to 81-77. WKU responded as Taveion Hollingsworth hit a pair of free throws and Jared Savage scored on a folo to push the lead to 85-77. The Hilltoppers held the Herd off from there.
“It’s been the story of our season,” Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni said. “We’re right there. I know what it is, I get tired of saying it. We’ve got to learn how to win. I look out on the floor again and see two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior.”
Western Kentucky led 50-40 at halftime, the second-most points scored in the first half this season. The Hilltoppers had 54 on Nov. 18 against Campbellsville.
“Our guys had those moments, they don’t play as well, but we’re finding ways with different people,” WKU coach Rick Stansbury said. “Different guys making plays at the right time. It’s kind of who were are. Play together and make adjustments.”
Hollingsworth had 18 points to lead six players in double figures. Savage finished with 16, Jordan Rawls 15, Josh Anderson and Carson Williams with 14 each and Camron Justice 11.
Kinsey netted 16 points to pace Marshall. Jarrod West had 15 and 11 assists for a double-double, Marko Sarenac netted a career-best 15 along with Andy Taylor’s 15. Iran Bennett, the Herd’s 6-foot-9 big man, had just two points and he battled foul trouble each half.
“The killed us on the fast break,” D’Antoni said of WKU’s first-half run. “We have to talk and get back. We didn’t communicate. Marko’s starting to play. He’ll be a factor before it’s all over.
“Growing up is a problem. Freshmen you see one game and do not see them the next. We’ve got to even out our production. We’ll gain maturity as we go through the season.”
Marshall has two games this week in Florida. The Herd visits Florida International on Thursday at 7 p.m. The trip ends Saturday at Florida Atlantic. Tip is 3 p.m.
WKU is now 18-12 all-time vs. the Herd and Stansbury is 5-4 against Marshall.
This was the first time Western Kentucky played a league opponent in consecutive games in the regular season since doing so with Middle Tennessee in 190-71.
The Herd is now 0-9 when trailing at intermission.