By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall men’s basketball team worked its second-half magic again behind the one-two punch of Taevion Kinsey and Jarrod West.
Both became members of the school’s 1,000-point club on the same day as the Thundering Herd defeated Ohio University, 81-67, in a Sunday matinee at Cam Henderson Center. Marshall (4-0) led just 35-33 at the half.
Kinsey finished with 28 points, making 10-of-13 shots and 7-of-8 from the foul line. He also grabbed six rebounds. The junior needed 26 points to reach the milestone. West, a senior, needed 11 to reach 1,000 and closed with 14 points. He added six assists and three steals, the category he’s the school’s career-leader in.
Mikel Beyers came off the bench to score 13 points. Obinna Anochichi-Killen had six rebounds. Guard Andy Taylor led in rebounds with 10 along with five assists and three steals. The Herd had six blocked shots.
Dwight Wilson paced the Bobcats (4-2) with 24 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Jason Preston, the team’s top scorer with a 19.4 average, added 14.
“I’m excited for them,” Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni said. “I’m excited for everybody on our team, who they are. They’re a great bunch of young men who represent Marshall. They make Marshall proud. They put their product of work on the floor.”
Marshall continues competition against MAC foes on Wednesday when Toledo visits at 7 p.m. Saturday’s home date against Northern Iowa has been canceled. UNI coach Ben Jacobson said his team would not play its final two non-conference games due to challenges presented by Coronavirus pandemic and injuries. The Herd is looking for another opponent to fill the slot.
Kinsey and West said reaching 1,000 points took a back seat to winning games. They also downplay the significance of the moment.
“Both of us knew we were close,” West said. “We didn’t say anything about it. It shows the kind of people TK and I are. It shows where are priorities are. Defense I thought we did a pretty good job. We focus on that. Our effort and detail is on that. It will continue that way.
“I’m very humble about it (1,000 points) and I’m sure TK feels the same way. We really have a great bond. We’re close.”
“I didn’t pay attention to that. I’m more concerned about winning games,” Kinsey said. “I was more happy when he got it than I was for me. It’s been a great career. The coaches put me in a great position.”
Kinsey and West become the 55th and 56th members of Marshall’s 1,000-point club.
In the first half, Marshall led by as many as 14 points before Ohio rallied to make it a 2-point game at the half. The Herd attempted 14 shots from three-point range and made just one. The home side went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc in the second half and converted 30-of-55 shots overall.
“We came out in the second half and hit a few,” D’Antoni said of the long-bomb style the Herd’s known for. “The 3-point is lower than it should be. We have extremely good 3-point shooters.”
Marshall’s biggest lead was 15 points at 62-47 on a jump shot by freshman Obinna Anochichi-Killen with 8:02 left.
Dating back to last season, Marshall is on its first seven-game win streak since 2009-10.
This was the 115th meeting in the series between Marshall and Ohio. The Bobcats hold a 56-49 advantage.