— By David Walsh
Marshall put together some textbook basketball in the last five minutes of the first half to take a 46-27 lead over Duquesne in Thursday night’s game at UMPC Conner Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh.
The Dukes, as the Thundering Herd expected, made charge after charge in the second half to claw back, but the visitors had answers for each one and chalked up the win, 82-71.
Tre Williams had a layup with 5:06 left in the first half to get the Dukes within three at 30-27. Marshall then closed out the half on a 16-0 run to lead by 19 at the break.
Tevin Brewer hit a three-pointer for the Atlantic 10 team with 5:00 left to get within four at 63-59 and Joe Reece had a layup with 2:47 to stay within striking distance at 70-65. However, the Herd (8-1) had enough resourcefulness each time to collect its eighth straight win and end Duquesne’s win streak at six. The Dukes are 7-2.
“They’re used to winning here,” Herd coach Dan D’Antoni said. “Hats off to our guys. Had runs come against us, but we pulled it back out. Shows you how good we can be. The end of the first half was really good, textbook basketball. We have to find a way to do that again.”
Taevion Kinsey led the Sun Belt Conference squad with 19 points. Andrew Taylor added 18, Kamdyn Curfman 14 (four threes), Wyatt Fricks 12 and Obinna Anochili-Killen 11. Micah Handlogten, the Herd’s 7-foot-1 freshman middle man, pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds.
The Herd remains in the Steel City area through the weekend as it plays at Robert Morris in the UMPC Events Center at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“It feels good,” Kinsey said of the streak. “Take advantage of this (not long road trip). Make sure we’re locked in. This is a business trip.
“Keep the momentum is very important. Finish strong whatever we see. Still keep humble is the mindset. 1-0 every game is the motto.”
As the Dukes made their runs, D’Antoni let his players battle through and learn.
“Trust the kids,” D’Antoni said. “Don’t think coaches have all the answers. We’ve taught them all year. It shows they have trust for you. We’re on the way there.”
Kinsey, Taylor and Anochili-Killen are three vets who endured a 12-21 season a year ago. Throw in newcomers Curfman, Handlogten, Fricks and Jacob Conner and the turnaround is set in motion.
“First they’re fun to watch,” D’Antoni said. “You pull for them. You treat them all the same (everyone on the staff). They’re all valuable, make you a better ball club.
“Andy and Taevion kind of started it. Then add those four. They lifted the feel for the game. They understand how to play. We’re real fortunate. They play a bunch of older-brand basketball.”
Curfman is a transfer from VMI and has more than fit in with his threat from outside. He expected Duquesne to make a run, but he believed the Herd would find the answers.
“They’re 7-1 for a reason,” Curfman said. “We knew we’d have to make plays down the stretch and we did. Winning on the road is always tough no matter who you play.”
D’Antoni said Curfman had the right makeup to blend in.
“His personality is a lot of it,” D’Antoni said. “We needed that straw to stir. It’s working out. Kam, the new guys you don’t know what you’re getting. They’ve blended quicker than I thought. They’re fun to be around.”
Marshall led in points off turnovers, 22-8; points in the paint, 46-22; and fastbreak points, 18-5.
Jimmy Clark III led the Dukes with a career-high 19 points and Dae Dae Grant had 18.
This was Marshall’s first road game since Nov. 17.
Robert Morris, a member of the Horizon League, is 4-6 after winning Wednesday at Central Michigan, 71-66.