— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall regained its shooting touch Wednesday night and rolled past South Carolina State, 82-53, in front of 3,736 fans at Cam Henderson Center.
The Thundering Herd endured a long afternoon against Purdue Saturday, making 16-of-53 shots overall and 4-of-32 attempts from the three-point line, in an 80-45 defeat. That was Marshall’s lowest point total in a game since 2015.
It was a far different case Wednesday night as Marshall made 26-of-60 shots overall and 11-of-32 treys. Dezayne Mingo racked up nine of the team’s 19 assists.
In addition to shooting better, the Herd smothered the Bulldogs on defense. South Carolina State shot 21 of 64 (33 percent), 3 of 16 on threes and 8 of 17 at the foul line.
“Pretty happy,” first-year Herd coach Cornelius Jackson said. “We shot the ball pretty well. I’m more pleased with the 19 assists. Play smart, take care of the basketball and take what the game gives you.”
South Carolina State (4-4) had extended scoring slumps in each half. The Bulldogs made just one of their final 14 shots in the first half. In the second, they made two of their last 11 and endured a point drought of 3:06. Davion Everett had 10 points to lead them in scoring.
Mikal Dawson, a Huntington native and Akron transfer, led Marshall (4-2) with 18 points. He drilled six three-pointers on the floor he once watched the Herd play on. He was 6 of 13 from behind the arc, where he took all his shots.
Obinna Anochili-Killen followed with 13 points, including 11 in the first half. Will Moore and Nate Martin contributed 10 each. Martin also grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds to record his 17th double-double in a Herd uniform.
“Not surprised. Nate’s a warrior,” Jackson said. “That’s what he does.”
Jackson said he liked the way the Herd made the game flow, taking a lead early and growing it as the clock ticked down.
“Penetrated well, defended well,” Jackson said. “We harped on execution. We didn’t execute that well at Purdue.”
With 11:29 left in the first half, the Herd led the Bulldogs 17-15, and then the shooting bonanza began and the home team outscored the visitors 29-6 from that point.
Dawson ended a late first-half surge with three straight treys, the last with 2 seconds on the clock, to spark the Herd to a 25-point lead at the half at 46-21.
Marshall enjoyed a 17-1 scoring edge over the final 4:13 of the half. The Herd connected on six of its last eight shots.
The Bulldogs took nine threes in the first half and made just one.
Dawson, with four threes in the half, led the Herd with 12. Of the Herd’s first 17 points, Anochili-Killen netted his 11, but no more the rest of the half.
Martin led the Herd on the glass in the first 20 minutes with 12. Marshall ruled the boards with a 29-15 edge.
Marshall returns to action Saturday against former Conference USA rival Western Kentucky in Bowling Green. Start time is 8 p.m.
Hank Plona is the new coach for the Hilltoppers. He was an assistant last season and took over when then-coach Steve Lutz took the job at Oklahoma State. No. 8 Kentucky beat the Hilltoppers, 87-68, Tuesday night in Lexington.
The Herd and Hilltoppers often made drama a part of their clashes over the seasons. Western Kentucky went 22-12 last season, won the C-USA Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament and lost to Marquette in the first round.
”We talked about Western Kentucky,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to clean our game up and focus on Western Kentucky. They are a talented team. They return 12 guys. We’ll have our hands full, but the focus is on us.”