Topic: Herd Insider: Herd Runs Away From West Liberty, 94-72

[ZackUSAF82]

By Greg Perry
publisher, Herd Insider Magazine
Posted Nov 6, 2007
   

West Liberty provided exactly what Marshall needed in their second and final exhibition game: A challenge for 40 minutes. Marshall battled the challenge, and ultimately pulled away for a 94-72 win at the Henderson Center on Tuesday evening...

West Liberty provided a pressing defense in the first half that —combined with a somewhat flat start for Marshall— presented a challenge that Marshall coach Donnie Jones welcomed. ”Nobody has pressed us yet,” Jones said of West Liberty, “so that was a good test for us. I was really concerned about my team in the first half. West Liberty is well-coached.”

And that defensive pressure led to 13 Marshall turnovers in the first half, which West Liberty converted into 10 points. Chris Banal’s 12 points enabled West Liberty to tie the game 9 times in the half, yet their biggest lead would only be four points, at 27-23 with 8:21 left.

”We came out a little flat in the first half,” admitted Marshall guard Mark Dorris, who scored a game-high 25 points. “They looked us in the eye and came right smack at us.”

Markel Humphrey’s dunk coupled with a Adam Williams layup gave Marshall a 7-point halftime advantage, at 43-36. Marshall blocked blocked 8 West Liberty shots in the first half, with guards Dorris and Humphrey each getting two. “They were serving it like a volleyball,” said Marshall forward Tirrell Baines of West Liberty’s shot selections that led to the blocks. Baines had 11 points in the first half, en route to scoring 21 for the night.

Link: http://marshall.scout.com/2/698935.html