The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

February 18, 2012

Thundering Herd to visit Southern Methodist today

From staff reports The Register-Herald

Marshall will look to remain undefeated all-time against Southern Methodist University when it visits the Mustangs at 3 p.m. today.

Marshall (15-10, 6-5 Conference USA) is coming off perhaps its most efficient game of the season in a 78-68 win over East Carolina last Saturday. Marshall shot a season-high 54 percent from the field, including 52.6 percent from 3-point range and had a season-low five turnovers. The Herd’s offensive display occurred without leading scorer DeAndre Kane, who attended his father’s funeral that day. Kane has practiced this week and is slated to play against the Mustangs.

Kane ranks fourth in C-USA with 15.9 points per game, and junior Dennis Tinnon ranks third with 9.9 rebounds per game. Senior guard Damier Pitts is coming off a season-high 27 points against ECU and ranks 11th in the conference with 14.1 points per game.

According to the latest NCAA RPI, Marshall has played the 20th toughest schedule and the 16th toughest non-conference schedule. Herd opponents Syracuse (1), Southern Miss (11), Memphis (19), WVU (41), Iona (55), UCF (59) and Akron (60) are all in the top 60 of the RPI.

SMU (11-15, 2-9) has lost seven of its last eight games, including a 47-28 loss to UAB Wednesday. The Mustangs are led by senior forward Robert Nyakundi, who leads the conference in 3-point shooting at 42.9 percent. As a team, SMU ranks second in C-USA with 7.4 3-pointers made per game.

Both teams defend the 3-point shot well, as Marshall has held its opponents to 31.1 percent from beyond the arc, the second best mark in the conference. SMU ranks third at 31.8 percent.

Marshall leads the all-time series 6-0. Five of the six meetings have been decided by three points or fewer, including the last one, a 64-62 Herd win in Huntington last season.

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