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  • Marshall’s DeAndre Kane, right, drives to the basket as Tulane’s Jay Hook defends during their game Feb. 1 in Huntington. Kane, Marshall’s leading scorer, status was uncertain as of Tuesday after the death of his father, Calvin, in their hometown of Pittsburgh. It was unclear if Kane would be with the team tonight for the 7 p.m. tip-off at UCF Arena. AP photo

    0208Marshall
February 8, 2012

Thundering Herd looks to finish sweep of UCF

Marshall’s Kane may miss tonight’s game

From staff, wire reports The Register-Herald

Marshall will look to sweep the men’s basketball season series with the University of Central Florida tonight at 7 p.m. in Orlando at UCF Arena.

The Thundering Herd (14-9 overall, 5-4 C-USA) is coming off a 79-70 loss at Tulsa on Saturday.

“We didn’t defend and didn’t rebound (against Tulsa),” said Marshall second-year head coach Tom Herrion. “Without those two ingredients on the road against a good team, it’s going to lead to not having a good night.

Sophomore guard DeAndre Kane had 21 points on Saturday to increase his average to 16.2 points per game, the second-best mark in Conference USA.

Senior guard Damier Pitts has been a big scoring threat as of late, averaging 16.6 points over his last three games including 21 at Tulsa.

Marshall is fifth in the Conference USA standings and can tie UCF for fourth place with a victory.

Few teams have played as tough a schedule as Marshall. According to the NCAA RPI, the Herd’s strength of schedule is the 15th toughest in the nation among 344 Division I teams. In non-conference games, Marshall’s schedule is the 13th toughest. Herd opponents Syracuse, Southern Miss, Memphis and WVU are all in the top 25 of the NCAA RPI.

UCF, led by former Marshall coach (2007-2010) and Pt. Pleasant native Donnie Jones, is 17-6 overall and 6-3 in C-USA play. The Knights are coming off a 59-52 win at SMU on Saturday. UCF is 12-1 at home this season, the lone loss coming to Southern Miss on Jan. 28. Junior guard Marcus Jordan, son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, averages 15.5 points and 2.5 assists per game.

Both teams have rebounded the ball well this season. Marshall ranks first in C-USA in rebounds with 40.4 per game while UCF is second with 37.7 per game.

Marshall leads the all-time series 8-5 and has won five of the last six meetings including the last two.

The Herd defeated the Knights 65-64 earlier this season on Jan. 14 and look for a series sweep for the first time since 2010.

The game can be heard on the Thundering Herd Radio Network. Live stats and video can be accessed through HerdZone.com.

Marshall plays three of its next four games at home starting with East Carolina Saturday at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised on WSAZ.

———

Tuesday afternoon, Marshall sports information released the following statement:

Calvin Kane, father of Marshall men’s basketball player DeAndre Kane, passed away early Tuesday morning in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Final arrangements are still being made at this time. Therefore, Kane’s playing status for Marshall’s game at UCF is uncertain.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with DeAndre and his family during this difficult and trying time,” said Marshall head coach Tom Herrion. “He will have the support our program as well as the entire Marshall family.”

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