HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Men's Basketball team kicked off 2025 with vigor, securing a 77-71 victory over Texas State at the Cam Henderson Center on Thursday night. This marked the start of the Herd's four-game homestand and their first win in the Sun Belt Conference for the season.
Head Coach Corny Jackson was pleased with his team’s performance, stating, "It's good to get the first Sun Belt win against a really talented Texas State team. Terrence (Johnson) does a great job. He's a two-time Coach of the Year in the Sun Belt. I'm proud of our guys. I thought we played really hard. The emphasis was keeping those guys off the glass. We beat them in rebounding 37-30. It was a really good team effort." Jackson's acknowledgment of Texas State's coaching underlines the competitive spirit within the conference.
Leading the charge for the Herd was Dezayne Mingo, who delivered a career-high 23 points on 70% shooting from the field. The Canadian guard also contributed five rebounds and five assists, emphasizing his all-around game. Following him was Obinna Anochili-Killen, who added 19 points and six rebounds, shooting 72.7% from the floor. Jalen Speer rounded out Marshall's trio of double-figure scorers with 13 points.
The game started with Marshall establishing dominance early, scoring 19 of the first 23 points. A significant 13-0 run from the 17:17 mark to 12:34 left the Herd with a commanding 19-4 lead. During this stretch, Anochili-Killen showcased his skills with seven points, supported by contributions from Ryan Nutter and Mikal Dawson.
Marshall's ability to sustain its lead was evident as they reached their largest advantage of the game at 27-11 halfway through the first half. Although Texas State made strides to cut down the deficit, reaching as close as seven points at 32-25 with just under two minutes remaining, Marshall answered with key baskets. A three-pointer from Dawson and a jumper from Mingo helped them close the half strong, leading 37-25.
Throughout the second half, Marshall maintained the momentum, keeping Texas State at bay with their effective defense and consistent scoring. Despite the Bobcats making late attempts to rally, scoring 10 of the last 12 points, the Herd held on to win by six points, 77-71. Marshall’s shooting was efficient as they finished the game making 50% of their field goals, with 26 out of 52 attempts finding the basket.
The defensive effort against Texas State was noteworthy as the Herd limited the Bobcats to just 25% (4-for-16) from three-point territory, significantly below their season average of 38%. This win not only boosted the team’s confidence but also set the stage for their upcoming match against Troy.
Marshall will look to build on this momentum as they face the Troy Trojans on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 4 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center. The Herd's fans are encouraged to support the team by attending the game or following their updates on social media platforms.
For all the latest information about Marshall Men's Basketball, follow @Herd_MBB on Twitter and @herdmbb on Instagram. Fans can also access live stats, schedules, and free live audio of the games through the Marshall Athletics App, available for both iOS and Android.