The Marshall Thundering Herd held off a late surge from the South Alabama Jaguars to secure an 84-80 victory at the Cam Henderson Center, improving their record to 17-10. This win marked the third in the last five games for Marshall, who have been averaging 78.6 points per game over that stretch. The first half was a high-scoring affair, with Marshall taking a 48-35 lead into the break, thanks in part to Wyatt Fricks' 15 points. South Alabama, on the other hand, has been averaging 76.6 points per game over their last five, but struggled to find their rhythm in the opening 20 minutes, shooting just 35% from the field.
As the second half got underway, South Alabama began to find their footing, outscoring Marshall 45-36 over the final 20 minutes. Chaze Harris was instrumental in the Jaguars' comeback, scoring 18 of his 28 points in the second half. Despite this, Marshall managed to hold on, thanks to some clutch free throw shooting, converting 7 of 10 attempts in the final 2 minutes. The Thundering Herd also outrebounded the Jaguars 42-37, with Fricks and Jalen Speer combining for 15 boards. With this win, Marshall improved their record to 17-10, while South Alabama fell to 19-8.
Chaze Harris' 28 Points Not Enough for South Alabama
The performances of Fricks and Harris were the story of the game, with both players putting on a show. Fricks' 27 points and 7 rebounds were crucial for Marshall, as he hit several big shots to keep the Jaguars at bay. Harris, on the other hand, was a one-man show for South Alabama, scoring 28 points and dishing out 8 assists. However, despite his impressive stat line, Harris was not able to will his team to victory, as the Jaguars came up just short. For Marshall, Jalen Speer was also impressive, scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, while Wilson Dubinsky chipped in with 12 points and 5 boards. On the other side, Adam Olsen scored 21 points for South Alabama, but was just 1-5 from three-point range, while Stephen Williams added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The CHD Scout prediction of a 0.6-point Marshall victory was remarkably accurate, given the final score.
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This accuracy can be attributed to the model's ability to account for the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. Marshall's high-powered offense, which has been averaging 78.6 points per game over their last five, was matched up against a South Alabama defense that has been allowing 73.4 points per game over their last five. The model correctly predicted that Marshall's offense would be too much for the Jaguars to handle, despite South Alabama's impressive recent form, which has seen them win four of their last five games. The model also took into account the fact that Marshall has been outscoring their opponents by an average of 3.0 points per game over their last five, while South Alabama has been outscoring their opponents by an average of 3.2 points per game over their last five.
The win for Marshall has real consequences for their tournament picture, as they look to build on their 17-10 record. With this victory, the Thundering Herd improved their NET ranking to 149, which could be crucial in terms of securing a spot in the tournament.
This win, combined with their recent form, which has seen them go 3-2 over their last five games, has Marshall looking like a potential bubble team. However, they must continue to perform well over their final few games if they hope to make a push for the tournament. For South Alabama, the loss is a setback, but they still have a strong record at 19-8, and want to bounce back in their next game. The Jaguars' NET ranking of 168 is still respectable, but they must be careful not to let this loss snowball into a larger slump. With the tournament picture beginning to take shape, both Marshall and South Alabama want to make a push over their final few games.
As the season enters its final stretch, Marshall want to build on this win and make a push for the tournament. With their high-powered offense and improving defense, they have the potential to make some noise in the coming weeks. For South Alabama, the loss is a reminder that they still have work to do if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament. The Jaguars must regroup and refocus if they hope to bounce back from this setback. With just a few games remaining, the pressure is on for both teams to perform. Marshall's next game will be a crucial one, as they look to build on this win and make a push for the tournament. The Thundering Herd must bring their A-game if they hope to come out on top, as the competition will only continue to get fiercer in the coming weeks.
In terms of what this win means for Marshall, it's a significant step in the right direction. The Thundering Herd have been inconsistent at times this season, but this victory shows that they have the potential to beat a strong team like South Alabama. With their NET ranking now at 149, Marshall is starting to look like a legitimate tournament contender. However, they must continue to perform well over their final few games if they hope to lock up a spot in the tournament. For now, though, this win is a big one for the Thundering Herd, and they want to build on it in the coming weeks. The 84-80 victory over South Alabama is a reflection of Marshall's resilience and determination, as they were able to hold off a late surge and come out on top. With 17 wins on the season, Marshall is starting to look like a team that could make some noise in the tournament.
The fact that Marshall was able to hold off South Alabama's late surge is a significant factor in this win. The Jaguars outscored the Thundering Herd 45-36 in the second half, but Marshall's clutch free throw shooting and rebounding were enough to secure the victory. The Thundering Herd's ability to close out games has been a strength all season, and it was on full display here. With the win, Marshall improved to 17-10 on the season, while South Alabama fell to 19-8. The Thundering Herd want to build on this momentum in their next game, as they continue to push for a spot in the tournament. The 84-80 victory over South Alabama is a big one for Marshall, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up in the coming weeks.
As the season enters its final stretch, the pressure is on for both Marshall and South Alabama to perform. The Thundering Herd want to build on this win and make a push for the tournament, while the Jaguars want to bounce back from this setback. With just a few games remaining, every contest is crucial, and both teams will be giving it their all in the coming weeks. The 84-80 victory over South Alabama is a significant one for Marshall, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up. The Thundering Herd have the potential to make some noise in the tournament, but they must continue to perform well over their final few games.
The win for Marshall is a big one, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up. The Thundering Herd have been inconsistent at times this season, but this victory shows that they have the potential to beat a strong team like South Alabama. With their NET ranking now at 149, Marshall is starting to look like a legitimate tournament contender. However, they must continue to perform well over their final few games if they hope to lock up a spot in the tournament. For now, though, this win is a big one for the Thundering Herd, and they want to build on it in the coming weeks. The 84-80 victory over South Alabama is a significant factor in Marshall's tournament picture, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up.