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Marshall 66 Princeton 60.

box score

The Thundering Herd of Marshall fended off several Princeton rallies in the second half, holding on for a 66-60 victory at home in Huntington on Saturday afternoon.

Marshall had built a 10 point lead at halftime, but the Tigers shot 68.2% from the field in the final twenty minutes as they were able to pull to within one possession on two occasions late in the game.

The loss was Princeton's ninth straight this season and the Tigers' twelfth consecutive loss on the road.

The bigger and stronger Marshall post players inside were too much for a balanced Princeton attack down the stretch. Markel Humphrey had 19 points and seven rebounds for the victors.

Four Tigers hit double figures against the Herd, lead by Kyle Koncz with 12. Koncz scored all of his points in the game's first 10 minutes.

Marcus Schroeder contributed 10 of his own for the orange and black. Kevin Steuerer and Michael Strittmatter each had 10 off the bench. Steuerer's game was particularly surprising. Not only did the senior guard score in a variety of ways, he was also able to create opportunities for teammates off of drives. Steuerer handed out a team-high four assists.

The two teams exchanged the lead six times in the first five minutes. Zach Finley opened the game's scoring with a swooping left-handed hook out of the low block.

A diagonal alley-oop pass by Darryl Merthie over Noah Savage's head was stuffed home by Markel Humphrey to give Marshall a 11-9 lead.

Koncz posted up Mark Dorris and scored while being fouled to make the score 13-12 Herd.

The Thundering Herd ran off the game's next seven points, finishing their run when a three-on-two Marshall break ended with a layup by Tyler Wilkerson, fouled by Koncz, who could not slide over in time to take a charge.

Marshall looked to press the Tigers from one end of the court to the other, but had to alter their strategy when Princeton threw home run passes over the top of the defense twice. The first time Zach Finley got the ball under the Princeton basket and waited patiently for Kyle Koncz to enter the picture outside the three point line for a triple. The second time the pass went to a breaking Steuerer, who scored while being hacked.

At the other end of the court Steuerer stepped in front of Tyler Wilkerson to take a charge and Princeton's counter-run concluded when Koncz used a downscreen to pop up to the top of the arc and dial up his third long distance shot. Marshall led 20-18.

Michael Strittmatter, instant offense off the bench, drove to the rim to bring the Tigers within 22-20. This would be Princeton's last points until Strittmatter tipped in the ball while being fouled on Princeton's third straight attempted putback. The Tigers had chances during this near-eight minute span, especially down 24-20 following a left-handed scoop by Tirrell Baines.

Noah Savage, mired in a three game shooting slump, was long on a quick release three and then came up short using a high screen to get free.

Strittmatter's putback was the final points of the first half and Marshall went into the locker room up 32-22.

Princeton was 8-24 from the floor in the first 20 minutes (33.3%). The Tigers shot 3-13 from outside (23.1%) and 3-5 at the line (60.0%). The Herd went 13-22 in the first half (59.1%), 2-6 beyond the arc (33.3%) and 4-5 from the charity stripe (80.0%).

In the second half, Princeton drove from the arc instead of opting for contested jump shots. Tiger dribblers were able to get into the paint and either score or dish for baskets. Cutters headed straight to the basket when another Tiger with the ball headed towards them.

Lincoln Gunn went backdoor and laid in a Zach Finley pass.

Finley scored inside on his own.

Savage drove and converted.

Schroeder took a pass from Steuerer and went to the rim.

Princeton had cut the double digit deficit to just four with 15:25 on the clock.

The Herd immediately opened their lead back up to 10, wrapping single free throws around a right-handed hook from Wilderson and a lay-in from Humphrey. Zach Finley, playing with three personal fouls, could only watch Humphrey inside once the ball went to the post.

Princeton continued to carve the lead down, playing well on defense and zipping the ball around offensively.

Stritmatter drove and scored again and suddenly the score was 51-48 in favor of Marshall. Humphrey got free on the baseline and missed a short bank shot, but he grabbed his own rebound and was fouled by Strittmatter. Both free throws were good and Princeton trailed by five.

The Tigers had a chance to retain possession trailing by four at the 4:21 mark, but a rebound caromed out of Zach Finley's hands and bounced to Humphrey in the paint for an emphatic two-handed slam.

A cutting Kevin Steuerer was rewarded by Strittmatter with a layup and Marcus Schroeder immediately stole Marshall's inbounds pass and was fouled. Schroeder converted both ends of his one-and-one at the line and the Tigers has scored four points in one tick of the clock.

Wilkerson posted on Strittmatter and scored off glass inside to send Marshall back up six with 1:04 on the clock.

Gunn banked in his only three point shot of the day well beyond the right side of the arc with just over 30 seconds to go, pulling Princeton to within 61-58. The Tigers fouled immediately and Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes made one of two free throws. Princeton had to settle for a Marcus Schroeder three point shot that came up short and two Marshall free throws iced the game.

Princeton headed home for the holidays knowing they had competed for forty minutes, but they still hadn't been able to put together enough pieces to get back in the win column.

Notes:

-The Tigers finished the game an even 50% from the field (23-46), recording 12 layups in the second half. Princeton was 5-18 (27.8%) from outside, 2-5 (40.0%) following the intermission. The Tigers were 9-13 from the free throw line (69.2%).

-Princeton had 12 assists and 11 turnovers.

-Noah Savage has missed all eight of his three point shots over the last three games.

-Princeton's final game of 2007 comes on Sunday the 30th at 4:00 pm ET when the Tigers travel to Monmouth.

David Lewis said,

December 23, 2007 @ 9:07 am

The Tigers showed a lot of toughness in the second half against a very good Marshall team. I did not hear most of the game but it looks like they got a lot of layups instead of three point shots. That's good considering the fact that this team has been so spotty from the perimeter. If the inside game develops the defenses will sag and they will get some open outside shots. This team is just much more effective when they drive to the basket. When they don't, they struggle to make 45 points and don't win many games. The Monmouth game is very important. Princeton needs D-1 win before the Ivy season begins. The team is improving but it must be hard to convince the players of that fact without a win to show for it.

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