No. 11 Cincinnati Defeats Marshall 72-56

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Marshall shot 66.7 percent from the three-point range, but could not withstand a second-half run by No. 11 Cincinnati in a 72-56 loss to the Bearcats Saturday at the Civic Center in Charleston.

The Thundering Herd (6-5) nailed five of its first five three-pointers and finished 8-of-12. The 66.7 percent mark is tied for the second-best in school history. Junior guard D.D. Scarver was 5-of-7 from three and finished with 20 points.

Junior forward Elijiah Pittman tied Scarver for game-high honors with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 2-of-4 from three-point range. Both players have made a three-pointer in every game of their careers.

Despite the high number of made threes, Marshall shot just 39.5 percent (17-of-43) from the field. Cincinnati (10-0) attempted 21 more shots than the Herd, going 29-of-64 from the field for 45.3 percent.

"We were inept offensively," said Marshall head coach Tom Herrion. "We were not able to get into any flow or rhythm offensively. Twenty turnovers are going to cause a problem any night."

The Herd's 20 turnovers converted into 20 UC points.

"I think they showed, in stretches, why they are a top 10 team," Herrion said of the Bearcats.

Both teams entered the game ranked among the best in the country in rebounding. Cincinnati won the battle of the boards 40-31 and had 17 offensive rebounds which converted to 19 points. UC also dominated the scoring down low, a 40-16 advantage in the paint.

Freshman Tamron Manning handled the point guard position primarily all game for the first time in his career. His three-pointer in the first half was his first career points and his only points of the game. His 30 minutes played was not only a career best, but was more than his total minutes played on the season (23) entering the game.

"We have some young guys that have to adjust to playing a different roll," Herrion said. "When you throw them to the wolves a little bit, they'll gain great experience. We've got a lot of young guys playing against fourth and fifth-year seniors on the Cincinnati team."

Marshall's only lead of the game came after a Pittman three to open the game. However, the Herd never trailed by more than seven points in the first half. UC led 29-25 at halftime.

Marshall trailed 39-35 with 14:54 remaining in the game until UC scored seven unanswered points to take its first double-digit lead of the game as Cashmere Wright sank the first of three-consecutive three-pointers.

The Herd trailed by 15 points later in the half, but cut the deficit to 10, 63-53 with 5:57 to play after a Pittman three-pointer. Marshall scored just three points the rest of the way as UC shot 51.5 percent from the field in the second half.

Wright led Cincinnati with 14 points including a 4-of-7 effort from three-point range. Sean Kilpatrick scored 13 points and Justin Jackson scored 10 to join Wright in double figures.

Marshall will next be in action Wednesday as it hosts Savannah State at 7 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.

MARSHALL POSTGAME NOTES

Cincinnati (10-0) 72 - Marshall (6-5) 56

12/15/12

Charleston Civic Center - 5,432

Marshall Starters (Career/Season): Dennis Tinnon (45/10), Nigel Spikes (44/11), D.D. Scarver (10/10), Elijah Pittman (10/10), Chris Martin (2/2)

Series History: Cincinnati leads 20-12 overall

Marshall's Loss…

Drops Marshall to 0-2 inside the Charleston Civic Center this season.

Moves the Thundering Herd's all-time Civic Center record to 7-23 all-time and 2-4 against non-WVU teams.

Makes MU 1,389-1,010-2 all-time.

Team Notes

Marshall has won the opening tip in 11 of its 12 games (Hofstra).

The Herd has now made a three pointer in 690 consecutive games.

MU's 66.7 three point percentage is a season-high, the first time it has shot 60 percent or better from three point range since going .625 versus UCF Jan. 13, 2010 and the best percentage since a 66.7 performance against Miami Feb. 14, 02, tying for the second highest mark all-time.

For the third time this season, Marshall has had two players score 20 or more points in a contest as D.D. Scarver and Elijah Pittman each knocked in 20 points. The previous games were at Hofstra (Kane 33, Pittman 20) and Nevada (Tinnon 24, Pittman 22).

Individual Notes

D.D. Scarver and Elijah Pittman each extended their made three pointer streak to 11 games (each game of their career).

Scarver has now scored double-digit points in eight straight games and has been the leader scorer in a game six times. In total he has a team high 10 double-digit point games.

Scarver tied a career-high for three point field goals made with a 5-for-7 effort, which including going a perfect 3-for-3 in the first half.

Tamron Manning, in a career-high 30 minutes, scored his first bucket with a three pointer at 11:06 mark of the first half.

Robert Goff tossed in seven points, his first points since returning from action against UNCW Dec. 1.