Herd beats ECU,72-64

Published 11:19 pm Saturday, January 10, 2009

Tyler Wilkerson scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Marshall to a 72-64 victory over East Carolina on Saturday.

The Thundering Herd (8-7, 1-1 Conference USA) shot 54.8 percent from the field (23 of 43) and held off East Carolina (9-6, 1-1) in the final minute.

Marshall led 66-56 with 3:11 remaining in the game before the Pirates cut the lead to 67-64 on Darrius Morrow’s free throw with 56 seconds left.

Email newsletter signup

The Thundering Herd clinched the game at the free-throw line, going 5 of 6 in the final 32 seconds.

Wilkerson was 7 of 10 from the field and 10 of 12 from the line. He hit three free throws and had three rebounds in final 24 seconds of the game.

Dago Pena scored 14 points and Markel Humphrey added 11 points for Marshall.

James Legan scored 16 points, Sam Hinnant added 14 and Jamar Abrams had 13 points for East Carolina.

MARSHALL 72,

EAST CAROLINA 64

EAST CAROLINA (9-6)

Wynn 1-3 0-0 2, Legan 3-5 7-8 16, Hinnant 6-16 0-0 14, Young 2-6 2-2 6, Abrams 5-8 0-0 13, Morrow 3-4 1-2 7, Turner 0-0 0-0 0, Sherrod 2-3 0-2 6, O’Bryan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-45 10-14 64.

MARSHALL (8-7)

Humphrey 3-6 5-6 11, Baines 3-7 0-0 6, Wilkerson 7-10 10-12 24, Pitts 0-2 6-6 6, Lutz 1-3 0-0 2, Merthie 0-4 0-0 0, Pena 5-6 1-1 14, Johnson 4-4 0-0 9, Spann 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-42 22-25 72.

Halftime—Tied 33-33. 3-Point Goals—East Carolina 10-23 (Legan 3-4, Abrams 3-4, Sherrod 2-3, Hinnant 2-9, Young 0-3), Marshall 4-9 (Pena 3-3, Johnson 1-1, Lutz 0-1, Humphrey 0-1, Pitts 0-1, Merthie 0-2). Fouled Out—Abrams, Wynn. Rebounds—East Carolina 14 (Wynn 3), Marshall 31 (Wilkerson 10). Assists—East Carolina 17 (Young 7), Marshall 13 (Pitts 4). Total Fouls—East Carolina 18, Marshall 13. A—5,176.