Thundering Herd falls short against Grizzlies

Published 10:03 pm Tuesday, November 21, 2023

By CODY LINN

Marshall Sports Information

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – The Marshall University Men’s Basketball team (2-3) closed out the Cayman Islands Classic on Tuesday falling 78-71 to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (3-3).

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“We had shootaround type shots to make and we just can’t shoot 20 percent on threes,” Herd men’s basketball head coach Dan D’Antoni said. “We’re not finding the efficiency we need. We’re finding the shots. Bright side we found a place for Goran when we’re in zone. He effected the game and kept us in there.”

Nate Martin picked up his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Kevon Voyles scored a team-high 18 points, his fourth game of 17 or more points this season.

Wyatt Fricks fell a point shy of a double-double grabbing 11 boards and tallying nine points.

The Herd trailed by as many as seven in the first half, 18-11, at the 10:18 mark. However, an 11-2 run concluded by a Voyles layup gave MU a 22-20 lead with 6:48 to go in the opening 20 minutes. Oakland held a one-point lead, 30-29 at the break.

The Herd held the lead early in the second half, but the Golden Grizzlies held the advantage for most of the last 20 minutes as Marshall fell.

MU scored 16 second-chance points off 17 offensive rebounds while giving up 12 second-chance points on 13 offensive boards.

Marshall’s bench dropped 17 points with Cameron Crawford having nine, Goran Miladinovic with six and Ryan Nutter scoring two. Miladinovic also grabbed nine rebounds.

UP NEXT 

Marshall returns from the Cayman Islands for a contest in Lexington, Kentucky, against the No. 16/16 Kentucky Wildcats. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. on Friday at Rupp Arena.

MARSHALL (2-3)

Fricks 4-9 1-2 9, Martin 4-7 4-4 12, Curfman 2-12 0-0 6, Voyles 7-14 1-2 18, Conner 3-12 2-4 9, Crawford 4-13 0-0 9, Miladinovic 3-5 0-0 6, Nutter 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 27-73 10-14 71.

OAKLAND (3-3)

Conway 9-15 0-0 18, Townsend 2-11 0-2 4, Gohlke 6-17 0-1 17, Watts 7-15 5-6 20, Jones 7-10 1-1 16, Cole 0-2 0-0 0, Hunter 0-1 3-4 3, Niavalurua 0-1 0-0 0, Polk 0-0 0-0 0, Price 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-72 9-14 78.

Halftime–Oakland 30-29. 3-Point Goals_Marshall 7-35 (Voyles 3-8, Curfman 2-11, Crawford 1-6, Conner 1-8, Fricks 0-2), Oakland 7-25 (Gohlke 5-15, Jones 1-2, Watts 1-6, Cole 0-1, Hunter 0-1). Fouled Out–Martin. Rebounds–Marshall 45 (Fricks, Martin 11), Oakland 43 (Townsend 12). Assists–Marshall 16 (Curfman, Conner, Crawford 3), Oakland 16 (Townsend 5). Total Fouls–Marshall 16, Oakland 14.