(Game highlights)
WHEELING, W.Va. — Herd That was eager to battle Zoo Crew on Tuesday in the nightcap of opening-round play in the West Virginia Regional of The Basketball Tournament at WesBanco Arena.
Marshall’s alumni-based team proved as much by dominating the early stages of the matchup to the tune of 13 unanswered points to start the contest, which allowed Herd That to play from in front throughout an 86-71 victory over Pitt’s alumni-based squad.
“That was our plan from the jump was to come out with a hot start,” said Herd That guard Jon Elmore. “We did that, but at the same time, we took our foot off the gas a little bit and had a few breakdowns got a little relaxed. We got a little too high feeling, so it’s a matter of staying level headed no matter if we’re making a run or they’re making a run and playing the way we preached the last five or six days. Overall it was a great win. It was a little ugly at times, but that’s how it is in TBT. You have to grind it out and live for another day.”
With the win, Herd That, a No. 4 seed, advances to face top seed Best Virginia on Thursday.
The 13-point advantage stood at the end of the first quarter, with Herd That leading 24-11, before Zoo Crew settled in during the second frame.
Zoo Crew pulled to within seven on separate occasions early in the second, and a Josh Newark three-pointer 3:26 before halftime trimmed Herd That’s lead to 32-26 — the closest the contest had been since 6-0.
After a layup from former NBA veteran Sam Young enabled Zoo Crew to trail by five, guard Rob Gray, a new addition to this year’s Herd That roster, countered with a three-pointer.
Taevion Kinsey, Marshall’s all-time leading scorer, followed with a dunk to make it 39-29, before Levance Fields and Gray traded triples that kept it a 10-point margin.
“It was a quick turnaround coming out of summer league, getting into this and I’m glad I could contribute what I could contribute,” Kinsey said. “No matter how my time looks or the opportunities I get, I’m going to do my best always.”
Fields converted a fast break layup to account for the final points of the opening half and trim Zoo Crew’s deficit through two quarters to 43-36.
Gray entered the intermission with a game-high 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, playing a big part in Herd That shooting better than 54 percent (18 for 33) through two quarters.
“They came out and got the first punch,” Young said. “We missed a couple shots and they hit their first couple of shots. That can be a momentum swing starting out a game. We got into one of those unfortunate situations where they got a dunk in the beginning for a lot of momentum. When you see the ball go through the hoop a few times, that gives you confidence through the whole game.”
A 14-4 third-quarter spurt from Herd That left it with its largest lead of the night at 57-41 on a Derek Cooke Jr. layup, although Zoo Crew countered with strong play over the final 3-plus minutes of the third quarter to cut its deficit to 63-55 entering the fourth.
Two free throws from Elmore at the 6:42 mark of the fourth left Herd That with a 69-58 lead, before Jamel Artis made a jump shot and triple sandwiched around two free throws from Young, bringing Zoo Crew to within four points at the 6:06 mark.
But Herd That made three free throws and got a trey from James Kelly at the 4:57 mark to regain its double-digit advantage to 75-65, and it settled for a 78-69 lead entering the Elam Ending, which created a target score of 86 to win.
Elmore opened the scoring in the Elam Ending portion of the matchup with his second triple.
Gray followed with a layup and made all three of his free throws moments later to end the game.
Gray, who played collegiately at Houston, led all players with 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting.
“They have a good core group of guys familiar with each other,” Gray said. “Basketball is a simple game. You do what you’re good at and if you do that as a team, then you can be good. You just have to understand no one is going to perfect the team chemistry of TBT. Guys are all over the place. It’s about who gets hot and understand each other and a little bit of love from the basketball Gods.”
Elmore and Cooke Jr. scored 13 apiece in the win, while Jacorey Williams added 11 and JP Tokoto contributed nine.
Herd That finished with 21 assists and 11 turnovers and Elmore’s six assists led all players.
“We want to play that [Dan] D’Antoni system,” Elmore said. “Guys like playing in that style. When you have that ultimate green light, it kind of instills confidence in you and allows you to go play.”
Artis led Zoo Crew with 21 points, Young followed with 20 and Fields added 10.
Herd That finished 33 for 61 from the field to shoot 54 percent and held Zoo Crew to 22 for 58 shooting (38 percent).
“That was one of our focal points going into this year was picking up defensive energy, intensity and overall toughness,” Elmore said. “We’ve always been able to score points, but can we get stops when we need them?”
(Marshall postgame press conference)