10-27-24
After ending the 2023-24 season with a sour taste in its mouth, the Thundering Herd Men’s Basketball Team tipped-off the 2024-25 campaign with a 90-73 Fans First exhibition win against division II Pikeville University. The Herd battled the Bears on Sunday at 4 p.m. in front of 4,643 fans.
Marshall came off a 13-20 record last season, ending the year dropping an unfortunate eight out of its last nine game. The Herd finished the season eleventh out of the fourteen team Sun Belt Conference, after being picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll.
All of that is in the past now, as new head coach Cornelius Jackson got his debut after Dan D’Antoni departed from the program in March.
The Sun Belt preseason poll picked the Herd to finish tenth in the conference, with senior forward Nate Austin receiving Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team honors and fifth year forward Obinna Anochili-Killen receiving Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team honors. Any postseason awards would be an improvement for the squad this year, as unfortunately Marshall did not receive any All-Sun Belt players last season.
Obinna Anochili-Killen did not play in the exhibition game, coach Jackson said he was indeed available but decided to play it safe and keep him on the bench instead.
Cade Gibbs, senior transfer from Grace College (IN), led the Thundering Herd with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Pikeville was led by junior guard LA Walker, who put up 17 points in the contest.
Marshall had an impressive four players with double-digit points on the night, and outrebounded Pikeville 43-29. This dominance on the glass was a key point in why Marshall took home its expected win.
The Marshall Men’s Team looks forward to hosting Davis & Elkins College out of Elkins, WV for a preseason game on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. The first regular season game for the Thundering Herd will come on Nov. 9, as Toledo University will drive down to Huntington for a 4 p.m. matchup.