Marshall Preview
By Ben Anderson, FM88 Sports
Jan. 3, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) —Marshall aims for back-to-back wins Saturday, when it welcomes the Troy Trojans.
Both teams are coming off victories on Thursday with Marshall defeating Texas State 77-71, and Troy defeating Appalachian State 69-61.
The victory on Thursday for Marshall was the first Sun Belt Conference victory for first-year head coach Cornelius Jackson that improved the Thundering Herd to 8-7 (1-1).
“It’s a dream come true, Jackson said during his postgame news conference on Thursday. “Being the head coach at Marshall has always been my dream. I’m 46, about to be 47, and it’s been my dream since I was 19 years old.”
This is the sixth meeting between the two programs and third since Marshall joined the Sun Belt Conference. Marshall leads the series 3-2, with Troy prevailing last season 82-66.
Troy is 2-0 in league play and aims to become the only team in the Sun Belt Conference to win 10 or more conference games for the fourth consecutive season.
Troy brings it aggressive defense that leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks 18th nationally with 10 steals per game. Marshall averages 12 turnovers a game.
The matchup pits two teams with players having preseason All-Sun Belt Conference honors with Marshall having Obinna Anochilli-Killen named All-Sun Belt Conference second team. Troy is led by the duo of first-team selection and reigning Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year Myles Rigsby along with section-team selection and reigning Sun Belt Conference sixth man of the year Tayton Connerway.
Marshall is 8-1 at home, Troy is 3-3 on the road.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center with live coverage on WMUL-FM 88.1 and online at www.marshall.edu/WMUL. Pregame coverage begins at 3:30 p.m.