Marshall Men’s Basketbal Recap
By Rhys Owens, FM88 Sports
March 2, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) — The Marshall Thundering Herd Men’s Basketball Team (18-12) finished the 2024-2025 regular season on Friday as it took on Appalachian State (17-12) at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington in one of the Herd’s best games of the season.
Marshall was explosive from the tip off, scoring steadily and jumping out to a ten-point lead within five minutes. The Herd never let up the gas, as it at one point held a 22-point lead and put away the Mountaineers 75-57.
Marshall’s seniors put on a show in their final home game for the Herd. Forward Cade Gibbs led the Herd with 16 points while shooting four for four from three-point land and grabbing five boards. Obinna Anochili-Killen had a stellar final game at the Cam, putting up 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds with a game-high four blocked shots. Guard Jalen Speer finished with 14 points and five assists.
Those three weren’t the only Herd seniors with great games as Huntington’s own Mikal Dawson scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds, while forward Nate Martin scored six points to go along with two steals and three blocks.
Marshall’s seniors may have put on a show, but the undergraduates still helped get the win. Guard Dezayne Mingo scored 10 points and passed for five assists while grabbing a game high 11 rebounds. Freshman forward Erich Harding showed promise, scoring six points, grabbing a rebound and registering a block.
During the post-game press conference, head coach Corny Jackson took to the podium and was asked if this was the most complete game from the Herd all season. “Yeah, this is probably the most complete game we’ve played, you know what we’ve been playing well” said Corny. “Again, I’m happy for the seniors that they get to go out at home on a high note but obviously we still got a lot of basketball ahead of us.”
Corny’s words have never been truer as the Herd gear up for its Sun Belt Conference Tournament run in Pensacola. The Herd have clinched the five seed with a four-way tie at the top of the conference and will play the winner of game five on March 7th.
A tournament run for the Herd seems more than achievable, and the chance for it to clinch the 20th win of the season is well within its grasp.
Marshall basketball is undoubtedly back under first year head coach Corny Jackson, regardless of any tournament success, this season will be remembered by Herd fans for a long time.