Box Score FINAL STATS

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – in the first road test for head coach James Green's young Jacksonville State men's basketball team, the Gamecocks hung with Marshall for most of the way before a late run broke it open for the Thundering Herd in a 58-44 win.

The Gamecocks (1-1), who had 10 players in uniform that had never played away from home at the Division I level, held the much larger Thundering Herd (2-0) at bay well into the second half. The team that was picked to finish second in Conference USA this season found its stroke down the stretch and put together a 15-4 run that put the game out of reach.

A longer Marshall team that has five players taller than JSU's tallest didn't push the Gamecocks around in the post. In fact, the Gamecocks battled to an even 39-39 battle on the boards and outscored the Herd 31-26 in the paint. The difference proved to be an 8-for-17 night from the free throw line and 10 second half turnovers that turned the game after JSU battled to rail just 21-20 at the half.

“We aren't going to hang our heads but at the same time, we are not going to be satisfied,” Green said. “We did a lot of good things and if we can learn about the rhythm of the game we can get a lot better. We had some offensive possessions we would have liked to get back, but we rebounded the ball well. But when you have a night like we had at the free throw line and with turnovers in the second half it really hurts you.”

That second half followed a first half that saw the Gamecocks outshoot and out-block the Herd, while turning the ball over just six times while forcing seven. The second half saw Marshall shoot 52 percent from the floor and force 10 JSU turnovers, while giving the ball to the Gamecocks just four times.

“Even though we were down by one at the half, we felt like we outplayed them in the first half,” Green added. “The second half was a different story. It wasn't so much our effort as it was about details and our rhythm.”

Junior Tarvin Gaines continued his impressive start to his JSU career, leading all players with 12 points on a 4-for-7 effort from the field. The 6-foot-6 transfer forward from Lawson State Community College also pulled in four boards. Fellow junior college transfer Rinaldo Mafra led all players with seven boards to go along with his five points.

Sophomore point guard Brian Williams stormed out of the gates to score seven first-half points before struggling to an 0-for-7 shooting effort in the final 20 minutes. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native ended the night with eight points, one less than junior guard Mason Leggett, who scored nine and grabbed five boards.

The Herd got 11 points, four rebounds and four assists from Damier Pitts, while6-foot-9 forward Robert Goff scored 12 but managed just three rebounds in 30 minutes of action. DeAndre Kane grabbd seven rebounds to go along with eight points.

Things don't get any easier for the Gamecocks, who will now travel to Cincinnati to face the 21st ranked Bearcats on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on the Gamecock Sports Network with Mike Parris calling the action. Airtime is set for 5:30 p.m. CT and the game can be heard on WLJS 91.9 FM, WVOK 97.9 FM and online at www.jsugamecocksports.com.