December 30, 2006

Box Score

Marshall 59, VT 58

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Virginia Tech staged a large second-half comeback, but fell just short and lost to Marshall, 59-58, in the Cam Henderson Center Saturday afternoon. Tech falls to 9-4 on the season, while Marshall improves to 4-8 overall.

Marshall started the game hot and built a 21-point lead with 3:18 remaining in the first half before the Hokies cut the margin to 38-21 at the intermission. Marshall hit six of 13 three-point attempts in the first period and shot 43.8 percent at the break.

In the second half, the Hokies continually cut into the Herd lead, and when Coleman Collins hit a jumper, with 5:02 remaining, the score was tied, 51-51. Tech took the lead for the first time in the second half when Jamon Gordon hit a pair of free throws with 1:50 remaining. Marshall regained the lead on a lay-up by Markel Humphrey with 1:23 to play.

A pair of free throws by the Herd pushed the lead to three points, before Collins hit a lay-in with five seconds remaining. After a Tech foul, Marshall missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the Hokies one final chance. But Zabian Dowdell's shot in the lane was blocked by Jean Francois Bro Grebe and time expired.

Dowdell led the Hokies with 17 points and Gordon added 12 points. A.D. Vassallo scored 10 points and Collins grabbed a team, season-high 14 rebounds in the contest. Mark Dorris of Marshall led all scorers with 20 points.

Tech held the Herd to 30.8 percent from the floor in the second half, including 0-of-10 from three-point range. The Hokies forced Marshall into 17 turnovers, but Marshall outrebounded Tech, 46-39.

The Hokies return to action on Wednesday night, as they host the Spiders of Richmond in Cassell Coliseum at 7 p.m.