HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — Marshall overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to edge Wright State 76-74 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd outscored the Raiders 44-35 in the second half to secure the comeback win before a crowd of 3,755. Michael Cooper led all scorers with 22 points for Wright State. Marshall’s offense was paced by Wyatt Fricks with 19 points and Noah Otshudi with 18. Marshall’s 7-foot-4 center Matt Van Komen anchored the defense with seven blocked shots. The victory improved Marshall to 7-4 overall, while Wright State fell to 5-6.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering defensive presence at the rim and a frantic final minute, Marshall survived a second-half surge from Wright State to escape with a 76-74 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd, who led for only 4 minutes and 19 seconds of game time, overcame a seven-point halftime deficit by unleashing a dominant shot-blocking performance, swatting 12 Wright State attempts. That interior defense proved critical in weathering a 30-point outing from Wright State’s Michael Cooper. Marshall improved to 7-4, while Wright State fell to 5-6. The first half belonged to the visiting Raiders, who used sharp three-point shooting to build a lead. Cooper, a 6-foot-3 guard from Jeffersonville, Indiana, scored 15 of his points before halftime, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc. Wright State shot 41% from three-point range in the half and took a 39-32 lead into the break, largely by limiting Marshall’s opportunities and capitalizing on turnovers. The game transformed after halftime as Marshall’s size and athleticism took over. The Herd opened the second period on a 14-4 run, fueled by forward Wyatt Fricks and guard Noah Otshudi. Fricks finished with 19 points and three blocks, while Otshudi, from Hamilton, Ontario, added 18 points and four assists. The defining characteristic of the comeback was Marshall’s rim protection, led by 7-foot-4 center Matt Van Komen. The junior from Lehi, Utah, recorded seven blocks and altered countless other shots, anchoring a defense that held Wright State to just 35 second-half points on 29% shooting from the floor. The Raiders, who attempted 29 more field goals than Marshall in the game, were consistently frustrated in the paint. Despite the defensive onslaught, Wright State refused to fade. Trailing 73-70 with under a minute to play, Cooper found Solomon Callaghan for a clutch three-pointer to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining. The ensuing chaos decided the contest. On the inbound play, Marshall’s Jalen Speer, who tallied 14 points and seven assists, drove aggressively and drew a foul on Cooper with 1.9 seconds left. Speer calmly sank both free throws to put the Herd ahead 75-74. Wright State’s final attempt to inbound and score was disrupted when Michael Imariagbe fouled Fricks with 0.4 seconds on the clock. Fricks made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, leaving no time for a Raiders response. While Cooper’s scoring led Wright State, Marshall’s balance and defensive efficiency were the difference. The Herd shot a superior 49% from the field compared to Wright State’s 40% and made 13 of 16 free throws. The Raiders, despite forcing 10 turnovers and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, could not overcome their own cold shooting and Marshall’s shot-blocking prowess. Kellen Pickett added 10 points off the bench for Wright State. For Marshall, Van Komen’s seven blocks were a season-high and underscored a team effort that saw them outscore Wright State 44-35 in the second half. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 10 seconds. After Wright State’s Callaghan hit a dramatic, game-tying three-pointer to knot the score at 74, Marshall immediately attacked. Jalen Speer took the inbound pass, drove the length of the court against pressure, and drew a critical foul on Wright State’s leading scorer, Michael Cooper, with just 1.9 seconds remaining. Speer, demonstrating composure, sank both free throws to reclaim the lead. Wright State’s subsequent foul on the final inbound attempt only added a single point but effectively sealed the outcome, capping a resilient Marshall comeback that was nearly undone by the Raiders’ last-gasp shot.

Preview: Wright State Raiders at Marshall Thundering Herd HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — The Marshall Thundering Herd looks to build on a decisive conference win and protect its home court when it hosts the Wright State Raiders in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Cam Henderson Center. Marshall (6-4) enters following a 77-61 victory over Western Kentucky on Wednesday, a performance that snapped a two-game skid. The Thundering Herd has shown resilience at home, boasting a 5-1 record in Huntington this season. Wright State (5-5) arrives after a dominant 86-58 win over Green Bay last Sunday, which evened its record. The Raiders have experienced road struggles, however, with a 2-4 mark away from home, including narrow losses at Youngstown State and Kent State. A key matchup will feature two dynamic guards. Marshall’s Jalen Speer is coming off a 24-point, five-assist effort against Western Kentucky and has been a consistent catalyst for the Herd’s offense. For Wright State, Michael Cooper provides a scoring spark, averaging 15.2 points per game. He erupted for 23 points in just 24 minutes in the win over Green Bay. The game presents a contrast in momentum. Marshall aims to carry its strong Sun Belt Conference opening performance into the nonconference finale. Wright State seeks to establish road consistency and secure a winning record before returning to Horizon League play next week. Marshall’s interior defense, anchored by 7-foot-4 center Matt Van Komen who had five blocks last game, will be tested by a Wright State offense that has topped 85 points four times this season. This marks the final nonconference tune-up for both teams. Marshall will travel to Troy next Saturday, while Wright State hosts Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Saturday at the 5,800-seat Cam Henderson Center.