HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — Marshall overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Southern Mississippi 81-77 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd, trailing 38-34 at the break, outscored the Golden Eagles 47-39 in the second half behind efficient shooting. Marshall finished the game shooting 53.7% from the floor. Wyatt Fricks led Marshall with 25 points. Djahi Binet scored a game-high 31 points for Southern Mississippi in the loss. Marshall improved to 15-8 overall, while Southern Mississippi fell to 12-13. An announced crowd of 4,034 attended.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — Wyatt Fricks scored 25 points and Marshall overcame a halftime deficit with a dominant second-half offensive display to defeat Southern Mississippi 81-77 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd, trailing by four at the break, erupted for 47 points in the second half, shooting a blistering 62% from the field to secure the comeback victory in front of 4,034 fans. The win improved Marshall to 15-8 overall, while Southern Mississippi fell to 12-13. The game’s pivotal shift occurred early in the second half. After Southern Mississippi’s Djahi Binet opened the scoring with a layup to extend the Golden Eagles’ lead to six, Marshall seized control with a decisive 14-2 run. The surge was fueled by transition offense and precise execution, turning a 38-34 deficit into a 48-40 lead with 15:31 remaining. Noah Otshudi and Jalen Speer orchestrated the offense during the spurt, combining for three assists, while Fricks capped it with a three-pointer. Southern Mississippi, led by a game-high 31 points from Binet, refused to fade. The junior from Nice, France, consistently attacked the rim and drew fouls, keeping the Golden Eagles within striking distance. A three-pointer from Curt Lewis cut the Marshall lead to 64-61 with just over five minutes to play. Marshall responded with critical plays to maintain its advantage. Fricks answered with a three-pointer on the next possession, and after a pair of Binet free throws, Speer connected on a mid-range jumper to push the lead back to six. The Thundering Herd’s backcourt of Speer and Otshudi proved instrumental in managing the game down the stretch. Speer finished with 15 points and eight assists, while Otshudi, from Hamilton, Ontario, added 17 points and six assists. The Golden Eagles had a final opportunity in the closing seconds. Trailing 79-77 after two Otshudi free throws with 31 seconds left, Southern Mississippi worked for a potential game-tying shot. Dylan Brumfield’s driving attempt was blocked by Fricks, and the ensuing scramble resulted in a held ball, with the possession arrow favoring Marshall. Otshudi was fouled and sank two more free throws with three seconds left to seal the outcome. Statistical disparities told the story of Marshall’s second-half surge. The Thundering Herd outscored Southern Mississippi 20-13 in fastbreak points and shot 53.7% from the field for the game compared to the Golden Eagles’ 41.1%. Marshall also committed only four turnovers in the second half after giving the ball away seven times in the first. Southern Mississippi’s effort was hampered by 13 total turnovers and a 70% clip from the free-throw line, missing nine attempts. Brumfield, a hometown player from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, contributed 11 points and four assists for the Golden Eagles. Erich Harding provided a strong interior presence for Marshall with 11 points. The game defied the pregame betting line, as Marshall was favored by 8.5 points but won by four, and the combined score of 158 surpassed the over/under of 147.5. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Marshall entered with an 86.7% probability to win. Marshall next hosts Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. Southern Mississippi returns home to face Kent State, also on Saturday.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — The Marshall Thundering Herd will look to protect its home court and solidify its position in the Sun Belt Conference standings when it hosts the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles on Wednesday night. Marshall (14-8) enters the contest at the Cam Henderson Center with momentum, having won four of its last five games, including a 70-61 road victory at Arkansas State on Saturday. The Thundering Herd’s offense has been potent, highlighted by a 115-point explosion against Louisiana-Monroe on Jan. 22. Southern Miss (12-12) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 73-65 home win over James Madison on Saturday. The Golden Eagles have struggled on the road this season, dropping their last five contests away from Hattiesburg. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top performers. Southern Miss is led by guard Tylik Weeks, who is averaging 22.4 points over his last eight games. He scored 28 points with six rebounds in the win over James Madison. For Marshall, forward Wilson Dubinsky is coming off a dominant 23-point, 8-rebound performance against Arkansas State. His playing time and production have varied, but he has shown high-scoring capability. The Thundering Herd holds a clear advantage in the standings and boasts a formidable home record. Southern Miss will rely heavily on Weeks to counter Marshall’s balanced attack, which saw four players score in double figures in the recent win. The Golden Eagles must improve their road defense, having allowed an average of 81.2 points during their five-game away skid. Wednesday’s game is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this regular season. Marshall will aim to sweep a brief two-game homestand before hitting the road for three of its next four. Southern Miss continues a challenging stretch before returning home next weekend. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.