We Are Marshall

Winthrop a huge win for Marshall
Jan 05, 2008 @ 11:29 PM
By GRANT TRAYLOR
The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- For the first eight minutes, Marshall simply could not miss.

For the next 32, it seemed as though they could not hit.

Thank goodness for Mark Dorris and Markel Humphrey, there was an extra five minutes to make up for lost time.

"We can't do that too often," Dorris said. "We have to go out there and attack from the beginning."

Marshall jumped to a 17-0 lead, Winthrop came all the way back and the Thundering Herd prevailed, 67-62, in a men's basketball overtime thriller Saturday afternoon.

With just more than six minutes left, Humphrey and Dorris had combined for only five points and the Herd trailed 42-38.

With one field goal between them, Dorris said the duo didn't get down on themselves. Instead, they refocused and helped lead the team back.

"We are the experienced veterans on the team," Dorris said. "Markel is attracting a lot of double teams, so we have to pick up and help him out. When open shots come, we have to make them."

After struggling for the first 34 minutes of the game, Dorris hit a three-pointer from the right corner and gave a slight fist pump running back down court after overcoming his slump.

"I try not to get to down on myself," Dorris said. "I know in basketball, you are going to make shots and miss shots. But it did feel good to finally make one. I got excited and it got us going as a unit."

Dorris and Humphrey combined for the final 13 points of regulation, including Dorris' three-pointer to force overtime.

The rejuvenated Herd offense took over in the overtime session, hitting 4-of-6 field goal attempts and eight of 10 free throw attempts to earn the victory.

The importance of the win was not lost on the team as Matt Walls sprinted off the court and others celebrated in the middle of the floor following the game.

"The West Virginia win when Tre Whitted hit that falling three, that's No. 1 on my list," Dorris said. "This is up there at No. 2 or No. 3...Winthrop is a heck of a team. They hit some big three-pointers down the stretch.

"To be able to come back from being up to tied and coming back and winning, that shows our character as a unit."

Dorris finished with 15 points and Humphrey ended with 12 to complement freshman Tirrell Baines who had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the team.

However, Dorris said that at this point, everyone should drop the freshman title from in front of Baines' name and Matt Walls also.

"It's like they aren't even freshmen anymore," Dorris said. "Their confidence coming down the stretch, they play as upperclassmen. Their confidence sure doesn't lack out there."

The win was especially sweet for Baines, a Laurens, S.C., native. He responded by scoring nine of Marshall's first 12 points as the Herd built a 17-0 lead nine minutes into the game.

"It was a big win because I'm from South Carolina, about an hour away from Rock Hill," Baines said. "It was a big win for our program, too."

The win places Marshall at 8-4 heading into conference play Wednesday at Rice.