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SEASON 7

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Game 7-058: Rice at Marshall
February 17, 2011 9:10 am ET by Kyle Whelliston

Rice Owls at Marshall Thundering Herd

February 16, 2011 7:00 pm
Henderson Center
BBState Stats/Recap



The Thundering Herd, the Owls, the ghost of Cam Henderson, Title R segregation issues, hard-dunxing Iranians, and Bally and Cusie kiss and make up.

@midmajority Game Tweets

19:01 Game No. 7-058: Rice at Marshall. They are Marshall! http://img.ly/31K3
19:04 Lightsticks. http://img.ly/31K6
19:06 Conference USA! Rice is 11-13 (3-7), lost 3 of 4, Marshall is 16-9 (4-6), lost 3 of 4. Love among the, well... you know.
19:07 Before the games, the ghost of Cam Henderson talks to the crowd via video. He was Marshall's greatest coach, and the arena bears his name.
19:07 Honored to attend! RT @chuckmcgill: @midmajority at the Henderson Center tonight for Rice at Marshall. Welcome.
19:09 Marshall out to a quick 4-3 lead after 3 min. Both programs in early stages of rebuilding, under Ben Braun (RICE) and Tom Herrion (MRSH).
19:12 MRSH did beat that in-state Big East team, though - 75-71 in Charleston. It's our most recent RLU, all the way back on January 19.
19:14 Side seating sections at Cam Henderson are steep (and green) and go very high up. Short ends. Kind of RAC-like, if you've been to Rutgers.
19:15 Down on the court, it's 12-7 Marshall at 14:58 1H. Herd is a big team, lots of size, love to back opponents down in the paint.
19:17 They don't really know us here yet. But we're here to be knowledge sponges, to learn! http://img.ly/31Ko
19:18 This is Bally's first C-USA game, but I went to the 04 tourney in Cincy. Saw a Huggins-Pitino match. Watched hoops differently back then.
19:19 Everything is green at Marshall... including the popcorn! http://img.ly/31Kr
19:21 I guess Braun's Rice rebuilding status is relative. This is his 3rd season, but nothing's really happened yet. He was at Cal for 11 years.
19:23 And any conversation about Ben Braun is incomplete without the EMU days (although many are). Three-time MAC coach of the year!
19:25 Rice has pulled back to within a bucket at 12-10, end of the first quarter. Slow and ponderous pace, a thinking man's game.
19:27 And our first #omgCUSAdunx! 6-10 Marshall soph Nigel Spikes jackknifed for a slama-CRAMA!
19:28 Because I hate fun. RT @devyanks90: @midmajority Why didn't you say anything about the glowsticks last night?
19:30 Speaking of the Mid-American, I'm sitting underneath a 1956 conference championship banner. Huntington used to be the MAC mountain trip.
19:31 Damier Pitts a 3 for Marshall. THey have #superhoop meter here, but they call it a "Three-Point Meter." MRSH 17 RICE 16, 6:10 1H.
19:33 Actually, he just blew a layup! RT @jtanHC: @midmajority Hows Kazemi been? Trying to dunk and board every single thing?
19:34 Feeling pressure to perform tonight. http://img.ly/31KI
19:36 Rice has three C-USA wins, two on the road (UCF, TUL) and just one at Tudor Fieldhouse (HOU). Hanging in tonight. 3:24 1H, MRSH up 24-22.
19:40 And there's a follow flush for 6-7 Iranian marvel Arsalan Kazemi! Want to keep the religious part out of this one but that was a huge #DUNX!
19:43 Kazemi made all 11 of his FT's on Sat @ UAB; RIce almost won that one too. Mentioned it earlier on TMM, but CUSA road teams are doing well.
19:44 We're winding down the first half. Rice holds for the last shot and gets an empty. Five seconds left before the break, and it's 30-24 MRSH.
19:46 And that is the half. Marshall 30, Rice 24. I've got to say, you can definitely see the extra money in a place like this.
20:03 We are back for a second half of C-USA action. Great halftime visit from @chuckmcgill of the Charleston Daily Mail!
20:04 Yes! 89'10". RT @mwmiller20: @midmajority Do they still have the footprints painted on the spot some dude hit a 90-footer from?
20:04 #GOTNsmac RT @andyevans16: @midmajority looks like valpo fans outnumber UWM fans here #smac
20:05 Rice has erased the stagger and is now down just one, 33-32. We're three minutes into the second half.
20:06 Today is not only a celebration of C-USA, Cusie, Marshall and Rice, it's also an opportunity to salute West Virginia.
20:07 On the drive in from the east, you pass through the hometowns of Bimbo Coles and Jerry West. Does it get any better than that?
20:08 Also want to send a shout-out to Summers County HS. Last night, their girl's team set a WV state record for either gender: 89 straight wins.
20:09 I was notified that the Lady Bobcats have there redheads on the team. Coincidence? No. They do everything well, and play instead of cheer.
20:10 I do fear that redheads being that good at basketball will produce a backlash, and perhaps a "no redheads" rule due to unfair awesomeness.
20:11 Just want to say any attempt to legislate will be met with opposition. We have our Title R attorney @brendanloy on retainer. Don't even try.
20:12 Marshall leads Rice 37-36.
20:12 RT @Mr_Awesome__: @midmajority @mwmiller20 Here are the footprints. GO HERD! http://twitpic.com/40kq2d
20:13 At our level, it's funny and ironic. RT @AT223: @midmajority How do you feel about the "pump-up" video shown b4 games? Too bling/NBA 4 me.
20:14 RT @nickwynne: @midmajority Not that I'm in favor of segregation, but if that caused a "Redheads Only" B-ball League...that would be pretty awesome, no?
20:14 Hadn't thought of that. Segregation is bad, though. There are After-School Specials about it. @nickwynne
20:14 RT @polarscribe: The Ginger Kid Codicil to Title R? RT @midmajority I fear redheads being good at hoops will produce "no redheads" rule - unfair awesomeness.
20:16 The slow pace and careful ball movement of both Marshall and Rice is soothing and relaxing. Like baseball. Pitchers and catchers whatever.
20:17 Patient Rice now leads 45-43 at 11:14 2H, with a flying Tamir Jackson layup. Herrion caught a ball earlier and slammed it to the ground.
20:18 RT @brendanloy: RT @midmajority: We have our Title R attorney @brendanloy on retainer. | Any challenge will meet furious, #ballz-to-the-wall litigation.
20:22 Rice joined up with CUSA after TMM Season 1 (05), had three good WAC years before that, but hasn't been to the NCAAT since 1970.
20:23 Marshall was in the MAC, of course, but also has a SoCon past. Every school this size down this way, seemingly, used to be a part of C-1921.
20:24 Arslan Kazemi with one of the most astounding blown dunx I've seen. Flew out to halfcourt.
20:25 And then, Dago Pena slammed it home on the other end. That was such a gigantic #dunx that it elicited a two-minute standing O.
20:26 The Pena #dunx gave Marshall the lead back, 47-45 at 7:36 2H. Dominican Republic in the house!
20:26 "I LIKE that Tom Herrion." - ghost RT @chuckmcgill: @midmajority Like the ghost of Cam Henderson said, Herrion has fire in his belly.
20:27 My First We Are Marshall chant. Wow, that'll make your spine glow. Chills.
20:29 A suddden Marshall five-point lead was sliced to one by two breakaways. But Pena has some #superhoop power too! It's 53-49 Herd at 5:41 2H.
20:30 I saw that! I hope that doesn't mean "indigestion." RT @jscottfitzwater: @midmajority Be sure to get some Thunder Sauce before you leave!
20:31 Another #DUNX by Rice's Iranian sensation Kazemi. That man can #DUNX! He's got 14. 55-51 MRSH at 4:22 2H.
20:35 Marshall has never won an NCAAT game. Rice hasn't since 1954. Both more interested in the poop-orb.
20:37 MRSH a real Red Line school: $20m athletic budget/$1.7m basketball. Rice spends $30m, 5% on hoops. $1.4m: a Horizon League-size investment.
20:38 Pena another #superhoop from the corner, with an elaborate #smac hand gesture afterwards. Crowd up! 2:35 left in regulation, MRSH up 58-53.
20:39 Oh, Rice is kinda good at baseball too.
20:40 Marshall appears to have done enough to win this game. Two consecutive empties by Rice, and the Herd are up 7 with 1:19. No attempt to foul.
20:41 And a Tirrell Baines layup will just about seal it. 1:07 2H, Herd by 9 and #peopleareleaving.
20:43 Noticed this about the Marshall fans: they will stand & cheer for just about anything good. They want so badly for this team to be a winner.
20:44 Rice packs it in, offering little resistance to an 11-point MRSH lead with 44 ticks left. But fans give the Herd another standing O anyway.
20:45 Love among the #AEMadness RT @midmajority360: Binghamton 77 Hartford 47 | BING 7-19 (4-9) HART 8-18 (5-8) | http://tmm7.me/e6a #AEast
20:48 In a lot of leagues, it's "Warm up the bus." I just heard "Go back to the hotel!" This, ladies and gentlemen, is Conference USA.
20:49 21 seconds left, and it's 70-59 Marshall. Now Rice starts to foul? OK, that's totally weird.
20:51 Then Braun calls time out after a made basket at 13.1, down by 11. Boos from remaining crowd. C'mon, Ben, where's that MAC COY class?
20:52 Apparently, what was said in that time out was "let them run it out." Final from Cusie-land: MRSH 72 RICE 61. How bout that Herd?
20:52 RT @chuckmcgill: Marshall 72, Rice 61. That's 2 in a row for Herd. Chance at 3 this Saturday at Tulane. Hope Bally didn't eat the Thunderdogs. @midmajority
20:54 Wow, that was a lot of big C-USA fun. Thanks to everyone at Marshall who made us feel comfy. We are Capital-bound. IUPUI tomorrow.
20:55 Special credit to the two ladies sitting near me who spent the game knitting. Looks like that Marshall green scarf is coming along great!
20:58 RT @midmajority360: Rice 61 Marshall 72 | RICE: T. Jackson 21 - MRSH: J. Thomas 13 | http://tmm7.me/e6g #CUSA
20:58 Cusie and @ballybasketball: it's #luv. http://img.ly/31M5
21:01 The Cam. http://img.ly/31Mb
21:07 Tom Herrion: "Our conference is so underrated and disrespected on a national level, it's ridiculous."
21:10 And with that, our C-USA adventure/field trip draws to a close. Miles to go, GNHN.

Boxscore

at MARSHALL 72, RICE 61
02/16/2011

RICE 11-14 (3-8) -- T. Jackson 7-14 6-7 21; C. Frizzelle 2-10 0-0 4; A. Kazemi 6-12 4-6 16; C. Pflieger 1-4 0-0 3; T. Stanton 1-2 0-0 2; B. Beasley 1-1 0-0 3; D. Chadwick 2-5 0-0 4; L. Kuipers 0-2 2-2 2; T. Abraham 0-0 0-0 0; S. Braimoh 3-3 0-0 6; J. Reynolds 0-0 0-0 0; O. Oraby 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 12-15 61.
MARSHALL 17-9 (5-6) -- D. Kane 3-10 5-5 11; D. Pitts 4-11 2-2 11; J. Thomas 4-6 4-4 13; N. Spikes 3-3 2-2 8; T. Baines 4-10 1-1 9; D. Pena 4-5 0-0 11; S. Johnson 0-4 8-8 8; A. Williams 0-0 1-2 1; O. Allen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-49 23-24 72.

Three-point goals: RICE 3-18 (C. Pflieger 1-3; B. Beasley 1-1; C. Frizzelle 0-5; L. Kuipers 0-1; T. Jackson 1-6; D. Chadwick 0-2), MRSH 5-18 (J. Thomas 1-2; S. Johnson 0-2; D. Pena 3-4; D. Pitts 1-6; D. Kane 0-4); Rebounds: RICE 21 (A. Kazemi 9), MRSH 34 (N. Spikes 11); Assists: RICE 11 (T. Jackson 3), MRSH 13 (D. Pitts 5); Total Fouls -- RICE 18, MRSH 15; Fouled Out: RICE-None; MRSH-None.