Herd Insider Magazine vol 19#11 February 2017

February 2017 www.HerdInsider.com

UP FRONT

02.17

VOLUME 19 NO. 11

Well, the Herd was coming off a great win over UAB as Herd Insider went to press, as Marshall got the “monkey” off, ... er, as Sonny Randle once said, “That was no monkey, that was King Kong!” of a losing streak when the Herd finally beat a Southern Conference team in 1982 at Appalachian State. Marshall had gone 0-26-1 since joining the league in 1977, with a tie in 1981 at Western Carolina on Barry Childers 59-yard field goal. Marshall beat Appy St. 17-14 thanks to Larry Forquean’s 245 yards rushing against the Mountaineers.

compiled by Woody Woodrum, HI senior editor

30 or better in almost every category of stat at MU except field goal and 3-point percentages with nearly 1,700 points. Browning, from Logan, played two years at Division II Fairmont State, two years for Danny D’Antoni and has over 1,500 points in his four years of basketball. Finally, the former walk-on Loop from South Webster, Ohio, sat out his first year, and only scored 41 points for Coach Tom Herrion in his final year and now has over 1,000 points. Under D’Antoni, Loop has become the alltime three king at MU, for made (at 268 at press time), shots (250) and among the best in shooting percentage.

This streak was not as long, but harder to figure out. Marshall What will the future hold? Well, it looks like to UF the 8-5 Herd men’s basketball is now 7-18 against UAB since the first game must win at least 3-of-5 left, which would have the Herd at 11-7 at back in 2003, but had not beaten the Blazers in eight straight the end — and if they find a way to take 4-of-5 of those left, 12-6 is games back to 2012. Worse yet, the Herd had not beaten the Blazers very strong for a third or fourth place finish. Top four means a bye in the in Huntington since 2008 until Thursday night, February 16, when Marshall whooped the University of Alabama at Birmingham (what did tournament of 12 teams, and could lead to a possible win of the league. you think UAB stood for?), 74-59, behind 25 points by second-year point ODU is also 8-5, and play Charlotte, the Herd and WKU in Norguard Jon Elmore. The Herd also got a first-ever double- double from folk, Va. then finish with the long trip to UTSA and UTEP, so 3-2 sophomore Adjin Penava, in his best game to date, and 17-7 from super down the road is another 11-7 (important to win at ODU for MU senior Ryan Taylor - the only player in Marshall history with over 1,600 if you don’t beat Middle). Rice is another 8-5, with UTEP, Southern Miss, points, 900 rebounds, 100 steals, 100 blocks and 250 assists.

LA Tech and at MU and WKU, and the Owls have won five in a row but could still swing 3-2/11-7. Finally UTEP is also 8-5, with at Rice, at FAU, at Now, where could the Herd end up in C-USA? As we gaze into the crystal ball, Marshall had five games left as HI went to print: FIU, ODU and Charlotte, but I think a 2-3 is up for Miners and 10-6 finish after peaking early.

Middle Tennessee at home, at Old Dominion, at Charlotte, Rice and North Texas for Senior Night for Taylor, guard Stevie Browning and That would leave Middle first after beating WKU, with games at guard Austin Loop.

MU and UAB at home, and at FIU and at FAU to give them very little trouble to finish the year. We will see for sure in March.

What a threesome: Taylor the prop who sat a year, now is Top

HERD INSIDER / February 2017 / 4

WHAT WE’VE GOT

02.17

VOLUME 19 No. 11

This page: Marshall football great Carl Lee was honored during a men’s basketball game in late January, with a scholarship being endowed in his name with the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. photo by Greg Perry/HI staff

COLUMNIST

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On the cover: A postcard from the early 20th century depicts Fairfield Stadium as it looked at the time. courtesy of James E. Casto collection

A-Dub Evolves

A.W. Hamilton is making a name for himself at Hargrave Academy. The former Marshall standout is now a coach, and his record is speaking for itself.

FEATURE

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FAIRFIELD

The original home of Marshall football is now a memory. Jim Casto takes a look at the history of the beloved stadium in Huntington.

M BASKETBALL

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IN THE LOOP

Austin Loop has Marshall men’s basketball still in the mix of things as the C-USA tournament looms on the horizon in early March.

W BASKETBALL

19

STRETCH RUN

Marshall women’s basketball was dead-even at 12-12 heading into the final stretch before the C-USA tournament begins in early March.

555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-8401

General Manager Mike Kirtner Contributor Bill Cornwell

Publisher Greg Perry First Subscriber Geoff Sheils

Associate GM Reeves Kirtner Printing Printograph

Senior Editor Web Operations Woody Woodrum Alex Hackney All contents ©2017 Kindred Communications, Inc

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/ February 2017

MIKE KIRTNER General Manager

COLUMNIST

A-Dub Is Coming Into His Own At Hargrave

mikek@kindredcom.net

2016 National Coach of the Year.

2016 National Prep Champions.

2016 Single-season record at Hargrave for wins with 47.

coaching skills from both Ron Jirsa and Greg White.

“Each coach I played for had qualities that I have tried to imitate,” Hamilton said. “Oldham was a terrific coach. He had the ability to calm players down in tough situations. Prosser was a detail and During six seasons as head coach of the Tigers, his team averages offensive-minded guy. At Wake, we led the ACC with offense while he 107.4 points per game and 39 wins per season. was there.

A Marshall basketball “At Marshall, Greg alumnus is truly living the White loved his players. good life.

You always knew where Archibald William you stood with him. Ron Hamilton, VI — his Jirsa didn’t get the credit destiny was to coach, and that he deserved. He was his name was to become the best Xs-and-Os coach familiar to Marshall and I’ve ever known.” basketball fans throughout However, it is Kevthe country— is known in Keatts that Hamilton better as A-Dub. modeled his head coaching Herd Insider origistyle from. Keatts hired nally interviewed HamHamilton at Marshall as ilton when he played for a grad assistant. Keatts Marshall University, as a was wildly successful at junior guard during the Hargrave, and recom2003-04 season. He made mended Hamilton for the it known then that his head coaching job when future was tied to coachKeatts left Hargrave to be ing. “I believe I can get the current head coach at players to respond to me,” UNC-Wilmington.

Hamilton said at the time.

Hamilton previously “Everybody has to respect worked with Keatts as an Former Marshall standout A.W. Hamilton leads the Hargrave Academy team, these days. a coach. Not all of them can Hargrave set a single-season record for wins with 47 in 2016. photo courtesy of Hargrave Academy assistant from 2006-11. get that.”

“Coach Keatts is doing very When recently reminded of that comment from thirteen years well at Wilmington. The fact that his teams get better as the season ago, Hamilton laughed and said, “I was a lot smarter as a college junior goes along makes him special,” Hamilton said. than I am now.”

Today, A.W. Hamilton’s career is on fire at Hargrave where he is During his collegiate career Hamilton played under four different not only head coach of postgraduate basketball but also, in 2015, he division one coaches. As a student of the game, he learned from Dave was named the program director of Hargrave basketball for the four Oldham and Skip Prosser of Wake Forest; at Marshall he would learn continued on page 5

COLUMNIST

February 2017 / HERD INSIDER /

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continued from page 4 teams the school has. Hargrave oversees postgraduate, high school or “Can you imagine Marshall’s team this season if Ryan Taylor (another varsity, junior varsity and middle school programs. former Hamilton/Hargrave player) had opted out to play closer to His players are realizing success beyond their years under his home for Indiana? These things are happening every year.” tutelage. 10 of the 15 postgraduate players on his current roster have Hamilton’s playing days with the Herd still remain special memsigned with Division-I schools, including two players heading to ories to him. He has retained the shaved head look from years gone Marshall in the fall — 6-10 center Iran Bennett and 6-8 power forward by as well as a house full of Marshall paraphernalia.

Tanner Robinette.

“I still talk to coach White almost every week,” Hamilton said.

Last season, Hamilton had 16-of-16 “I’ll occasionally talk to some other teamplayers receive scholarships at either D-I or mates … just not as often as I would l like.”

D-II schools to play basketball. Think about One of his best friends during his that. college years was Marshall’s sharp-shooting How has Hamilton achieved such sucguard, Ronnie Dawn. “I still talk to Ronnie cess as a head coach in just his first decade occasionally,” Hamilton said. “He’s in Cinof being in charge at Hargrave? “I never lie cinnati and doing real well.” to the players,” Hamilton firmly stated. “I It was with Dawn that Hamilton crehave great intentions for them. I care for ated his most cherished Marshall memory, them, I love ‘em and I understand that they the upset of WVU’s Mountaineers during are coming to Hargrave to get to the next their senior season (see photo, left). He and level.”

Dawn would each hit five-of-six three-point Due to the national exposure at many attempts against the Mountaineers in of the top prep school tournaments, Hamleading Marshall to a 59-54 win over their ilton has Hargrave players being recruited in-state rivals. by major college programs. In addition to “We didn’t have a lot of wins that the two recruits coming to Marshall to help season,” Hamilton said of the 6-22 year, another former Herd point guard in coach “but we did get the one that the Herd fans Danny D’Antoni, Hamilton’s team has playwill always remember. I’m glad that I’m a ers headed to Ohio State, WVU, Georgetown part of that for some of the best fans in the and Xavier next season. country.”

What has changed about college Hamilton has created a coaching basketball since he was a player? Hamilton, A.W. Hamilton graced the cover of Herd Insider in January legacy that is just beginning. At 35 years 2005 following the win over WVU. somewhat on the outside looking in, isn’t of age, his career opportunities are endless. cover photo by Greg Perry/HI staff sure basketball has changed.

Plus, he has a place that keeps his feet on the “The game hasn’t changed that much. But, the people have,” ground … that is his family. Hamilton is married to Chelsea and they Hamilton added. “The players have so many distractions. When I have two daughters who are growing up in the Hargrave gym, Andi played there was no Facebook or Twitter. The players read and make and Charleigh. comments. It can be tough at times to control this environment.”

His team is 27-1 this year as of this writing in February. Hamilton As his players head to colleges and universities of all sizes, Top is continuing to succeed and Jason Conway, a childhood friend and 25 to mid-major to lower divisions, Hamilton feels the challenges fellow ‘gym rat’ of Hamilton’s, will tell you why Hamilton has been so each type of program is faced with in the game he loves. From top to successful as a coach: “I knew he would be a great basketball coach,” bottom, there are issues for each level.

Conway said. “He didn’t have a Plan B.” “The big schools are dealing with the one-and-done guys (graduate transfers, like the Herd’s James Kelly last year) and the mid-majors Everything is going as planned for this son of Marshall, known are faced with the fifth-year transfer issue,” Hamilton continued. affectionately as A-Dub.

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/ February 2017

FAIRFIELD STADIUM

Remembering

FROM 1928 UNTIL 1990, A FORMER GARBAGE DUMP WAS HOLY GROUND FOR THUNDERING HERD FOOTBALL FANS

story by James E. Casto photos courtesy the Herald-Dispatch and James E. Casto collection

FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, a former garbage dump on Huntington’s South Side was sacred ground for Thundering Herd football fans. From 1928 to 1990, Fairfield Stadium was the home of the Herd. The old red brick stadium was also the site of countless high school football games and a wide variety of other events.

George S. Wallace, the park board’s long-time president, jokingly proposed “Cockroach Commons,” a reference to the property’s former use as a garbage dump. On a more serious note, former property owner Prindle suggested that the stadium be named Fairfield, after his home county of Fairfield in Ohio, and his idea prevailed.

The history of Fairfield Stadium can be traced back to the West Virginia Legislature’s 1925 creation of the Huntington Board of Park Commissioners. One provision of the park board’s charter empowered it to join with what was then Marshall College and/or the Cabell County Board of Education.

WHAT WAS FINALLY CALLED FAIRFIELD MUNICIPAL STADIUM saw its first football game on September 29, 1928, when Huntington High defeated Portsmouth (Ohio) High, 18-0. The first touchdown scored in the new stadium was by Bobby McComas, Ramey Hunter had the honor of the initial kickoff and Red Jackson made the first tackle – all for Huntington High. The crowd was estimated at 6,500.

Perhaps not surprisingly, there was immediate disagreement about a suitable site. Marshall wanted to locate the stadium either on campus or adjacent to it. The Huntington Chamber of Commerce argued that League Park in West Huntington would be a better choice. But from the first the park board had its eye on a piece of South Side property about a half-dozen blocks from the Marshall campus -- a tract of land bordered by Charleston and Columbia avenues, between 14th and 15th streets.

Originally a gravel pit owned and operated by Huntington businessman W.M. Prindle, the property had been briefly leased by the city and used as a garbage dump. Eventually, the park board’s choice prevailed and it paid Prindle $25,000 to purchase the property.

More disagreements followed about how best to go about constructing and operating the stadium, but finally the park board, Marshall and the school board ironed out a three-way agreement and construction of the stadium began. The Huntington architectural firm of Meanor and Handloser was hired for the project.

When discussion turned to selecting a name for the stadium,

Marshall didn’t play its first game at Fairfield until the following October 6, when it teamed up with Huntington High for a doubleheader and the stadium’s official dedication ceremonies. In the day’s first game, HHS defeated Logan High, 21-0, and then Marshall made it a double whitewash by routing Fairmont State College, 27-0.

According to notes in the Dedication Day Program, the completed stadium had 11,000 seats, a mechanical score board donated by the Huntington Publishing Co. and “an extraordinary public address system.” The program said the stadium’s cost was “approximately $200,000.”

Over the years, Fairfield would be home field for football teams from Huntington High, Huntington East High and Douglass High, the county’s pre-integration black school. In addition to football, Fairfield played host to a variety of events over the course of its history.

For many years, bands from throughout the state descended on Huntington every May for the West Virginia High School Band Festival.

Organized for the first time in 1935, the festival not only included a big

parade through town, but also precision marching and maneuvers at Fairfield. During its heyday in the early 1950s, the festival attracted dozens of bands and thousands of young musicians, their bright uniforms turning the stadium into a kaleidoscope of color. By 1967, the festival had grown too large for one city to handle and was divided into regional competitions. The stadium maneuvers were discontinued.

/ February 2017

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From the outset, Fairfield’s three-way ownership never worked well.

With nobody solely in charge, maintenance was neglected and the onceproud stadium was allowed to deteriorate. In 1962, the situation became so dire the city building inspector slapped a CONDEMNED sign on the stadium, declaring it unsafe for public use. Modest repairs were made to keep the stadium open, but it was clear that more had to be done.

The city building inspector placed this placard on the stadium in 1962.

Marshall voiced a willingness to dramatically upgrade Fairfield but only if it became the stadium’s sole owner. In 1970, the park board and the school board gladly gave up their shared ownership. Marshall then installed an Astroturf playing surface, built new dressing rooms and made room for 6,800 more seats by lowering the field.

But even with those improvements it was clear that Fairfield was living on borrowed time. In 1984, an inspection showed that the stadium’s east-side stands were in danger of collapsing, so the upper level of the stands was demolished and replaced with new bleacher-type seating.

The cover for the dedication of Fairfield Stadium in 1928.

In 1959, Cabell County celebrated its 150th anniversary with a mammoth outdoor pageant at Fairfield called “Cabellrama,” which featured 1,500 actors, actresses, singers and dancers. In 1964, when famed evangelist Billy Graham came to Huntington, Fairfield was the only place in town large enough to accommodate the huge crowd.

EVEN WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, IT WAS CLEAR THAT FAIRFIELD WAS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME. FINALLY, WITH CONSTRUCTION WELL UNDERWAY on what would become Marshall’s $30 million Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Marshall played its last football game at Fairfield on November 10, 1990, losing to Eastern Kentucky University, 15-12.

In departing Fairfield, the Herd left behind one of the poorest excuses for a stadium found anywhere in college football, but the school continued on page 8

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February 2017

Inspections indicated that Fairfield’s east stands were in danger of collapsing, prompting the renovations.

Marshall expanded the stadium’s capacity as part of renovations. The north end zone received new bleachers.

also left behind some splendid memories.

MARSHALL TOOK THE FIELD A THREE-TOUCHDOWN UNDERDOG. But with one second in the game, quarterback Reggie Oliver hit tailback Jerry Gardner on a bootleg pass and Gardner scampered 13 yards for the winning touchdown as the Young Herd defeated Xavier,15-3.

As a proud Herd coach Jack Lengyel proclaimed after the game, “No one thought we had a chance to win except the team.” An hour and a half after game’s end, the Fairfield stands were still full as the crowd continued celebrating.

Surely none of the memories of old Fairfield burns brighter than Marshall’s September 25, 1971, stunning victory over Xavier.

The final game in Fairfield was this November 10, 1990 loss to Eastern Kentucky, 15-12.

Herd Insider publisher Greg Perry took this aerial photo for the Herald-Dispatch.

In the wake of the November 14, 1970, jetliner crash that claimed the lives of 75 Marshall players, coaches and fans, many urged that the school abandon football. Instead, Marshall patched together a team that sportswriters and fans christened “The Young Thundering Herd.”

The Xavier game was the second of the 1971 season and Marshall’s home opener.

“NO ONE THOUGHT WE HAD A CHANCE TO WIN EXCEPT THE TEAM.” After Marshall left for its new stadium, Fairfield stood mostly unused. The dressing rooms were remodeled to house Marshall’s Forensic Science Center, and nearby Cabell Huntington Hospital began using the playing field for an overflow parking lot. Then came the decision to use the Fairfield site for construction of the medical school’s $23.5 Erma Ora Byrd Clinical Center, and so the wrecking crews began work on what was left of the venerable old stadium.

Today, Fairfield is gone, but the cherished memories – like 1971’s “miracle” victory over Xavier – remain. Listen closely and you can still hear the cheers.

James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and the author of a number of books on local and regional history.

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/ February 2017

COLLEGE

BASKETBALL

RECORD-SETTER: Austin Loop hit this three-pointer over UTEP’s Dominic Artis to become the all-time leader at Marshall University, with 252 made three-pointers.

photographs by Greg Perry/HI staff

February 2017 / HERD INSIDER /

COLLEGE

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BASKETBALL

Tournament time has Marshall men’s basketball staying…

IN THE LOOP

by Woody Woodrum, HI senior editor

IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW HIM, you might mistake Austin Loop of the Marshall basketball team as a ... well, a geek. The tall, bearded senior from nearly South Webster, Ohio (near Portsmouth) is a 3.69 student who was chosen back in early February as an Academic All-District player by the CoSIDA — the College SIDs of America— or that outstanding GPA, coming in a double major of Biomechanics and Exercise Science.

Loop is working on a project that analyzes the free throw shooting mechanics of his teammates to see what the effect of exhaustion plays in shooting free throws late in games.

His award is the first at Marshall since J.R. VanHoose was similarly honored back in 2002 as an Academic All-American — something that might still be in the cards for Loop this season.

Despite all of that academic work — with his double major giving him a chance to get into physical therapy school when he shoots his last three for the Herd — Loop will be remembered at Marshall as the King of the three-point shot for the Thundering Herd. No one has taken as many as Loop, no one has made as many and very few players have shot anywhere near what Loop has shot in his career at Marshall.

The 1,000-plus point scorer is the third player on this year’s Herd team to top 1,000 points in his career. Fellow senior Ryan Taylor (over 1,600 points) and Stevie Browning (over 1,500 points combined at Marshall, and at Fairmont State his first two years). It is not out of possibilities for junior Jon Elmore to join that group by the end of this season as well with over 900 points with five to play in the regular season.

But Loop’s specialty is the three. He had, through mid-February, 268 made in 650 shots attempted, passing Tamar Slay in both categories recently as the Herd Hall of Fame member had 251 made on 650 shots in his career (19982002). Slay could not be at the game when Loop topped his record, but had made a video that played his congratulations to Loop on passing the long-time records, which had stood for 15 years in the Herd’s record book.

Loop might be the least likely guy to break those records.

Slay was a high school great, who played with VanHoose on Headed into the final stretch of the regular season, Loop’s teammate Jon Elmore helped The Herd advance with a big win over UAB in late February. some very good Herd teams. Loop was a walk-on who didn’t play at all in his first year at Marshall, instead taking the redshirt to give him a chance to decide if he could play at this level. He was a guy who scored 1,000 points for the Jeeps of South Webster, but was not offered by any Division I schools.

It was a lot like his high school career. He played little as a freshman at South Webster, until a coaching change was made before his sophomore season, becoming a starter the rest of his career.

His second year as a Herd redshirt freshman, he scored just 41 points in only 75 minutes in 13 games. Coach Tom Herrion would stick Loop in for a couple of shots, then quickly move him back to the bench. He was 11-of-30 from three, and was possibly thinking about a transfer even after two years until a new coach was hired in one Danny D’Antoni.

“Austin has done a great job of exemplifying what it means to be a student-athlete, both in the classroom and on the court,” D’Antoni said in a Marshall release when he was named an Academic District II winner. “This award is proof of the hard work he continued on page 21

February 2017 / HERD INSIDER /

Access Denied…

Marshall forward Ryan Taylor got a solid hand on this shot by UTEP’s Paul Thomas –denying access to the basket– in a C-USA game in late January. photo by Greg Perry/HI staff

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IT’S A

WRAP

MARSHALL FOOTBALL ENDS A TUMULTUOUS SEASON WITH A LOSS TO WESTERN KENTUCKY

Bob Plymale Senate

Page 10

February 2017 / HERD INSIDER /

Natalee Hall Chesapeake (OH) High School Girls’ Basketball

photo by Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

“Consistency” is the word which best describes Chesapeake High Panthers girls basketball standout Natalee Hall. The 5-5 junior guard/forward is wrapping up a 2016-2017 which will likely place her on the Ohio Valley Conference’s All-Conference team for a second consecutive year. The Panthers wrapped up the regular season with a 14-7 record, 8-5 in the OVC. She had multiple games in which scored 20-or-more points, including a 27-point performance in December against league rival Gallia Academy. Hall is one of those rare ‘multiple-tool” ballplayers, as she averaged just under 16 points per game in the regular season, along with seven rebounds. She also added an average of three assists and two steals per game. She averaged 10 points per game last season as a sophomore. Natalee’s coach, Chris Ball, knows he’s fortunate to be able to mentor the three-year starter.

“Her basketball IQ is off the charts and she’s able to make things happen not only for herself, but for her teammates,” Ball said. “She’s unique due to the fact that she has the ability to score from the perimeter or the post. It’s a nice luxury for a coach to have.”

Not only is Hall a star on the basketball floor, but she also excels in the classroom. She has a 4.0 grade point average and also plays for Volleyball for the Panthers. She’s also involved with the National Honor Society, the Prom Committee, Student Council and the “SCORES” team.

“Sports has been a major part of my life since Day 1,” Hall said. “My parents (Kerri and Andy) pushed me to be the best that I could be and it has paid off, plus it also helped to play my freshman year alongside my big sister, Sydnee, who showed me what it takes to be successful at the high school level.”

“Now my little sister, Mylee, is starting her journey on the court and I hope to be a role model for her.”

Hall says her college plans are undecided for now.

—by Bill Cornwell, HI contributing writer

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/ February 2017 COLLEGE

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BASKETBALL

STRE TCH RUN

Heading into the Conference USA tournament, the Marshall women’s basketball program is steadying itself for a tourney run.

Marshall Sports Information A late-season loss at UAB found the Marshall women’s basketball program struggling to right its ship headed into the Conference USA tournament run.

UAB’s Rachael Childress made seven of her 10 3-point attempts to lead a powerful 3-point barrage by the host Blazers women’s basketball team in a 71-55 wire-to-wire defeat of visiting Marshall in late February at Bartow Arena.

The win improved the Blazers to 13-12 overall and 6-8 in Conference USA, while Marshall dropped its fifth straight to fall to and even 12-12 overall and 4-9 in league play.

Childress finished with 21 points, while Deanna Kuzmanic added 12 and a game-high seven rebounds. The duo made a combined 11 of their 18 3-point attempts. Whytney Singleton had six assists and Kara Rawls contributed three blocks. Leading rebounder Keonna Farmer (6.9 per game) was blanked on the glass in just nine minutes of action due to foul trouble.

Marshall was led by 14 points from Kiana Evans (6-for-11 shooting) and Shayna Gore’s 11, who also notched a game-high four steals. Evans, Talequia Hamilton and Porter all had six rebounds and the latter added four assists. The Blazers made life difficult for Hamilton inside (2-for-10 on field

Shayna Gore found the lane a very busy place against Western Kentucky in February

photographs by Greg Perry/HI staff

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/ February 2017

Talequia Hamilton has been steady for Marshall this season, averaging 11.6 points. She fought for this ball all the way to the floor against La. Tech.

goals) as the Huntington senior came into the game second in the conference in field goal percentage (56.0).

The two teams are 1-2 in the league in 3-pointers per game and combined for 21 on Thursday (UAB 13, Marshall 8). The Blazers came in leading the league in 3-point percentage (38.5), while the Thundering Herd entered as the top team in 3-point percentage defense (28.5).

UAB held commanding advantages in bench points (22-11) and rebounds (40-30). Marshall had it that way in steals (8-3).

Marshall did a better job with turnovers for most of the game, committing just six in the first three quarters before posting that many in the fourth quarter alone. UAB had 16 miscues for the contest.

The two teams battled to a 17-all draw in the third quarter and Mar-

shall chopped the lead to seven (59-52) on a Porter jumper with 5:39 left in the final stanza. However, UAB answered with a free throw, a layup and two 3-pointers to push the margin back to 14 (68-54) with 2:18 left.

Gore hit three 3-pointers to give her 55 for the season, tying her with Natal Rosko (1994-95) for fourth in the school’s single-season records. She now has 106 for her career, tying her for ninth all-time with Kristi Huff (1988-92).

“We were a little more stagnant tonight on both ends than anticipated,” said Marshall coach Matt Daniel. “We missed crucial assignments, and they made us pay. ” The Marshall women will finish the regular season on the road, at Rice and North Texas before heading into the C-USA Tournament.

Basketball continued from page 11 puts into everything.”

And Danny did a good job for Loop, bringing in his three-point shooting attack. If a coach and player were ever meant for each other, it would be Loop and the coach who encouraged his team to take threes, saying, “if you miss a good shot, you will hit the next one.”

Loop had hit the jackpot with D’Antoni in charge.

As a sophomore, he hit 84-of-214 from three, 39.3% shooting. As a junior, he hit 86of-216, a shooting percentage of 39.8%. This year, through 26 games, he has hit 87-of-190, 45.7% from three and pushing for the best shooting percentage in a single season, set by Malik Hightower, who hit 48.4% in 1994-95, hitting 46-of-95.

“The three-point thing was something I never thought was possible in the beginning,” Loop told Rick McCann of The Herald-Dispatch in late January. “One thousand (points) is also something I didn’t expect at all. To me, that’s a lot of points. That was a proud moment in high school. To come here and do it is even more gratifying.”

Now, Loop and the Herd have just a couple of games left to get under their belts before they head to Birmingham to play in the C-USA Tournament, where the Herd made it to the semifinals last year. With some continued great shooting from three, Loop and his fellow seniors

“THE THREE-POINT THING IS SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE,” LOOP TOLD RICK MCCANN OF THE HERALD-DISPATCH. “ONE THOUSAND POINTS IS ALSO SOMETHING I DIDN’T EXPECT AT ALL.” hope to take the Herd somewhere the program has not been since 1987 — the NCAA Tournament.

Just follow the guy with the science book and a three-point shot.

Austin Loop has been a winner in and out of the classroom.