The Marshall Thundering Herd face the Old Dominion Monarchs in a high-stakes Sun Belt Conference clash at Huntington’s Cam Henderson Center this Tuesday. Fresh off Dezayne Mingo’s explosive 25-point performance against Appalachian State, Marshall seeks to strengthen its 12-3 home record. With NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, this rivalry game promises intense action.
Marshall’s offense thrives on second-chance opportunities, ranking sixth in the conference with 10.2 offensive rebounds per game. Nate Martin (3.2 offensive boards per game) and Obinna Anochili-Killen (16.4 PPG last 10 games) anchor this aggressive approach. Old Dominion counters with Sean Durugordon’s double-double potential (15.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG), but their 5-14 record against winning teams raises concerns.
Key factors to watch:
- Point spread: Marshall favored by 10.5 points
- Over/under: 148 total points
- Marshall’s scoring defense (72.1 PPG allowed) vs Old Dominion’s offensive struggles (68.9 PPG)
“This game hinges on Marshall’s ability to dominate the paint,” said a Sun Belt analyst. Recent trends favor the Thundering Herd, who’ve won seven of their last ten games while averaging 76.5 points. Old Dominion’s 3-7 slump and road vulnerabilities make them underdogs, but Robert Davis Jr.’s hot hand (16.1 PPG last 10 games) could shift momentum.
With both teams battling for conference tournament positioning, Tuesday’s outcome could define their postseason trajectories. Marshall’s home-court advantage and balanced scoring face a stern test against Old Dominion’s desperate bid to salvage their season.