Western Kentucky guard Darius Thompson (15) and guard Taveion Hollingsworth (13) chase Marshall guard Jon Elmore (33) during the second half of the NCAA Conference USA Menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Basketball Championship Game in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Marshall defeated Western Kentucky 67-66.
Western Kentucky guard Darius Thompson (15) and guard Taveion Hollingsworth (13) chase Marshall guard Jon Elmore (33) during the second half of the NCAA Conference USA Menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Basketball Championship Game in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Marshall defeated Western Kentucky 67-66.
Editoròòò½ÊÓƵ™s note: This series looks back at the top 10 moments in Marshall athleticsòòò½ÊÓƵ™ 17-year history in Conference USA. No. 5 on the list is Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team winning the first C-USA title in program history in March 2018, which ensured the teamòòò½ÊÓƵ™s first NCAA Tournament appearance in more than 30 years.
HUNTINGTON òòò½ÊÓƵ” From the start of the 2017-18 season, it was realized that Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team had a chance to be special.
Exactly how special remained to be seen until late in the year, however.
During the 2018 Conference USA Tournament, Marshall found its way, culminating with a 67-66 win over Western Kentucky that sent the Thundering Herd to its first NCAA Tournament since 1987.
Not only was the win exciting because it matched a pair of heated Conference USA rivals together in the Herd and Hilltoppers, but also because of the finish òòò½ÊÓƵ” one in which Marshall had to fend off a furious rally from Western Kentucky to earn the win.
Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Jon Elmore, who was named Conference USAòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Tournament MVP, hit a 3-pointer at the 3:40 mark to give the Herd a 67-55 lead and start a premature celebration for fans in Kelly green.
Western Kentucky had other plans, however, as the Hilltoppers rattled off 11 straight points and got a stop to take possession with 30 seconds left and a chance to take the lead.
From there, Marshall was able to get the stops it needed and forward Jannson Williams secured a rebound before sending it into the far end of the court to set off the Herdòòò½ÊÓƵ™s celebration at mid-court.
Elmore finished the game with 27 points and earned the tourney MVP honors after averaging 22.7 points, 8.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds in the Herdòòò½ÊÓƵ™s wins, which included victories over UTSA and Southern Miss prior to the win over the Hilltoppers.
At the gameòòò½ÊÓƵ™s pivotal moment, it was Elmore who took over. The Charleston-born sharpshooter hit three 3-pointers during a stretch in which he scored 11 straight points for the Herd to increase Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s lead to 53-41 with just over 13 minutes left.
In addition to Elmoreòòò½ÊÓƵ™s contributions, Ajdin Penava added 16 points and nine rebounds in the win while knocking down some big shots early to lead the Herd to a 34-31 halftime advantage.
Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s first conference championship in more than three decades brought with it an NCAA Tournament berth and a Selection Sunday party, which was hosted at Cam Henderson Center.
With hundreds of fans behind them at the Henderson Center awaiting Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s draw, the team celebrated as they saw their name matched up with Wichita State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in San Diego with a potential second-round matchup with West Virginia looming.
That trip to San Diego is likely to come up later in this list. Stay tuned.
Grant Traylor is the sports editor of The Herald-Dispatch, who also covers Marshall athletics for HD Media. Follow him on Twitter @GrantTraylor.
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