HUNTINGTON Ƶ The Sun Belt and Mid-American conferences began an interleague challenge last season in both menƵs and womenƵs basketball, but the Marshall men have never been a part of it.
That could be, in part, because the Thundering Herd already makes a habit of playing games against the MAC, and that is no different this year as Toledo pays a visit to the Cam Henderson Center on Saturday afternoon.
ItƵs the ninth consecutive season in which the teams have met on the hardcourt and 13th all-time meeting in a series in which the Rockets hold a 7-5 advantage.
Toledo (0-1) opened its 2024-25 campaign on Monday with an 84-74 defeat at Troy to begin the second-annual MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Sophomores Javan Simmons and Sonny Wilson led the Rockets with 19 and 17 points, respectively. Simmons grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while Wilson dished out five assists with no turnovers in 33 minutes.
Marshall (1-0) won its season opener handily, 90-57, over Davis and Elkins on Monday. One playerƵs performance stood out above the rest.
That was redshirt junior Wyatt Fricks, who registered 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, both of which tied career-highs. He posted a 6-for-7 shooting night from the field, including 2-for-3 on 3-point attempts.
ƵThe basketball gods, they bless you when you do the right things, right?Ƶ Herd coach Cornelius ƵCornyƵ Jackson said. ƵWyatt has (fallen) in love with the gym. HeƵs probably worked harder this year and more focused this year than he has been since heƵs been here, and itƵs starting to pay off.Ƶ
Fricks scored in double figures four times in 31 games last season and has already done so twice this year, once in exhibition play and then again Monday, when he made the third start of his career.
He hopes to continue that success and become a major contributor for Marshall this season.
ƵCorny always tells me just to go out there and play ball. ThatƵs all it is,Ƶ Fricks said. ƵI love this game. I love going out there with my teammates playing and just want to do what I can to help us win.Ƶ
Fricks has range on both ends of the floor but said he has worked hard this offseason to increase his versatility on offense, specifically from beyond the arc, where he has shot below 30% on average for the past two seasons.
ƵItƵs just something IƵve always like to do, something IƵve always worked on growing up,Ƶ Fricks said. ƵBeing able to have length and shoot the ball is an advantage for my own skill set but also an advantage for Marshall.Ƶ
The Thundering Herd will play its next three contests at home, beginning Saturday at 2 p.m. with Toledo before hosting Indiana Southern on Monday and Bellarmine on Saturday, Nov. 16. Both of those games will tip at 7 p.m.
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD Media. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
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