Marshall's Dezayne Mingo (3) goes up to shoot over James Madison's Xavier Brown (1) on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall's Dezayne Mingo (3) goes up to shoot over James Madison's Xavier Brown (1) on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ On a whim, Marshall menƵs basketball coach Corny Jackson departed from his typical procedure.
The night before the Thundering Herd hosted James Madison on Jan. 9, on his way home from buying salt for his driveway, Jackson decided to phone his point guard.
ƵWe saw a game or two ago that Dezayne (Mingo) was phasing out for two or three possessions after he was being held accountable,Ƶ Jackson said. ƵHe did it in practice, so something in me Ƶ probably the man upstairs, heƵs working through me. I called Dezayne on my way home last night.Ƶ
Jackson said he rarely calls players. He texts them instead. But not that night.
ƵSo I call (Mingo), and I said, ƵListen, man, in order for us to be who we need to be, you canƵt shut down for four or five plays,ƵƵ Jackson said. ƵI asked him, ƵDezayne, do you understand what IƵm saying? We canƵt have you phasing out for four or five plays Ƶ itƵs enough to get us beat.ƵƵ
That interaction came into play the next night against the Dukes.
Seventeen seconds before halftime, Marshall lost a turnover out of bounds. Xavier Brown checked in for James Madison, got the ball at the top of the key, took a step and knocked down a 3-pointer as time expired Ƶ over Mingo Ƶ to take the lead.
A day after their conversation, Jackson reminded him of it.
ƵDezayne got jumped at halftime pretty hard. We thought as a staff, and I thought as a head coach, that the last play defensively was lackadaisical,Ƶ Jackson said. ƵWe told him that Brown is a ƵBig Shot BobƵ Ƶ do you remember (former NBA sharpshooter) Robert Horry? HeƵs like that guy.
ƵWe didnƵt like his alertness and his intensity on the ball, so he got jumped pretty hard. But he responded.Ƶ
By the end of the game, Mingo was the HerdƵs Big Shot Bob.
After James Madison took a 75-73 lead, Mingo pushed up the court and put his eyes on the rim.
Mingo Ƶ who averaged more than 20 points per game at Guelph (Canada) before transferring to the Herd Ƶ led Marshall that night in assists.
But this moment was his.
Mingo pulled up at the elbow, made the shot and drew a foul. With his free throw, Marshall led 76-75.
The Dukes took the lead back before Mingo converted the same shot again.
James Madison responded once more to tie it at 78. But with less than six seconds remaining, Mingo lobbed a 60-foot pass to Cade Gibbs at the basket.
Gibbs drew a foul and hit foul shots to put Marshall ahead to stay.
The final play of the game was a steal by Mingo. James Madison hurled the ball with a second left, and he intercepted it.
No plays off.
Mingo was Big Shot Bob, Transition Bucket Terry and maybe even Patrick Mahomes.
ƵI told him two weeks ago, ƵDo you watch football, Dezayne?ƵƵ Jackson said. ƵHeƵs from Canada Ƶ ƵOh no, not really,Ƶ (he said), and I said, ƵIƵm talking football, Tom Brady Ƶ what are you compared to the football field?ƵƵ
ƵHe said, Ƶthe quarterback.Ƶ He came here, and heƵs adjusting. HeƵs still a work in progress, as we all are, but heƵs adjusting. I just highlight him because he played 40 minutes, and we just talked about him accepting coaching.Ƶ
Jackson, the HerdƵs first-year coach, was a point guard himself from 1998-2001 at Marshall. He led the Mid-American Conference in assists. He knows what it takes to be great.
ƵI explain to them that IƵm hard on the point guards because I was a point guard,Ƶ Jackson said. ƵI hold them accountable. (Mingo) and Ryan Nutter both, Jalen (Speer) sometimes. I want to get the best out of them. I want them to see the floor well.Ƶ
That hope aligns with MingoƵs recent goals. The day before the James Madison game, he said he wants to limit his turnovers.
ƵitƵs definitely a very physical league,Ƶ Mingo said. ƵThe Sun Belt is super physical. Before conference play, I was 5-to-2 in assist-to-turnover ratio. IƵve turned the ball over a little bit too much during conference play. Teams are trying to be physical with me, so being strong with the ball and taking care of it is big for me. IƵm not happy with my turnovers recently, so thatƵs something IƵm working on.Ƶ
He only had one against the Dukes, with four assists.
ƵIƵm lucky to have him,Ƶ Mingo said of Jackson. ƵI found out recently that he led (the MAC during his playing days) in assists. I didnƵt know that for the longest time. IƵm definitely blessed to have him. HeƵs onto me about taking care of the ball and urgency Ƶ aggressiveness.
ƵHe knows that IƵm a high-IQ player, so he trusts me to make plays. Those little nitpick things, he makes sure IƵm strong with them.Ƶ
Ƶ for how Marshall is treating him on the court, he feels that thereƵs no better place.
ƵItƵs a lot different,Ƶ Mingo said. ƵThis is exciting. This is a lot more of what I wanted as far as basketball.
ƵI enjoyed playing in Canada. I developed a lot of confidence in the ability to score and pass, but I feel like my game gets showcased a lot better here. I would say better teammates, better coaching and better exposure. ItƵs a blessing.Ƶ
Mingo, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, probably hasnƵt had to buy driveway salt just yet, even with the recent storm.
A few nights before the pivotal phone call with Jackson, Mingo spent time sledding with teammates.
ƵSome of these guys are from Florida, and theyƵve never seen snow before,Ƶ Mingo said, adding with a laugh, ƵOur rookie Kaiden White thought about eating the snow his first time seeing it. I donƵt know why that came to his brain, but that was surprising.Ƶ
Chalk it up that heƵs enjoying Huntington.
ƵItƵs great,Ƶ Mingo said. ƵWe have a great relationship. Everyone on the team is close. ItƵs all one. That shows on the basketball court Ƶ on and off it.Ƶ
Tyler Kennett is a sports writer for The Herald-Dispatch. Reach him at tkennett@hdmediallc.com. Follow @tylerkennett on X.
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