IMAGE GALLERY: Herd Survives Tough Belmont Team

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - 00:47 by Chris Spencer, HNN Photographer

HUNTINGTON, WV (HNN) -  Marshall won 87-86 over Belmont from Nashville, TN at  Cam Henderson  Center on Monday evening playing a mens thrilling basketball game.
Marshall took an early lead and was up 46-39 at the intermission.  

Even though it looked like Marshall was ready to put Belmont away that was not the case. Belmont did things so quietly they were actually right behind and close to Marshall much of the game.    Belmont kept their composure and never quit.  A glance at the scoreboard would show this.  Since Belmont  is  the third most three point making team in the nation,   Marshall may have been lucky this night because many of the Belmont three pointers did not go in.   Belmont was 7-22 for 31.8 percent.    

Belmont was still making enough three pointers to take the lead.  Marshall that had a thirteen point lead with about ten minutes left to play found themselves down 84-83 to Belmont with  1:26 left in the game.   

Marshall fans were standing and cheering for the Herd in the last minutes  of this exciting basketball game.    Two missed foul shots by Marshall's Damier Pitts with six seconds left and an almost winning shot by Belmont's Keron Johnson in the last second  added to the excitement.  

Marshall now, 8-2 ,  plays West Virginia Tech  at home on Wednesday at 7 PM.   Belmont  is 7-5 and will play Marshall again at Belmont on December 29.