— By David Walsh
Marshall made its share of three-point shots, especially in the first half, during Monday night’s Sun Belt Conference makeup game against South Alabama.
In the end, it was Jalen Speer’s three with 1:48 remaining — the 18th triple of the night for the Herd — that allowed Marshall to increase a one-point lead to 80-76, and a conventional three-point play from Wyatt Fricks 45 seconds later helped Marshall preserve an 84-80 win over the feisty Jaguars at Cam Henderson Center.
Fricks’ three-point play followed a bucket in the lane from South Alabama’s Chaze Harris that allowed the visitors to momentarily trail by two.
The win moves the Herd (17-10) into a three-way tie for second in the Sun Belt Conference with South Alabama and Troy at 9-5.
Appalachian State has a 10-5 mark to lead the league, while Texas State is at 9-6 and Coastal Carolina at 8-6.
Marshall coach Corny Jackson felt his team’s familiarity with the Jaguars’ ability to rally — which they did Saturday by overcoming an 18-point deficit in a victory against Arkansas State — proved beneficial.
“That was big win,” Jackson said. “We watched the tape and how they came back. We knew we’d have to fight all the way through. Twenty-six assists and seven turnovers against a good South Alabama team. Credit to the guys. We had watched a lot of tape. We knew where the openings were. We knew they’d play zone the whole game. We gave them the formula, the options to go for. They did.”
Fricks finished with 27 points and seven rebounds. He shot 11 for 17.
“Wyatt was the man tonight,” Jackson said. “He made huge plays. He hurt his ankle, got it taped up and came back. That’s why we need Wyatt.”
“A statement,” Fricks said. “Every gam’s big now. Win or go home. Down to four games left. They were first coming in and we knew it’s be a battle of two good team. I’ve waited five years or this moment. I do whatever it takes.”
Before Speer hit the last three, Harris drove the lane and scored to pull the Jaguars within 77-76.
Fricks’ three-point play came via his offensive rebound after Wilson Dubinsky had missed a triple.
“Harris is a really good player,” Jackson said. “In the big moments we stayed focused, we didn’t panic. When they made the run, we responded. That’s part of winning.
“We have the athleticism. We have everything it takes to win. Everybody wants to talk about winning, but once they see how hard it is, they drop the head. Having the guys make it happen tonight shows me something. Hopefully we can continue that.”
Speer, who scored 18 points, said it’s a matter of the Herd stepping up when it means the most.
“We want to be No. 1 in the conference,” Speer said. “We went out and showed them. We knew what they’d do, play zone the whole game. Getting the ball to open man up top or the wing was key. And getting stops at the others end.”
Dubinsky scored 12 on four threes and Landen Joseph 10. Marshall made 18-of-46 shots from behind the arc.
Harris paced the Jaguars with 28 points. Adam Olsen had 21 with five threes and Stephen Williams scored 19.
Marshall returns to action Thursday against Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. Game time is 6:30 p.m. and first place in the SBC is up for grabs.