news-record.com

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Tyler Wilkerson grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds to lead Marshall to a 79-63 win over N.C. A&T on Sunday in the Thundering Herd's season opener.

Wilkerson, who pulled down 14 defensive boards, had the most rebounds by a Marshall player since Rodney Holden grabbed 20 against The Citadel on Jan. 18, 1986. Marshall outrebounded the Aggies 50-39.

"We forced just 11 turnovers, which is probably one of the lows during my tenure here at A&T," A&T coach Jerry Eaves said. "Their bench probably wore down my young kids. My young kids couldn't quite handle the intensity of a Division I game on this level. That will come as they get more experience."

The Thundering Herd's Shaquille Johnson tied his career high with 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

Marshall, which played N.C. A&T (1-1) for the first time since 1973, led 38-33 at halftime and 48-43 with 15:43 left. The Thundering Herd then used an 18-5 run, sparked by eight points from Hassan Whiteside and two 3-pointers by Camden Miller, to lead 66-48 with 8:32 left.

Robert Johnson paced the Aggies with 16 points. Thomas Coleman added 10 points and 13 rebounds.

N.C. A&T

FG FT Reb Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Smith 12 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 2 0

Alston 31 2-10 8-9 0-5 4 4 12

Simpson 25 4-9 2-2 0-2 1 1 12

Coleman 29 4-10 2-5 4-13 1 3 10

Johnson 33 6-14 0-0 2-5 0 4 16

Hill 19 0-5 0-0 0-0 3 2 0

Williams 7 0-2 1-2 0-0 0 0 1

Witter 18 2-6 0-0 0-2 1 1 5

Upchurch 12 0-2 5-6 3-6 0 1 5

Porter 14 1-1 0-1 1-3 1 5 2

Totals 200 19-61 18-25 11-39 11 23 63

Percentages: FG .311, FT .720. 3-point goals: 7-30, .233 (Johnson 4-9, Simpson 2-7, Witter 1-3, Upchurch 0-1, Williams 0-1, Hill 0-4, Alston 0-5). Team rebounds: 2. Blocked shots: 3 (Porter, Coleman, Johnson). Turnovers: 11 (Alston 4, Hill 2, Porter 2, Coleman, Upchurch, Johnson). Steals: 6 (Johnson 2, Witter 2, Williams, Alston).

MARSHALL

FG FT Reb

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Merthie 34 5-14 2-3 3-9 7 1 14

Lutz 29 1-10 0-0 1-2 5 1 3

Johnson 31 8-11 5-6 0-1 3 3 22

Baines 28 4-5 0-0 2-5 1 2 8

Wilkerson 25 1-7 6-6 6-20 2 4 8

Haymon 9 1-5 1-1 0-0 0 0 3

Miller 22 3-9 0-1 1-4 1 0 9

Pena 2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0

Whiteside 14 4-4 2-4 2-3 0 4 10

Spikes 6 1-1 0-1 0-1 0 2 2

Totals 200 28-67 16-22 15-50 19 18 79

Percentages: FG .418, FT .727. 3-Point Goals: 7-26, .269 (Miller 3-8, Merthie 2-4, Johnson 1-2, Lutz 1-8, Haymon 0-1, Pena 0-1, Wilkerson 0-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots: 7 (Whiteside 5, Wilkerson, Johnson). Turnovers: 11 (Merthie 6, Wilkerson 2, Haymon, Baines, Lutz). Steals: 1 (Wilkerson).

N.C. A&T 33 30 -- 63

Marshall 38 41 -- 79

A--4,319. Officials--Kyle Chambers, Patrick Evans, Bret Smith.