By CODY LINN

Marshall Sports Information

MONROE, La. – The Marshall University Men’s Basketball team (7-8, 2-0 Sun Belt) opens 2024 with a win in its Sun Belt Conference road opener, 68-57, over the ULM Warhawks (4-8, 0-2 Sun Belt) Wednesday night in Monroe, Louisiana. 

“It was a good win on the road and was just our (second time) with back-to-back wins this year,” Herd men’s basketball head coach Dan D’Antoni said after the win. “Now we have to this thing down to Texas to see what we can do (on Saturday).”

 Obinna Anochili-Killen led all players with 20 points while grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out four assists and rejecting three shots in the contest. The senior made seven of his 12 shots in the victory.

 Kamdyn Curfman followed with 14 points, including four makes from behind the arc. Jacob Conner tallied nine points while recording a career-high nine assists and committing just one turnover.

 The Herd opened the game with the first five points of the game. ULM rallied to tie the game 9-9 at the 12:09 mark. MU then used a 10-2 run to jump out to a 19-11 lead with 8:50 remaining in the first half.

 Marshall followed with a 15-2 run from the 4:40 mark to 1:26 to take a 20-point lead, 36-16, it largest of the opening half of play, before taking a 39-21 lead into halftime.

 A Curfman triple at the 17:36 mark of the second to take its largest lead of the contest at 22 points, 47-25, in the wire-to-wire win.

 Game Notes 

The Herd registered 20 assists, it was the team’s third contest this season of 20 or more assists. 

 Marshall outrebounded ULM 41-40, it was the ninth time this season MU has won the glass this season.,

 Conner’s nine assists are tied for the most this season by a Marshall men’s basketball with Curfman’s nine helpers at Toledo on December 13.

 Anochili-Killen has tallied 10 or more points in 11 of his 12 games this season, while Curfman has reached double-digit scoring in his last nine games.

UP NEXT 

Marshall closes its road trip in San Marcos, Texas, with a contest at Texas State on Saturday.

Marshall 68, Louisiana-Monroe 57

MARSHALL (7-8)

Anochili-Killen 7-12 5-9 20, Martin 2-4 3-4 7, Curfman 5-14 0-0 14, Voyles 2-9 1-2 6, Conner 3-7 2-2 9, Fricks 3-7 0-2 7, Nutter 0-2 0-0 0, Pruett 1-2 0-0 2, Sarenac 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 24-58 11-19 68.

LOUISIANA-MONROE (4-8)

Diedhiou 2-4 0-0 4, Metskhvarishvili 0-7 4-6 4, Bolden 1-7 4-4 6, Locure 4-12 1-2 9, Wilson 1-3 0-0 3, Gallion 2-6 2-2 6, Ngopot 5-8 2-4 12, Willis 2-5 4-4 8, Watson 2-7 1-4 5. Totals 19-59 18-26 57.

Halftime–Marshall 39-21. 3-Point Goals–Marshall 9-27 (Curfman 4-10, Sarenac 1-1, Anochili-Killen 1-2, Conner 1-3, Fricks 1-5, Voyles 1-5, Nutter 0-1), Louisiana-Monroe 1-15 (Wilson 1-2, Bolden 0-1, Gallion 0-1, Metskhvarishvili 0-3, Watson 0-3, Locure 0-5). Rebounds–Marshall 38 (Anochili-Killen 9), Louisiana-Monroe 35 (Metskhvarishvili 9). Assists–Marshall 20 (Conner 9), Louisiana-Monroe 12 (Gallion 4). Total Fouls–Marshall 17, Louisiana-Monroe 16. A–919 (7,085).