<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2s5CJ9_0wOnYAOC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2s5CJ9_0wOnYAOC00" width="2048" height="1334" ></figure>— By David WalshHUNTINGTON, W.Va. — New Marshall men’s basketball coach Cornelius Jackson expressed a sense of relief of the final buzzer sounded to end the Friends First exhibition game at Cam Henderson Center.It’s not the outcome he was worried about. The former Thundering Herd player and assistant coach watched his team get past Pikeville, 90-73, in front of 4,643 fans who witnessed the first half of a doubleheader that was followed by a women’s game between both programs.“I’m glad it’s over,” Jackson said in his first postgame address to the media. “We finally played someone else. First time as a head coach it was a big moment. We had a lot of pieces out there. Saw things we need to correct.”Obinna Anochili-Killen, one of the Marshall returnees, did not play. Jackson said he was available, but opted to keep him on the bench.The game started with 6-foot-7 Nate Martin converting a dunk off a pick-and-roll after taking a feed from one of his guards. The second basket came when Mikal Dawson, transfer from Akron, hit a 3-point shot from the left wing. Dawson is from Huntington, played at Huntington High and Huntington Prep before going to Akron for five years. Growing up, he watched many Herd games in the Henderson Center.“I was with coach (Dan) D’Antoni a long time,” Jackson said about how pick-and-rolls worked time and again under D’Antoni. “Fans like it, I like it. We like to get the caliber of players who can make those plays.”Cade Gibbs, one of the many new faces on the Herd team, led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds for double-double in his debut. He made 7-of-10 shots.“Proud of the newcomers,” Jackson said. “Put those guys in different situations and they responded. Cade a double-double. I’m more excited about his 10 rebounds. We need that to have a chance to win. We can’t have Nate alone getting the rebounds.”Dawson finished with 12 points. Martin had 11 and eight boards and Deayne Mingo 10 points.“It feels so nice,” Cade Gibbs said. “Having been here since June and go up against the same people every day. It was so nice to play someone else, come together and get the chance to compete. They take open shots. We knew we’d have to get a hands up. We need to do a better job to guard our guards.“Crash the boards is one of my strengths. Coach says give the team an extra possession is good for Marshall.”“I’ve been itching,” Jakob Gibbs said about stepping onto the floor for the first time. “They played really hard. We knew they’d play that way.”Marshall pulled away late in the first half to take a 46-31 lead at the break. Teams played even the second half. Both nailed 9 3-pointers.Another player Jackson noted had a good day was vet Wyatt Fricks. The 6-9 guard totaled 8 points and 8 rebounds. Three of his baskets came on dunks.“He fell in love with the gym,” Jackson said. “He came here trying to fit in. He finally figured out what it takes to be a good player, good shooter. He’s a really good athlete. Glad to see him get rewared. He understands the process on what it takes to be a good college player.”Jackson and his staff will now look at film and work to make correction before the season opener Nov. 4 at home against Davis &amp; Elkins.L.A. Walker led UPike with 17 points. Bradley Bunch added 13 points and Keyman Cutlip 12 for the Bears, an NAIA member that finished national runner-up last season.</div></body>

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Marshall tops Pikeville 90-73 in exhibition

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — New Marshall men’s basketball coach Cornelius Jackson expressed a sense of relief of the final buzzer sounded to end the Friends First exhibition game at Cam Henderson Center. It’s not the outcome he was worried about. The former Thundering Herd player and assistant coach watched...

Marshall tops Pikeville 90-73 in exhibition

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