CLEVELAND, OHIO- With 12:47 left in the MAC Men's basketball Quarterfinal game between the top-seeded Western Michigan Broncos and eight-seeded Marshall, Thundering Herd junior forward Eric Smith stole the ball and made a full-court dash towards the basket.
In a move that was a microcosm of Thursday night's game, Smith cuffed the ball in his left-hand, faked a behind the back pass across the key and let rip a furious attempt at a dunk that would've brought the Herd within 14.
Key word: attempt.
As the ball rimmed out and rocketed toward half court and the waiting hands of Broncos senior center Anthony Kann, all hope drained for a comeback and the rout was on. Western Michigan advanced to the semi-finals by a score of 96-62.
As strong as the favored Western Michigan squad was, Marshall missed out on a valid chance at a huge upset. Trailing 10 at halftime, the Herd was within 16 when Smith had his mishap.
Plagued by pitiful foul shooting - Marshall shot 45.5 percent in the second half and 48.8 percent for the game-and woeful shot selection, Western Michigan barely broke a sweat in the second half.
The Broncos had five players scoring in double figures, including four of their starting five. Junior Ben Reed had 16 points, nailing three of five from beyond the arc and pulling down six rebounds. More interesting was his verbal sparring with the Marshall fans.
"I play my best basketball on the road, I think that's why the fans get at me more," Reed said.
Reed ignored the trash-talking for the first half, but as the Broncos pulled away, his runs back up court after a basket became filled with smiles and pot-shots right back. After knocking down a three pointer to put the Broncos ahead 59-42 with just over 11 to play, he yelled out, "If I'm a bum, you must be a bigger bum!"
"They get me going. I think the fans talking smack to me - truthfully that gets me going more," Reed said.
Marshall senior forward Marvin Black played his final game, bowing out with grace and style. His reverse dunk in the second half was touted as the "Renaissance Hotel 'Suite' Play of the Game," and he scored 15 points while dominating the boards with 12 rebounds.
Black's two blocks were the only ones registered by the Herd, and his post presence will be dearly missed by a Marshall team that looked hapless defensively in the seven minutes he was off the court.
As for Western Michigan, they live on to play Friday night against Toledo and their confidence is as high as ever.
"We're not trying to go home early this year whatsoever," Reed said. "If we come out and play like tonight, I think we'll come out victorious."
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
