Toledo went up eight points and Marshall charged back. The Thundering Herd did that the first three times Wednesday night in its game against the Rockets at Savage Hall in Toledo.
On the fourth, Toledo did hold off the Herd, though barely. The Rockets led 86-76 with 2 minutes left and back came the Herd once again just like it did Saturday at Ohio when a late seven-point deficit late turned into a 74-69 Herd win.
Kamdyn Curfman hit two three-pointers to cut the Toledo lead to 86-82 with 44 seconds left. The Rockets’ Tyler Cochran got fouled with 36 seconds left and made two free throws. Back came the Herd as Curfman scored with 21 seconds left, then made another three after a Toledo turnover with 16 seconds to get within one at 88-87.
Seconds later, Ra’heim Moss got fouled for Toledo, but missed the front end of the bonus. Cam Crawford got the rebound for the Herd and the visitors got the final shot just before the buzzer, but Obinna Anochili-Killen missed the potential game-winner and Toledo eked out the victory, 88-87, in front of 3,878 fans.
“We did better. We can play a real good team. I liked what I saw,” Herd coach Dan D’Antoni said. “We had a shot to win it. I don’t want to get down that far, but there’s no quit in them. They’re trying to get there.”
Marshall battled back from a 40-28 deficit in the first half. In the second, the Rockets had leads of nine and 10, but the Herd wouldn’t quit.
Anochili-Killen led Marshall with a career-high 25 points. He made 8-of-12 shots (3 of 3 on threes) and 6 of 6 at the foul line. Curfman added 19 points, 16 in the second half. He notched a career-high in assists with nine. Kevon Voyles also had 19.
For the Rockets, Cochran had a banner night with a career-high 33 points. He canned 13-of-16 shots and 5 of 5 at the foul line. Dante Maddox added 18 points, Javan Simmons 15 and Moss 10.
Toledo improves to 6-4 with its third straight win. The Rockets lead the series overall 39-24 and have won five of the last six meetings at home against Marshall.
D’Antoni said he liked what he saw from Anochili-Killen and Curfman. Anochili-Killen came in with a 14.7 scoring average.
“He turned it up on both ends,” D’Antoni said. “That’s why I don’t tell them not to shoot. If he shows he can make them in practice, do it in a game. He’s (Curfman) starting to come on. He started slow last year, then started making shots. It gives them confidence they’re free to play. I hope he can continue.”
Both teams saw their starters log nearly all the points. The Herd had eight off the bench to six for the Rockets.
“Guys coming in have to have intensity,” D’Antoni said.
The Herd had 20 assists and eight turnovers. The Rockets converted the turnovers into 15 points.
“One of our goals was to flip assists-turnovers,” D’Antoni said. “Eight against this ball club isn’t bad. You can’t have those two or three that change ball games. You have to learn how to win and I believe we are.”
Marshall (3-7) is back in action Saturday at home against UNC Greensboro. Tip at Cam Henderson Center is 7 p.m.
This was the Herd’s final non-conference road game of the season.