HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering defensive presence at the rim and a frantic final minute, Marshall survived a second-half surge from Wright State to escape with a 76-74 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Cam Henderson Center.

The Thundering Herd, who led for only 4 minutes and 19 seconds of game time, overcame a seven-point halftime deficit by unleashing a dominant shot-blocking performance, swatting 12 Wright State attempts. That interior defense proved critical in weathering a 30-point outing from Wright State’s Michael Cooper.

Marshall improved to 7-4, while Wright State fell to 5-6.

The first half belonged to the visiting Raiders, who used sharp three-point shooting to build a lead. Cooper, a 6-foot-3 guard from Jeffersonville, Indiana, scored 15 of his points before halftime, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc. Wright State shot 41% from three-point range in the half and took a 39-32 lead into the break, largely by limiting Marshall’s opportunities and capitalizing on turnovers.

The game transformed after halftime as Marshall’s size and athleticism took over. The Herd opened the second period on a 14-4 run, fueled by forward Wyatt Fricks and guard Noah Otshudi. Fricks finished with 19 points and three blocks, while Otshudi, from Hamilton, Ontario, added 18 points and four assists.

The defining characteristic of the comeback was Marshall’s rim protection, led by 7-foot-4 center Matt Van Komen. The junior from Lehi, Utah, recorded seven blocks and altered countless other shots, anchoring a defense that held Wright State to just 35 second-half points on 29% shooting from the floor. The Raiders, who attempted 29 more field goals than Marshall in the game, were consistently frustrated in the paint.

Despite the defensive onslaught, Wright State refused to fade. Trailing 73-70 with under a minute to play, Cooper found Solomon Callaghan for a clutch three-pointer to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining.

The ensuing chaos decided the contest. On the inbound play, Marshall’s Jalen Speer, who tallied 14 points and seven assists, drove aggressively and drew a foul on Cooper with 1.9 seconds left. Speer calmly sank both free throws to put the Herd ahead 75-74.

Wright State’s final attempt to inbound and score was disrupted when Michael Imariagbe fouled Fricks with 0.4 seconds on the clock. Fricks made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, leaving no time for a Raiders response.

While Cooper’s scoring led Wright State, Marshall’s balance and defensive efficiency were the difference. The Herd shot a superior 49% from the field compared to Wright State’s 40% and made 13 of 16 free throws. The Raiders, despite forcing 10 turnovers and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, could not overcome their own cold shooting and Marshall’s shot-blocking prowess.

Kellen Pickett added 10 points off the bench for Wright State. For Marshall, Van Komen’s seven blocks were a season-high and underscored a team effort that saw them outscore Wright State 44-35 in the second half.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 10 seconds. After Wright State’s Callaghan hit a dramatic, game-tying three-pointer to knot the score at 74, Marshall immediately attacked. Jalen Speer took the inbound pass, drove the length of the court against pressure, and drew a critical foul on Wright State’s leading scorer, Michael Cooper, with just 1.9 seconds remaining. Speer, demonstrating composure, sank both free throws to reclaim the lead. Wright State’s subsequent foul on the final inbound attempt only added a single point but effectively sealed the outcome, capping a resilient Marshall comeback that was nearly undone by the Raiders’ last-gasp shot.