Shaq Johnson stepped up as a senior should in a time of need.
Johnson didn't lead the Marshall University men's basketball team in a victory Saturday at Memphis, but his 21 points helped keep the game close and let Conference USA know the Thundering Herd wasn't going down without a battle.
"I just knew I had to play better," said Johnson, a 6-foot-3 senior guard who also had three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot.
His 21 points and 38 minutes played were season highs. His six field goals, three 3-point shots and six foul shots were also season bests.
The 21 points were more than Johnson scored in three previous games combined, and the most since he hit for a career-high 22 against North Carolina A&T in the opening game of his sophomore season (2009-10).
"He's coming off maybe his best game since I've been here," said Tom Herrion, the second-season Marshall head coach.
But, Memphis won (83-76) and Marshall took its fourth consecutive loss. Johnson said he'd rather have a win and zero points.
Fifth-place Marshall, 13-8 for the season and 4-3 in C-USA, attempts to stop the skid in a 7 p.m., Wednesday, meeting with Tulane (14-7, 2-5) in Cam Henderson Center.
"We need a win in the worst way," Herrion said.
A Tuesday report on ESPN.com by Jason King listed Marshall as a team in control of its own postseason destiny, but with some work left to do.
Marshall is two games back of league-leading Memphis and Southern Miss with nine left to play before the C-USA tournament, where only the champion receives an automatic NCAA tournament berth. Other tournament-worthy teams are left in a hunt for NCAA at-large invitations, or spots in lesser postseason events.
"We've still got time," Johnson said. "We've got to realize there's no need to panic."
Marshall had a good effort against Memphis, but Herrion said the Herd didn't make enough plays, didn't get enough defensive stops and hurt itself with some inopportune turnovers.
The Herd's overall shooting of 44.4 percent and free throw accuracy (22 of 31, 71.0 percent) were improved from recent games. Memphis connected on 65.0 percent from the field in the second half. Three consecutive turnovers were costly in a stretch of the second half when Memphis took the lead.
Herrion responded to a question about bad team morale by saying he didn't think that was an issue.
"They showed that they cared a great deal with their effort and preparation," he said.
Marshall is a middle of the pack team in the C-USA statistics in scoring (69.6 per game), scoring defense (65.8) and field goal percentage (42.8); leads the league in average rebound margin at plus-8.9; and lags behind in last place for free throw shooting percentage (60.2) and 3-point field goal percentage (30.2).
Sophomore guard Dre Kane leads the Herd's scorers with a 16.1 average, good for third in the conference. Senior point guard Damier Pitts (13.2) is followed by 6-8 junior forward Dennis Tinnon (9.5), Johnson (7.8), and 6-9 junior forward Rob Goff.
Tinnon is 21st in the nation and third in C-USA with 10.2 rebounds a game.
Tulane scores about the same at 67.1 a game, but leads the conference in scoring defense, allowing only 58 points on average.
Freshman Ricky Tarrant averages 13.8 points for the Green Wave and is a four-time C-USA Freshman of the Week. Junior guard Jordan Callahan averages 11.5 points. Both Tarrant (18.4) and Callahan (14.6) score more against conference foes.
Josh Davis, a 6-8 sophomore transfer from N.C. State, gives Tulane strength inside with his 10.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Tulane head coach Ed Conroy returns to Cam Henderson Center where he was 0-5 as a guard for The Citadel from 1985 to 1989.
Johnson didn't lead the Marshall University men's basketball team in a victory Saturday at Memphis, but his 21 points helped keep the game close and let Conference USA know the Thundering Herd wasn't going down without a battle.
"I just knew I had to play better," said Johnson, a 6-foot-3 senior guard who also had three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot.
His 21 points and 38 minutes played were season highs. His six field goals, three 3-point shots and six foul shots were also season bests.
The 21 points were more than Johnson scored in three previous games combined, and the most since he hit for a career-high 22 against North Carolina A&T in the opening game of his sophomore season (2009-10).
"He's coming off maybe his best game since I've been here," said Tom Herrion, the second-season Marshall head coach.
But, Memphis won (83-76) and Marshall took its fourth consecutive loss. Johnson said he'd rather have a win and zero points.
Fifth-place Marshall, 13-8 for the season and 4-3 in C-USA, attempts to stop the skid in a 7 p.m., Wednesday, meeting with Tulane (14-7, 2-5) in Cam Henderson Center.
"We need a win in the worst way," Herrion said.
A Tuesday report on ESPN.com by Jason King listed Marshall as a team in control of its own postseason destiny, but with some work left to do.
Marshall is two games back of league-leading Memphis and Southern Miss with nine left to play before the C-USA tournament, where only the champion receives an automatic NCAA tournament berth. Other tournament-worthy teams are left in a hunt for NCAA at-large invitations, or spots in lesser postseason events.
"We've still got time," Johnson said. "We've got to realize there's no need to panic."
Marshall had a good effort against Memphis, but Herrion said the Herd didn't make enough plays, didn't get enough defensive stops and hurt itself with some inopportune turnovers.
The Herd's overall shooting of 44.4 percent and free throw accuracy (22 of 31, 71.0 percent) were improved from recent games. Memphis connected on 65.0 percent from the field in the second half. Three consecutive turnovers were costly in a stretch of the second half when Memphis took the lead.
Herrion responded to a question about bad team morale by saying he didn't think that was an issue.
"They showed that they cared a great deal with their effort and preparation," he said.
Marshall is a middle of the pack team in the C-USA statistics in scoring (69.6 per game), scoring defense (65.8) and field goal percentage (42.8); leads the league in average rebound margin at plus-8.9; and lags behind in last place for free throw shooting percentage (60.2) and 3-point field goal percentage (30.2).
Sophomore guard Dre Kane leads the Herd's scorers with a 16.1 average, good for third in the conference. Senior point guard Damier Pitts (13.2) is followed by 6-8 junior forward Dennis Tinnon (9.5), Johnson (7.8), and 6-9 junior forward Rob Goff.
Tinnon is 21st in the nation and third in C-USA with 10.2 rebounds a game.
Tulane scores about the same at 67.1 a game, but leads the conference in scoring defense, allowing only 58 points on average.
Freshman Ricky Tarrant averages 13.8 points for the Green Wave and is a four-time C-USA Freshman of the Week. Junior guard Jordan Callahan averages 11.5 points. Both Tarrant (18.4) and Callahan (14.6) score more against conference foes.
Josh Davis, a 6-8 sophomore transfer from N.C. State, gives Tulane strength inside with his 10.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Tulane head coach Ed Conroy returns to Cam Henderson Center where he was 0-5 as a guard for The Citadel from 1985 to 1989.
