College Basketball Roundup : Coaches Unhappy After Marshall Wins

Marshall Coach Rick Huckabay complained about his team’s occasionally lackluster play, and West Virginia Coach Gale Catlett complained about the officiating after Marshall defeated in-state rival West Virginia, 82-72, Sunday at Huntington, W. Va.

West Virginia began the game without its five regular starting players because of curfew violations, which reportedly occurred Saturday night in Huntington.

Skip Henderson scored 28 points, and Marshall converted a six-point play with 1:05 left to play after what Catlett termed the worst call he has seen in five years as the Thundering Herd pulled away.

West Virginia (4-4), had pulled to within four points (72-68) when Marshall freshman John Taft was fouled by Steve Berger as he dribbled down the sideline. Catlett stormed onto the court to protest the intentional foul call and was charged with a technical.

Taft made all four free throws, and Henderson then scored on a drive as Marshall (7-1) took a 78-68 lead.

“That intentional foul call was the worst I’ve seen in five years of basketball. . . .If that wasn’t a “homer” call, I’ve never seen one in all my years of coaching,” Catlett said.

Wyoming 92, Columbia 56--The Cowboys, who trailed, 32-31, at halftime, outscored the Lions, 34-6, in the first 10 minutes of the second half and went to win easily in the first round of the Wyoming Cowboy Shootout tournament at Casper.

Forward Fennis Dembo scored 32 points, including 12 on three-point shots, to lead the fifth-ranked Cowboys. Wyoming is 8-0, its best start since the 1950-51 season. Columbia is 1-5.

Santa Clara 84, Holy Cross 69--The Broncos scored the final 12 points of the game after the Crusaders had pulled to within three points (72-69) on a three-point shot by Greg Martucci with 1:57 remaining at Santa Clara.

Sophomore guard Osei Appiah led Santa Clara (5-4) with 19 points, and sophomore center Nils Becker scored 13, including 10 in the first half. Holy Cross is 4-4.

Oregon 74, Northern Arizona 48--Forward Anthony Taylor scored 26 points, including 14 in the first half, to lead the Ducks over the Lumberjacks in the first round of the Far West tournament at Portland. Oregon is 4-3, Northern Arizona 2-6.

Nevada Reno 86, Rice 73--Guards Darryl Owens and Byron Stranchan scored 22 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the Wolf Pack past the Owls at Reno.

Owens gave Nevada Reno (5-3) the lead for good at the 13:44 mark of the second half with a layup after a steal. Stranchan hit five of six three-point baskets on the way to 15 first-half points as the Wolf Pack took a 37-34 halftime lead. Rice is 2-6.

Texas Tech 58, Fresno State 55--Jerry Mason scored the last five Red Raider points, including a three-point basket that put them ahead to stay with 1:24 remaining, in the opening game of the Holiday Bowl tournament in San Diego.