The Marshall men’s basketball team will host the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders for a two-game series on Feb. 12-13 at the Cam Henderson Center. 

Marshall is coming off a two-game series split against the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk, Virginia, of which the Herd lost game one 82-81 and won game two 87-67.

Despite being second to last in Conference USA east division and having the worst overall record in the conference, MTSU (5-11, 3-7) is coming off of a two-game sweep against the Charlotte 49ers, of which the Blue Raiders won game one 66-65, and game two 73-60. 

Marshall has a record of 10-5 (4-4 in C-USA).

Redshirt sophomore guard Andrew Taylor said that toughness will be key for this two-game series because the Blue Raiders are starting to find ways to win games.

“(MTSU) is finding a way to beat teams like ODU found a way to beat us (in game one),” Taylor said. “(ODU) out-toughed us on the boards, just the fact of the matter — we are going to have to be the tougher dudes in this matchup.”

The Marshall men’s basketball team is led by its three guards – Taevion Kinsey, Jarrod West and Andrew Taylor – each one of them averages over 10 points a game. 

Kinsey is second in total points per game in Conference USA, scoring 19.8 a game. 

UTSA Roadrunners guard Jhivvan Jackson is the only player in the conference with more at the moment, averaging 19.9 points per game.

MTSU’s two leading scorers are guards Dontrell Shuler and Jordan Davis. Shuler averages 12.5 points per game, and Davis averages 11.3 points per game.

Junior guard Taevion Kinsey said it is important that the team keeps its focus and does not get distracted by little details such as playing on the road or at home.

“We are definitely keeping our focus on us and whoever we have to play,” Kinsey said. “Focusing on one game at a time, I think that is our biggest thing that is going to help us.”

Presuming the Marshall men’s basketball team does not run into any dilemmas with COVID-19, four of its last six regular-season games will be played at home, with Rice being the only road trip left.

Marshall will face Middle Tennessee on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. and on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. Both games will air on ESPN+.

Noah Hickman can be contacted at [email protected].