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The Marshall Thundering Herd enter Friday’s road tilt against the Old Dominion Monarchs tied for the best record in the Sun Belt Conference with the opportunity to take the conference crown with a win.
Marshall Thundering Herd (-3.5, 151) vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Improved defense has gotten Marshall to a 24-6 record thus far, ranking 17th in total possessions per game and allowing 9.8 points per 100 possessions fewer compared to last season. The Thundering Herd ranked 276th at this point last season but now rank 48th in points allowed per possession.
While Marshall looks to play at a rapid pace, Old Dominion will look to slow it down to its preferred tempo, ranking 293rd in the nation in total possessions per game.
The discipline that Old Dominion plays with should help slow the game down as Marshall’s defense is built largely around generating live-ball turnovers, ranking 22nd in the nation in steals per possession in road games. Old Dominion ranks 65th in fewest turnovers per possession at home.
Neither team shoots the ball well from beyond the arc with Marshall ranking 218th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage and Old Dominion ranking 284th. The Monarchs’ rank drops to 322nd when playing at home, making just 30.6% of their 3-point shots.
The last time these two teams met, Marshall picked up a 73-65 victory on Jan. 14 where both teams shot a combined 14-of-36 from 3-point range. Old Dominion stuck to its style, proving it can slow down Marshall’s strong attack.
With that in mind and Old Dominion entering Friday’s tilt having allowed 73 points or fewer in regulation to every team besides the James Madison Dukes in its last 13 games, Friday’s game will be played at its speed and will surely set up a low-scoring affair.
The Play: Marshall vs. Old Dominion Under 151
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