Content area
Full Text
DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER
AKRON - Just seconds before Marshall's opening tip Saturday, Coach Greg White stood up in front of his bench, looked across the floor at press row and mouthed the words, "Western by one."
We got the message.
Western Michigan had rallied to beat Northern Illinois, 86-85. Now, all Marshall had to do was beat Akron and the Herd would host a first-round Mid-American Conference tournament game tonight.
Mission accomplished.
Thanks to Ronald Blackshear.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard exploded for a record-setting performance of 44 points, including 14 3-pointers, to lead Marshall to a 104-87 victory.
That gave Marshall the coveted No. 8 seed and set up a first- round MAC tourney game against Northern Illinois at 7:30 tonight at the Henderson Center. The game will not be televised.
"I was listening to the Western Michigan-Northern Illinois game in the locker room," revealed White. "I had it on a computer. I was stressed out. I didn't want to go on the road. Period."
Not to Miami, Ohio. Not to Western Michigan. And especially not to Northern Illinois.
"Cindy Crawford was not going to be up there," said White, referring to the famous fashion model who grew up in Dekalb, Ill. "So we had no reason to go to Northern Illinois.
"The good news is they're on a bus heading to Huntington right now."
That's good news for two reasons. No. 1, Marshall has a 14-14 record overall and an 8-10 mark in the MAC, but...