The Steadying Influence of George Marshall

Stability and Versatility

(St. Louis, MO) – When coach Preston Spradlin left Morehead State, highly talented guard George Marshall could have transferred out or gone with coach Spradlin to James Madison. After Jonathan Mattox’s first year on the scene, Marshall could have bolted for greener pastures. The Eagles are 6-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play, due in part to the steadying influence of George Marshall.

The 6’4 senior guard is second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and leads the team in minutes played. Marshall also leads in three-pointers made, and steals. His overall game brings stability to a team that only had one other player return from last season.

Marshall and Anuoar Mellouk played significant roles on last year’s 15-win team and they were Mattox’s only returners. Their leadership and on-court play have beee essential to this year’s squad. Leading scorer Davion Cunningham (13.1) and Marshall bonded on the very day they met.

Each of the Morehead State guards share a deep commitment to their personal walks of faith. They have been the steadying influence for the 10-10 Eagles and reliable scoring options for the MSU offense. Each has topped the twenty-point plateau three times, with Cunningham racking up 35 against Southeast Missouri. George scored 26 against Wake Forest and put up 29 against Tennessee State.

Mattox plays ten different players with great regularity. Forward Jon Carroll leads the OVC in rebounds (conference games) and sophomore Josiah LeGree is among the league’s assist leaders. All ten of those players have started at least one game and Marshall says that’s because Mattox oversees competitive practices where players can earn playing time or even starts.

The Jackson, Mississippi native has always appreciated the steady play of NBA star Paul George, noting that he never ‘gets sped up’. Marshall wants to be that kind of steadying influence for this year’s Eagles’ team.

Enjoy our conversation with George Marshall here or an ‘audio-only’ version at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts.

 

 

 

 

What’s Next? 

Marshall and the Eagles host Eastern Illinois Saturday in a weather altered start time of 11:30 a.m. (CST). The Eagles are one four teams tied for second place in the OVC race. Tennessee State, Little Rock and Lindenwood are 6-3. UT Martin leads the race at 7-2. While Southeast Missouri is 6-4 and EIU and Southern Illinois Edwardsville are 5-4, the league race could not be tighter.

Saturday’s OVC games mark the end of the first half of the league season and usher in the finishing kick to what should be the most hectic race for postseason tournament seeding this league has ever seen.

During Saturday’s games, two of those 6-3 teams square off when TSU visits SIUE. First place UT Martin entertains 6-3 Little Rock. The standings could look very differently on Sunday morning.

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