Miami's Rich Allendorf applies defensive pressure to Marshall's Tamar Slay. (AP Photo/The Herald-Dispatch, Randy Snyder)

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- A season-high 43 first-half points was not enough as Miami fell to Marshall, 72-68. Tamar Slay's three-pointer with 25 seconds left lifted the Thundering Herd to the comeback victory over the RedHawks Wednesday night (Jan. 17).

Jason Grunkemeyer led Miami (6-10, 2-3 MAC) with 22 points and a career-high six assists. Mike Ensminger scored 14 and Alex Shorts had 12.

A 15-0 run in the first half ignited by three Grunkemeyer treys and fueld by two Ensminger field goals and an additional field goal by Shorts helped Miami gain a 31-20 advantage with just over seven minutes left in the half.

Miami shot a season-high 55 percent from the floor, including 69 percent in the first half for a 43-33 halftime lead.

Slay scored seven points in a 21-5 run to start the second half to give the Thundering Herd a 54-48 lead with 12:13 remaining.

Miami tied the score three times down the stretch but never retook the lead.

After Grunkemeyer sank two free throws with 2:15 left to make the score 68-68, Slay blocked a shot with 52 seconds left to set up his game-winning 3-pointer. He then blocked a 3-point attempt by Grunkemeyer in the closing seconds.

Travis Young, returning to action after missing seven games with a stress fracture in his right foot, put the game out of reach with a free throw with 1 second left. Slay, the Mid-American Conference's leading scorer, hit 6-of-11 3-pointers and finished with 24 points. He also was a hero on defense, blocking two shots in the final minute.

Junior college transfer Latece Williams scored a career-high 20 points for Marshall (11-3, 5-1 MAC). J.R. VanHoose had 12 points and 12 rebounds.