GAME NOTES: The Marshall Thundering Herd finally put a stop to a six-game losing streak, and will now seek a second consecutive win as they travel to face the Arkansas State Red Wolves in a non-conference battle at the Convocation Center.

Marshall won its first three games of the 2014-15 season, but then proceeded to drop six straight decisions - four of them in front of the home crowd. But the Herd got back in the win column earlier this week with a 90-76 victory over King College.

Arkansas State had lost two games in a row before a 69-55 win over Mississippi State ended the team's skid. The Red Wolves enter sporting a 3-4 overall record, and will next play a home game when Sun Belt Conference play starts up in early January.

These two programs have met just twice on the hardwood in their series history. Arkansas State has taken both of those decisions, including a narrow 83-82 victory over the Thundering Herd in Huntington last season.

Going up against King College was just what Marshall needed to get back on the right track. The Thundering Herd, after losing six in a row since a 3-0 start to the new season, connected on 46.7 percent of their shots from the floor, including 12-of-37 from 3-point range. Austin Loop scored 17 points to lead the Herd over King, but he was aided by 16 points from Tamron Manning, a 15- point, 17-rebound double-double by Ryan Taylor, and 14 points coming from Justin Edmonds. Marshall pulled down an impressive 52 rebounds in the win, allowing just 38 boards to King.

Despite the 4-6 record, Marshall has proven to be a capable offensive team this season, netting 70.5 ppg on 41.5 percent shooting from the floor. Taylor has been spectacular this season, scoring a team-high 14.8 ppg and coming up just shy of a double-double average with a team-leading 9.3 rpg mark. Taylor is also the team's leading passer, having dished out 36 helpers through 10 games played. Shawn Smith chips in 12.0 ppg as the only other double-digit scorer for Marshall. It's been the team's defense that has needed work, allowing 69.2 ppg to opponents.

Arkansas State put a stop to a two-game slide with the victory over Mississippi State, in which the Red Wolves shot 52.2 percent from the floor and only had to endure two lead changes en route to the win. Sean Gardner netted 22 points with five rebounds to lead the team, while Cameron Golden chipped in with 15 points and Nouhoum Bocoum added 13 points with eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Mississippi State could only make 32.3 percent of its shots from the floor in the loss.

Anthony Livingston leads a group of three players for Arkansas State averaging a double-digit point total, netting 16.0 ppg on 56 percent shooting. His 6.6 rpg mark is also the best on the Arkansas State roster, as well as his eight blocked shots. Golden comes in behind Livingston in scoring at 14.9 ppg, followed by Gardner's 13.4 ppg. The Red Wolves are netting 67.6 ppg this season, but haven't performed as well on the defensive end of the floor, allowing 67.1 ppg to opponents.

Marshall may have ended its dreadful six-game losing streak, but the team still needs plenty of help if it wants to be competitive this season. Going against an Arkansas State team that is solid offensively likely won't yield the result the Herd are looking for.