Observations of an off-the-clock media member at the UTEP-Marshall game:

7:02 p.m.: Introductions are complete.  Half the starters on the court have visible tattoos—4 from Marshall, 1 from UTEP.

7:03 p.m.: Nothing like a first-possession turnover.

7:04 p.m.: The iron is kind for Tyler Wilkerson.  Hits a jumper—becoming a true inside/outside threat.

7:05 p.m.: UTEP’s Tavaris Watts checks in.  Now there are two Miners on the court with tattoos.

7:10 p.m.: Marshall’s student section sustains steady noise for more than 30 seconds.

7:11 p.m.: Wilkerson hits a three.  He’s got 8 of the Herd’s 11 points.  He’s on pace to finish with 64 points.  I’m convinced he’ll score 70.

7:12 p.m.: Marshall male cheerleaders are throwing shirts into the crowd… But only one lands outside the student section.  Conspiracy?  Perhaps.

7:14 p.m.: I get a text message from someone behind the Marshall bench regarding my Washington Redskins hat.  Apparently, it’s not welcome.

7:16 p.m.: Perfect, but suspect, timing: Marshall professor Dan Hollis walks up behind me and flips my hat off my head.  The only logical explanation is that he is in cahoots with the text messager.

7:21 p.m.: Only three members of Marshall’s band know KC and The Sunshine Band’s “I Like It.”  The rest are using their notes as a crutch.

7:24 p.m.: The referees notice someone whistling in the crowd. The public address announcer tells the crowd if they are caught with a whistle, they’ll be ejected and Marshall will be assessed a technical foul.  A girl in the student section points to her mouth and appears to take credit.  Well done, young lady.  That’s some fine whistlin’.

7:27 p.m.: Out of the 10 players, 3 refs and 2 head coaches, no one on the court has hair longer than a quarter-inch.  My brother’s navy intramural basketball team has longer hair.

7:28 p.m.: Tyler Wilkerson scores his first points since my 70-point promise.  He’s now on pace for 38.

7:31 p.m.: Seven people at the scorer’s table are wearing sweater-vests.  Warm torsos, cool arms…

7:33 p.m.: UTEP’s Stefon Jackson hits a shot with a foul called.  Marshall’s Robbie Jackson enters the game before the free throw.  Marshall’s student section chants, “Jackson.”  It’s all very confusing.

7:38 p.m.: Robbie Jackson’s gum falls out after he grabs a rebound from a missed free throw.  He tosses it out of bounds.

7:38 p.m.: Robbie Jackson grabs an offensive rebound and converts on a 3-point play.  All without his gum.  Very impressive.

7:40 p.m.: Taurean Marshall enters the game for Robbie Jackson.  His leg looks like it’s in a full-leg cast.  A month ago, we thought his playing career was over.  One guy in the crowd sees the courage in this and stands to clap.

7:40 p.m.: Wilkerson finishes a 3-point play.  He’s now on pace for 33.

7:51 p.m.: Robbie Jackson simply being on the court is providing a spark.  He plays with middle-school playground enthusiasm.

7:53 p.m.: Marshall’s student section is chanting, “U-TEP, U-SUCK.”  Clear and clever.

7:53 p.m.: UTEP turns it over.  Clearly the Miners were upset with the Maniacs’ chant.

7:54 p.m.: Halftime. Taurean Marshall high-fives a ref on the way to the locker room.  The ref high-fives him back.

7:55 p.m.: WSAZ Producer Brad Myers calls me from the stands.

7:59 p.m.: Marshall’s dance team hits midcourt in camouflage.  If they were really trying go unnoticed, you would think they would avoid the middle of a Division I basketball court.

8:01 p.m.: WOWK’s Jared Fialko makes fun of my sweater as I enter Marshall’s media room.

8:01 p.m.: I grab some chips and a Pepsi and chit chat with WSAZ photographer Chris Atkins.

8:07 p.m.: Jared rides me on my sweater again.  Keith Morehouse laughs.

8:10 p.m.: 2nd half starts. UTEP’s Brazilian Victor Ramalho starts.  Finally some hair on the court.

8:13 p.m.: Marshall Volleyball Coach Mitch Jacobs rides the officials.  Some things never change.

8:15 p.m.: The kids who won the Herr’s chips race in the first half are now begging for free pizza during a 30-second timeout.  Gluttony at work.

8:19 p.m.: During a timeout, there’s a free throw contest at both ends of the court.  The first shot on the Marshall side ends up in the Marshall huddle.  From that point on, four Marshall players watch the contestant miss free throws at a frenzied pace.  This has to be a confidence boost for the Herd.

8:22 p.m.: After about 15 occasions of fans booing the officials, the referees finally make a clearly bad call on a deflection, giving UTEP possession.

8:22 p.m.: As I’m writing down that last one—fans are convinced the refs have conspired against the Herd again.  Robbie Jackson is called for a foul.

8:25 p.m.: Tyler Wilkerson re-enters.

8:26 p.m.: Wilkerson hits a jumper from the corner.

8:26 p.m.: The next time down the floor, Wilkerson goes after a loose ball and hits the deck.  Hustle points—though they don’t count toward my prediction.

8:31 p.m.: A kid in the Marshall student section is wearing a shirt with “I survived Altizer Elementary” printed on it.  I wonder what they’re doing to kids at Altizer for that kid to brag about survival.

8:32 p.m.: Attendance is announced at 4,628.

8:35 p.m.: Markel Humphrey dunks to get the Herd within 1 point.  That gets half of Marshall’s 4,000 or so actual attendance on their feet.

8:37 p.m.: This game seems to be turning into the Capital Classic.  With 10:21 left in the 2nd half, UTEP’s Jeremy Sampson fouls out.  With the next foul, Marshall will be in the bonus.

8:41 p.m.: Might be the Herd’s night… A rebound goes through a UTEP player’s hands. Tirrell Baines nearly turns the ball over twice in the backcourt. Wilkerson misses a dunk.  But the ball ends up in Mark Dorris’ hands, and he connects for a three..

8:51 p.m.: The tallest man on the court continues to be Darren Tillis—Marshall’s assistant coach.

8:55 p.m.: Marshall has more guys in suits than they do uniforms in their huddle.

8:57 p.m.: I have too much time on my hands.  …Or I’m a loser.  I figured out Marshall’s five on the court have numbers that add up to exactly 100 (0+4+30+32+34).  I find the symmetry interesting, but am afraid to tell this to anyone out of fear of being made fun of…

8:59 p.m.: Darryl Merthie on the line shooting two.  The arena is quiet for his first free throw as he misses.  But on the second, a guy behind media row insists on urging Merthie on like he’s a pitcher in a little league game.  The “chatter” does not help.  Merthie misses the second.

9:02 p.m.: The Herd is down 77-76 with 3.6 seconds left.  The crowd is leaving.  I’m baffled.

9:03 p.m.: During the Herd’s final timeout, the only guy with any sign of life in the Henderson Center appears to be the student in Marshall’s band who is playing cowbell.

9:04 p.m.: Game over. 23 lead changes, 13 ties, 18 points for Wilkerson.

9:05 p.m.: “Closing Time” plays across the speakers.

Game photos provided by  WSAZ Photojournalist Chris Atkins.