Photo by Chris Drummond Marshall’s Bryant Paulsen guards a Windom Area opponent during their game on Friday. Marshall defeated Windom Area 77-72.

MARSHALL — The Marshall boys basketball team returned from a week-long break from games on Friday looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Harrisburg (S.D.). Marshall had its backs against the wall early against Windom Area, including a 17-2 deficit, but used a strong second half to rally to a 77-72 victory.

Marshall Tigers head coach Travis Carroll spoke on the slow start and first-half play overall.

“To start the game was tough, we got down by 15 points in the first half,” Carroll said. “Defensively we gave up 42 points in the half and we need to come out ready to defend at a higher level than what we did tonight.”

The Tigers had a late rally in the opening half to cut the Eagles’ lead to six, 42-36. In the second half, coach Carroll made an adjustment, saying they went to a 3/4-court trap.

“We definitely made adjustments throughout the half going to a three quarters trap because the original game plan wasn’t working,” Carroll said. “You get in those situations, you’ve got to be able to go to plan B and the kids did a great job of adjusting.”

The trap that coach Carroll implemented sped up Windom and they weren’t able to make shots like they did in the first half, which allowed Marshall to take the lead for good against the Eagles. The Tigers also dominated the rebounds with a 38-15 advantage.

Guard Noah Wilts led the Tigers in scoring with 24 points, followed by his teammates Omar Abdi and Charlie Jacobson, who also scored in double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Marshall would outscore the Eagles 41-30 in the second half for the win.

Junior guard Henry Erickson led the Eagles in scoring with 29 points.

Marshall (13-6) will travel to Alexandria to face off against the Cardinals today at 8:30 p.m.

Marshall 77, Windom Area 72

Windom Area 42 30 – 72

Marshall 36 41 – 77

Scoring: Marshall (Wilts 8-14, 1-2 24; Abdi 7-10, 0-1 15; Jacobson 6-6, 0-0 12; Maeyaert 4-10, 0-0 8; Elton 2-6, 1-2 7; Vierstraete 2-2, 0-0 4; Werner 1-5, 0-0 3; Paulsen 0-1, 2-3 2; Fenger 1-2, 0-0 2).

Rebounds: Marshall 38 (Jacobson 8; Paulsen 6; Werner 5; Graven, Osman 4; Wilts, Maeyaert 3; Abdi, Elton 2; Baynard 1).

Assists: Marshall 20 (Paulsen 5; Osman, Werner, Wilts 3; Abdi, Jacobson, Maeyaert 2).

Steals: Marshall 3 (Osman, Wilts, Paulsen 1).