| Marshall Thundering Herd–West Virginia Mountaineers | |
|---|---|
| Men's Basketball History | |
| First meeting | January 16, 1929 |
| Last Meeting | January 19, 2011 |
| Last Result | MU: 75-71 |
| Next Meeting | January 18, 2012 |
| Number of Meetings | 39 |
| All-Time Series | WVU: 28-11 |
| Largest victory | WVU: 44-21 (1/16/1929) |
| Current Streak | MU: Won 1 |
| Longest MU Win Streak | 2 (12/06/1980-12/05/1981) (1/11/2005-1/25/2006) |
| Longest WVU Win Streak | 8 (1/16/1929-1/14/1931 2/20/1978-1/02/1980) |
| Last ten games | WVU: 6-4 |
| Women's Basketball History | |
| First meeting | January 25, 1974 |
| Last Meeting | January 19, 2011 |
| Last Result | WVU: 78-21 |
| Next Meeting | January 17, 2012 |
| Number of Meetings | 50 |
| All-Time Series | WVU: 34-16 |
| Largest victory | WVU: 78-21 (1/19/2011) |
| Current Streak | WVU: Won 6 |
| Longest MU Win Streak | 5 (1/25/1974-2/21/1976) |
| Longest WVU Win Streak | 9 (12/15/1980-12/22/1984) |
| Last ten games | WVU: 9-1 |
The Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic (also known as the Charleston Capital Classic and formerly as the Toyota Capital Classic) is the name of the in-state rivalry between the Marshall University and West Virginia University basketball teams, the Marshall Thundering Herd and the West Virginia Mountaineers. Chesapeake Energy is the title sponsor of the game.
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The basketball series was first played in 1929 (1974 for the women), but they didn't start playing annually until 1978. In 1992, they started to play their annual game in West Virginia's capital city of Charleston. WVU's campus is in Morgantown, West Virginia and Marshall's campus is in Huntington, West Virginia. The two universities are the only Division I programs in the state, thus creating a natural geographic rivalry. The meeting typically occurs in the middle of the schools conference schedules, WVU in the Big East Conference and Marshall in Conference USA.
The first seven meetings of the teams were in Morgantown, leading to the 1980 matchup at the Charleston Civic Center. From there, the game alternated between Huntington at the Cam Henderson Center and in Morgantown at the WVU Coliseum, with one exception, when it was played in Charleston in 1989.
The series moved to Charleston permanently in 1992 to coincide with the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature.
West Virginia leads the all-time series 28-11. When the game was played in Charleston, the Mountaineers have the edge 17-5. The Mountaineers also have the edge in Morgantown, 12-1. The Thundering Herd owns the edge in Huntington, going undefeated 5-0.
One of the most memorable games between in the series came in 2006, when Marshall ended the Mountaineers' 12-game winning streak. West Virginia was ranked No. 13 ESPN/USA Today and No. 9 AP poll, WVU center Kevin Pittsnogle guaranteed a victory for the Mountaineers, WVU held the nation's longest win streak, while Marshall was 7-9 prior to the match-up. Marshall shocked the college basketball world with a 58-52 upset win, it was the Thundering Herd's first win over an Associated Press Top 10 opponent since beating St. John's in 1971.[1]. Since that game, West Virginia has won four of five games over the Herd.
Marshall and WVU have a shorter history, but a similar one as the men. Marshall and WVU first played in 1974 and they would play 2 or 3 times a year alternating locations until 1992. (when is was moved to Charleston.)
WVU owns the series at all the locations. West Virginia is 9-4 at home, 8-4 in Huntington, and 17-8 in neutral sites. WVU is 34-16 all-time.