While I agree with your first sentence, I must question your second. In the late 60s, Marshall had two NIT appearances (1967, 1968). Meanwhile, WVU went to the NCAA tournament in 1967, and also went to the NIT in 1968. Not sure how that puts MU "way ahead" of WVU. Now I will recognize MU's superiority in the early 70s.
Now let's look at the second part of that sentence where you state that the two schools "were about even for more than two decades" after the series started up in 1978. I'll go decade by decade.
Late 1970s
Neither school played in the postseason those years. The two schools met 4 times with WVU winning all 4.
1980s
WVU reached the NCAA Tournament 6 times in the decade and won 3 tournament games. WVU also reached the NIT 3 times that decade including an NIT Final Four in 1981.
Marshall reached the NCAA Tournament 3 times that decade and went 0-3. MU went to the NIT once and lost in the first round.
Head-to-head, the schools played 11 times that decade, with WVU winning 6.
While WVU has a slightly stronger record in the 1980s, I'll give you the "were about even" sentiment.
1990s
WVU went to the NCAA Tournament twice that decade including a Sweet 16 in 1998. WVU also got 4 NIT bids and won 5 games in those tournaments.
MU never reached the postseason in the 1990s.
Head-to-head, the schools played 9 times that decade, with WVU winning 7.
WVU was clearly stronger than MU in the 1990s.
2000s
WVU went to the NCAA Tournament 4 times that decade with two Sweet 16s (2006 and 2008) and an Elite 8 (2005). WVU also had 3 NIT berths and won 7 games including the NIT Championship in 2007.
MU never reached the postseason in that decade.
Head-to-head, the schools played 10 times that decade, with WVU winning 7.
WVU was clearly stronger than MU in the 2000s.
Overall
WVU has had 30 NCAA Tournament appearances and has a 32-30 record in those games including 2 Final Fours. MU has 6 NCAA Tournament appearances and is 1-6 in those games.
WVU has played in the NIT tournament 16 times with a 21-16 record including 2 NIT Championships. MU has 5 NIT appearances and is 2-6 in those games.
Head-to-head, the schools have played 45 times; WVU leads the series 34-11.
Now I ask you, where are the "more than two decades" when the schools were about even?
