HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Terrence Thompson and Jon Elmore each scored 20 points and Marshall held Jackson State to just 26 second-half points en route to a 71-61 victory Monday night.
Aleksa Nikolic dunked off an offensive rebound to get Marshall within one at halftime and Elmore converted back-to-back layups to give the Thundering Herd a lead midway through the second half that they would not relinquish.
Chase Franklin got Jackson State within four, 63-59 with two free throws with 4:11 left, but Marshall closed with a dunk by Thompson and two layups by Elmore.
Marshall (4-0) shot 48 percent from the field (24 of 50) and was 4 of 14 from long range.
Paris Collins and Edric Dennis scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, to lead Jackson State (1-3), which committed 13 turnovers and shot 33.8 percent from the field (21 of 62), including 6 of 21 from distance.