EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Jon Elmore scored 22 points with seven rebounds and five assists, and Marshall maintained safe distance down the stretch to beat UTEP 74-65 on Saturday night.
C.J. Burks’ 3-pointer started an early 10-0 Marshall run and the Thundering Herd went up 19-10 with 9:48 before halftime. Evan Gilyard had a 3-point play for UTEP before Marshall established a 6-0 spurt and led by 10. Marshall’s last three baskets of the half on 3s from Elmore, Jarrod West and Burks made it 34-24 at halftime.
The Miners closed to 36-31 within the first two minutes of the second half before Ajdin Penava made a 3 and Burks made 1 of 2 foul shots. Omega Harris’ layup pulled the Miners within three points, and with 4:04 left, Gilyard shaved UTEP’s deficit to 61-59, but the Miners never got closer.
Burks scored 16 points and Penava contributed 15 points and seven boards for the Thundering Herd (15-8, 6-4 Conference USA).
Gilyard led UTEP (7-16, 2-9) with 20 points.

Marshall box
MARSHALL 74, UTEP 65
MARSHALL (15-8)
Penava 4-10 5-6 15, Mijovic 2-3 0-0 4, Burks 6-15 1-3 16, West 2-4 0-0 5, J.Elmore 7-15 4-4 22, Koljanin 0-0 0-0 0, George 1-3 2-3 4, Williams 0-4 0-0 0, Watson 3-5 2-4 8. Totals 25-59 14-20 74.
UTEP (7-16)
Thomas 3-9 1-2 7, Wade 4-9 0-0 9, Frazier 3-12 0-0 8, Magee 2-3 0-0 4, Harris 3-6 2-3 8, Flaggert 0-1 2-2 2, Willms 2-4 1-3 5, Osborne 0-2 0-0 0, Touchet 1-2 0-0 2, Gilyard 6-11 5-6 20. Totals 24-59 11-16 65.
Halftime—Marshall 34-24. 3-Point Goals—Marshall 10-35 (J.Elmore 4-10, Burks 3-8, Penava 2-6, West 1-3, Watson 0-2, George 0-2, Williams 0-4), UTEP 6-21 (Gilyard 3-4, Frazier 2-8, Wade 1-2, Magee 0-1, Flaggert 0-1, Touchet 0-1, Osborne 0-2, Thomas 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Marshall 34 (Penava, Watson, J.Elmore 7), UTEP 35 (Thomas 7). Assists—Marshall 12 (J.Elmore 5), UTEP 9 (Harris 3). Total Fouls—Marshall 14, UTEP 19. A—6,061 (12,222).