HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (AP) — Taevion Kinsey posted 19 points and eight assists as Marshall cruised to an 89-69 victory over Rice 89-69 in a Conference USA opener on Thursday night.
Kinsey made 8 of 13 shots from the floor for the Thundering Herd (7-7), who shot 58 percent from the floor (35 of 60). Jarrod West added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Marshall led 44-35 at halftime.
Drew Peterson had 18 points for the Owls (8-6). Robert Martin scored 12, while Trey Murphy III had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Rice shot just 37 percent from the floor, but the Owls made 19 of 25 free throws (76 percent). Marshall made 11 of 21 from the foul line (52 percent) but won the rebound battle 41-26.

Marshall box
MARSHALL 89, RICE 69
RICE (8-6)
Adams 0-0 0-0 3, Fiedler 0-0 0-0 0, Murphy 0-0 0-0 0, Peterson 0-0 0-0 18. Totals 0-0 0-0 21.
MARSHALL (7-7)
Kinsey 8-13 1-3 19, West 6-8 1-4 15, George 3-6 1-2 7, Taylor 3-5 0-0 8, J.Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Bennett 2-4 3-4 7, Brooks-Harris 3-6 0-0 6, Sarenac 0-2 2-2 2, Beyers 3-4 1-2 7, Miladinovic 2-4 0-0 4, Dillon 1-2 0-0 2, Thomas 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 0-0 0-0 27.
Halftime—Marshall 44-35. 3-Point Goals—Rice 0-0 (), Marshall 0-0 (Taylor 2-3, West 2-3, Kinsey 2-6, Thomas 1-1, Beyers 0-1, Brooks-Harris 0-1, Dillon 0-1, Sarenac 0-2, George 0-3). Rebounds—Rice 7 (Murphy 7), Marshall 10 (Taylor 8). Assists—Rice 1 (Fiedler 1), Marshall 8 (Kinsey 8). Total Fouls—Rice 0, Marshall 0. A—5,311 (9,048).