Marshall drops UTEP 74-65

Marshall’s Jon Elmore dropped 22 points, helping the Herd put UTEP away late, and extending UTEP’s losing streak to five with a 74-65 dismissal of the struggling Miners.

The loss drops UTEP to 2-9 in C-USA play and 7-16 overall.

Turnovers plagued the Miners once again as UTEP gave the rock away 17 times, and UTEP went 6-for-20 from long distance in the game. Of course every turn was committed during inopportune chances when the game was close.

Marshall made the first biggest run and created early distance that the Miners couldn’t catch, racing out to a 19-10 lead at the 9:47 mark of the first half during a 10-0 run.

The Herd maintained a double digit lead the rest of half leading 34-24 at the break. Marshall went 6-for-21 from three point land in the opening half, while UTEP shot 2-for-12 from distance in the first half.

UTEP shot 34.5 percent from the floor in the opening half, and turned it over eight times.

The Herd started 2-for-7 from the field in the second half, and Matt Willms cut the lead down to 40-37 after the Miners outscored Marshall 11-6 in the first five minutes of the second half.

Things remained close from there, but the Herd an answer for every UTEP counter and pulled away late.

Evan Gilyard had a hot hand in the second half, he knocked down back-to-back three pointers, and UTEP trailed 61-59 with 4:04 left.

But Darius Geroge converted a three point play on the ensuing trip for the Herd and UTEP was chasing points the rest of the way.

Gilyard gave UTEP a much needed second half boost scoring 15 of his total 20 points in the final half, but no other UTEP player reached double figures.

Trey Wade had nine points, while Omega Harris and Keith Frazier added eight points. UTEP shot 40.7 percent from the floor in the game, but only had nine assists compared to those 17 turnovers.

UTEP will host UTSA next Saturday.