Herd Falls at Home To Cougars

1/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Jan. 27, 2007

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -Robert McKiver scored 19 points and all five Houston starters finished in double figures in 77-61 win over Marshall on Saturday night.

Oliver Lafayette scored 16 points before fouling out for Houston (9-9, 4-2 Conference USA). Jahmar Thorpe scored 12, Marcus Malone had 11 and Dion Dowell 10.

Mark Dorris scored 21 points for Marshall (7-13, 2-4) and Markel Humphrey had 15.

With the score tied 7-7, Houston used a full-court press to take over, forcing 13 first-half turnovers and jumping to a 27-12 lead midway through the first half. Lafayette scored 13 first-half points as Houston raced to a 44-26 halftime lead.

Marshall trimmed the deficit to 65-56 with 4:38 remaining in the game before Malone hit 3-pointers 1:22 apart to push the lead back to 15.

Houston made 18-of-22 free throws and 11 3-pointers. McKiver went 11-of-12 from the line.

Marshall shot 33 percent from the floor.