The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Johnny Thomas had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Damier Pitts scored 20 points as Marshall defeated Southern Mississippi 95-65 on Saturday night.

Pitts scored 14 of his points in the first half and DeAndre Kane added 12 in the first half of his 19 overall for the Thundering Herd (11-4, 1-1 Conference USA), who never trailed and led 42-30 at halftime.

The Golden Eagles (12-3, 1-1), who had won seven of their previous eight games, made just 34.8 percent of their shots (23 of 66), including just 1 of 16 from 3-point range.

Marshall already led by 24 when Southern Mississippi’s Sai’Quon Stone fouled Kane with 10:43 remaining and then drew a technical. Coach Larry Eustachy’s protests resulted in two more technicals and his ejection. Pitts made all six free throws for the technicals and Kane made 1 of 2 for a 74-43 lead.

Gary Flowers scored 20 points for Southern Mississippi.

MARSHALL 95, SOUTHERN MISS. 65

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (12-3)

Ayarza 2-4 0-0 4, Flowers 8-21 3-5 20, Horton 4-12 3-4 11, Johnson 2-5 2-2 6, Newbill 3-9 4-6 10, Page 1-7 0-0 2, Bolden 2-5 2-3 6, Stone 1-3 4-6 6, Phillips 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-66 18-26 65.

MARSHALL (11-4)

Thomas 9-14 2-3 20, Baines 7-11 3-4 17, Spikes 1-1 0-0 2, Pitts 4-7 10-10 20, Kane 7-13 3-6 19, Higgins 0-0 0-0 0, Pena 3-5 0-0 9, Humphrey 0-1 0-0 0, Fischer 0-0 0-0 0, Allen 0-1 1-2 1, Johnson 3-9 1-4 7, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Howe 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-63 20-29 95.

Halftime—Marshall 42-30. 3-Point Goals—Southern Miss. 1-16 (Flowers 1-6, Johnson 0-1, Bolden 0-1, Ayarza 0-1, Newbill 0-1, Page 0-2, Horton 0-4), Marshall 7-15 (Pena 3-5, Pitts 2-3, Kane 2-4, Thomas 0-1, Johnson 0-2). Fouled Out—Ayarza. Rebounds—Southern Miss. 40 (Bolden 10), Marshall 42 (Thomas 11). Assists—Southern Miss. 4 (Johnson 3), Marshall 19 (Kane 8). Total Fouls—Southern Miss. 25, Marshall 22. Technicals—Stone, Southern Miss. Coach 2, Allen. Ejected—. Ejections—Southern Miss. Coach. A—5,603.