MONROE, La. – Marshall built a 20-point first half lead and held off ULM's second half charge as the Thundering Herd defeated the Warhawks, 68-57, Wednesday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
Obinna Anochili-Killen led Marshall (7-8 overall, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference) with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Kamdyn Curfman added 14 points (4-of-10 3-point field goal attempts) while Jacob Conner stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Jerry Ngopot was the only ULM (4-8, 0-2) scorer to reach double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds.
 
Marshall shot a blistering 56% (15-of-27) from the field in the first half while adding a 50% (6-of-12) rate from 3-point range.
 
After ULM tied the game at 9 on a layup by Ngopot, Marshall scored 10 of the next 12 points to build an eight-point lead, 19-11, on a layup by Kycen Pruett with 8:50 to go before halftime.
 
Marshall led 21-15 before going on a 15-1 run, extending the lead to 20 for the first time at 36-16 on a 3-pointer by Curfman with 1:26 remaining in the half. A dunk by Ngopot brought ULM within 18 at halftime, 39-21.
 
The Herd's lead hit its peak at 22, 47-25, on a 3-pointer by Curfman with 17:36 to play. ULM slowly chipped away at the lead, getting within 15 at 48-33 on a free throw by Nika Metskhvarisvili with 13:32 to go. Marshall used another trey by Curfman and a jumper by Kevon Voyles to go back up 20, 53-33, at the 12:50 mark.
 
ULM used an 8-0 run to get back within a dozen on Ngopot's free throw with 8:34 to play. The lead dipped inside single digits to nine at 62-53 on free throws by Savion Gallion with 2:44 remaining. Makai Willis' jumper from the left wing brought ULM within seven, 62-55, with 1:59 left, but the Warhawks got no closer.
 
Marshall cooled off to 41% (24-of-58) from the field for the game while shooting 33% (9-of-27) from 3-point range and 58% (11-of-19) at the free throw line. ULM shot 32% (19-of-59) from the field, hit just 1-of-15 3-point field-goal attempts (7%) and 69% (18-of-26) from the free throw line. Marshall outrebounded ULM, 41-40, marking just the third time this season the Warhawks lost the rebounding battle.
 
ULM continues a four-game home stand at 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Georgia Southern.