Sports

Final Score: Marshall 24, Rice 20

Huntington, WV (Sports Network) - A.J. Graham ran for 129 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead the Marshall Thundering Herd to a 24-20 victory over the Rice Owls in a Conference USA battle at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Graham also completed 11-of-22 for 99 yards under center in the win for Marshall (3-4, 2-1 C-USA), which also saw 58 yards and a score on the ground from Tron Martinez.

Taylor McHargue completed 10-of-16 for 150 yards and a touchdown to lead the way for Rice (2-4, 1-2), while Sam McGuffie ran for 70 yards and a score in the loss.

A.J. Graham gave the Thundering Herd a 7-0 lead late in the opening period of play with a 15-yard run.

Graham found the end zone again early in the second stanza, this time from five yards out to give Marshall a 14-0 advantage.

The Owls got on the board with a pair of Chris Boswell field goals from 35 and 24 yards away late in the frame.

But the Thundering Herd tacked on a Tyler Warner 45-yard kick as time expired in the half to earn a 17-6 lead.

A 49-yard completion from McHargue to Vance McDonald midway through the third quarter pulled the Owls to within 17-13, while a four-yard scamper from McGuffie gave Rice a 20-17 lead.

Marshall reclaimed the lead with just under two minutes remaining in the contest via a four-yard run by Martinez, and were able to hang on for the 24-20 victory.