HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Joshua Montgomery scored a game-high 20 points but Savannah State would still fall to Marshall 71-57 before 4,542 fans at the Cam Henderson Center.

Marshall led 37-15 at the half as the Thundering Herd shot 77.8 percent from the field while SSU was a cold 19.4 percent.

The Herd raced out to a 11-0 lead.

SSU did not get on the scoreboard until Preston Blackmon hit a 3-pointer with 15:02 left in the half.

Marshall answered Blackmon's basket with eight straight points for a 19-3 lead.

With 6:44 on the clock, SSU's deficit grew to 31-8.

The Tigers got as close as 18 but Marshall ended the half with DeAndre Kane making a layup and a pair of free throws for a 22-point halftime edge.

SSU sliced their deficit to 14 at the halfway mark of the second period and with 4:41 left trailed 58-48.

A 3-pointer by Blackmon pulled the Tigers within 62-53 with 1:41 remaining but Marshall out-scored SSU 9-4 the rest of the way.

Montgomery added seven rebounds for SSU (2-17). Jovonni Shuler scored 16 points while Blackmon added 12. Jyles Smith had eight rebounds.

SSU shot 48.4 percent from the floor in the second half and made 5 of 8 3-point shots while out-scoring the Herd 42-34.

Marshall (12-4), who out-rebounded the Tigers 40 to 25, was led by Kane's 18 points.

Savannah State made a season low eight turnovers.