Marshall beats UAB 31-17

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Brian Anderson threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns to lead Marshall to a 31-17 win over Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday.

Anderson, who completed 25 of 41 passes with one interception for the Thundering Herd (3-6, 2-3 Conference USA), threw two first-quarter touchdown passes.

UAB quarterback Bryan Ellis also had two scoring passes in the first half, the second a 43-yarder to Patrick Hearn to tie the game at 14 with 1:03 to go until halftime.

Marshall then went seven plays in 58 seconds, culminating in Tyler Warner’s 41-yard field goal.

The Blazers (3-6, 2-3) tied the game early in the fourth quarter on Josh Zahn’s 20-yard field goal.

After the Thundering Herd’s Troy Evans recovered his own fumble in the end zone for 24-17, Lee Smith caught his second touchdown pass from Anderson with 5:02 to go.

Marshall has won two in a row after a three-game skid.