HUNTINGTON -- A one-point victory would have been fine.

But, the Marshall Thundering Herd didn't settle for just winning Saturday night in Cam Henderson Center. The Herd lowered the boom on East Carolina, 100-49, in a game that tied the Conference USA men's basketball record for the most lop-sided game between conference opponents.

Marshall stopped a five-game skid that included four C-USA defeats by differences of two (UAB), three (Memphis) and four (at Tulsa) points along with a 15-point game at Houston.

"Besides Houston, we were playing real hard," said Marshall guard Chris Lutz. "It's tough when you feel like you're giving it your all and come up a little bit short."

A brief break in conference play is up next when Marshall plays an NAIA opponent, the University of Rio Grande, in a 7 p.m., Tuesday, home game. Rio Grande is 5-19 for the season and 0-8 as a first-season member of the Mid-South Conference.

Marshall leads the all-time series with the Red Storm, 13-0.

Then, it's back into the conference Saturday at UAB.

Marshall (16-7) is fifth in the C-USA standings at 5-4. Second-place UAB, which won Saturday at Rice, 76-65, is idle until Saturday at 19-4 overall and 4-2 in the league.

UTEP took sole possession of first place Saturday at 8-1 with a 73-59 victory over Tulsa (7-2). UAB (7-2) and Memphis (6-2) are also ahead of Marshall in the standings.

"It's important where you finish," Marshall coach Donnie Jones said. "We have seven conference games to go. I think our kids are starting to lock in and focus on the grind."

Marshall led last-place East Carolina (7-16, 1-8) by 12 at halftime and blew it out in the second period.

Tirrell Baines led four Marshall double-figure scorers with a season-best 18 points and also pulled down five rebounds. Tyler Wilkerson added 17 points and five rebounds. Hassan Whiteside and Lutz both scored 15. Whiteside grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots. Lutz made four 3-point shots.

The Herd made 55.9 percent of its shots, had 26 assists on 38 field goals and committed just seven turnovers.

East Carolina players Darrius Morrow and Brock Young both had 11 points. The Pirates shot 25 percent from the field and had 22 turnovers.

If given a choice, East Carolina coach Mack McCarthy said he'd probably burn the game tape rather than watch it.

"They made us look awfully bad and we've actually played pretty well on the road," he said. "That's kind of befuddling."

Rio Grande lost its 12th consecutive game Saturday at home against WVU Tech, 108-89.

The Red Storm coached by Huntington native Ken French is led by senior guard P.J. Rase of Wheelersburg, Ohio, who played at Chesapeake High School. Rase averages 17.2 points.

Tuesday's contest is an exhibition for Rio Grande.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall's Chris Lutz drives against Jontae Sherrod of East Carolina during the C-USA mens basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at the Cam Henderson Center.

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