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HOUSTON -- A seven-point road loss, particularly as a double-digit underdog, shouldn't sting like this one.

Still, there was a distinct one-that-got-away feel to Marshall University's 35-28 setback Saturday afternoon at Houston. The Thundering Herd (2-9, 2-5 Conference USA) failed to convert two first half turnovers into points, and a questionable second half official's call secured a sixth loss in as many road games this season.

Houston (7-4, 6-2), meanwhile, made enough plays to satisfy the Robertson Stadium Homecoming crowd of 21,116.

"We had some opportunities," Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said. "I haven't been a part of very many football games where I win the turnover margin 2-0 and lost.

"We're going to have to dig deep into this."

After battling back midway through the second half, Marshall was undone by an instant replay reversal. Defensive tackle Byron Tinker clipped Houston quarterback Case Keenum in midthrow, sending the ball in an apparent backward tumble. End Ryland Wilson recovered at Houston's 42-yard line, trailing 20-14 with 14:25 remaining.

A lengthy review followed and the home crowd celebrated at the announcement of an incomplete pass, reversing the fumble call. Eight plays, later, Keenum bulled into the end zone from 1 yard and his conversion run extended the advantage to 28-14.

"They get paid to overturn calls or not overturn calls, so you have to go with what they saw," Snyder said. "They got to see it a whole bunch. I only got to see it once."

"I was rushed up the field and Byron Tinker got to the quarterback, and I saw the ball and ran to it," Wilson added. "That would have been a big play for us. We needed that.

"That could have turned the game around."

Marshall achieved what it needed early, running down breakaway tailback Anthony Alridge and Houston's collection of speedy threats. Despite a pair of missed first half field goals, the Thundering Herd stared at just a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Trouble was avoided early in the second half, forcing Houston to a 24-yard T.J. Lawrence field goal. A 12-point underdog very much remained in the game, but Marshall's offense couldn't manage game-changing plays down the stretch.

Alridge eventually delivered the decisive shot, strolling between the hashes for a 24-yard touchdown reception. Exploiting an all-out blitz, Keenum calmly lofted to a wide-open Alridge for his second touchdown, extending the advantage to 20-7.

Behind power running, Marshall countered with its most impressive drive. Marching 80 yards -- iincluding 71 on the ground -- the deficit trimmed to 20-14 on Chubb Small's 13-yard option pitch run.

"We felt like we needed to establish the line of scrimmage a little, not let them tee off on us," Snyder said. "We can run the football."

Houston stiff-armed the Herd down the stretch, however, in the first meeting between the teams.

The Cougars outgained Marshall, 472-396, behind Keenum, who passed for 298 yard and two touchdowns and added 44 yards and another score rushing. Alridge gained 103 yards on 25 carries and Mark Hafner totaled 128 yards on six receptions, including a late 62-yard touchdown.

Marshall quarterback Bernard Morris connected on 20 of 32 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked three times. Darius Marshall rushed for 66 yards and E.J. Wynn added the same on six catches.

The Herd's weightiest 2007 burden finally lifted when Morris stepped into the pocket and fired a 32-yard touchdown slant to Emmanuel Spann. It was the first Marshall touchdown in the first quarter this season, coming with 36 seconds left in the quarter, and provided a 7-3 lead.

"It showed that we were coming to play from the beginning," said Spann, who led the Herd with 75 receiving yards on three catches. "The defense gave Bernie the route he wanted and he delivered the ball."

A false start penalty, followed by a 15-yard loss on a sack, stalled a second quarter drive at the Houston 12. Anthony Binswanger's 47-yard field goal attempt pushed just right.

Houston pounced on the momentum switch, driving 70 yards in nine plays. Alridge outraced C.J. Spillman to the pylon, resuming the Cougars lead at 10-7.

In another shift from Marshall's season-long trend, a forced turnover equaled opportunity on the right side of the 50. Spillman recovered Keenum's fumble at the Cougars' 37, but Marshall didn't convert.

Another sack led to another field goal attempt and Binswanger's 42-yarder again was errant right. A matchup of potent offenses and inconsistent defensive play read "Houston 10, Marshall 7" through two quarters.

"We asked Bins to kick some long field goals," Snyder said, summing the missed opportunities. "We take a sack when you're going in and you do have three and it pushed you back out of field goal range.

"Just silly things, silly coaching things that continue to bug us all year that we have to get fixed. We've got one more game to try to get it fixed."

Marshall concludes the 2007 season Saturday at home against UAB. Fourteen seniors will be honored in their Joan C. Edwards Stadium finale (Philip Gamble could earn an extra season of eligibility in 2008). Kickoff is 4:30 p.m.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

Herd freshman running back Darius Marshall is escorted in to the end zone by offensive lineman Daniel Baldridge in the second half Saturday, November 17, 2007, against the Houston Cougars at Robertson Stadium. The 35-28 loss for the Herd gives them a winless record on the road this year.

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