HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Rondale Watson scored 20 points, Ajdin Penava added 18 with 15 rebounds, four assists and four blocks, and Marshall beat Southern Miss 85-66 in Thursday night's Conference USA opener for both teams.

Jon Elmore scored 13 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds, Jarrod West added 15 points with four 3-pointers, and Marshall (10-4) made 10 3s to the Golden Eagles' three and won the rebound battle 47-26.

Penava, who scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half, tied it at 11 with a layup and sparked a 10-4 run which Marshall rode to a 35-25 halftime lead. Elmore's back-to-back layups amid an 11-4 run put Marshall up 53-34 with 12:18 left to play and the Thundering Herd led by as many as 24.

Marshall, which has won nine straight home games, was without its second-leading scorer, C.J. Burks, who was out due to illness.

Tyree Griffin scored 19 points and Cortez Edwards added 18 for Southern Miss (7-7), which has lost three straight.