MIAMI — Jon Elmore scored 22 points and Ajdin Penava added a career-high 20 as Marshall opened its Conference USA season Saturday with a 94-70 romp over Florida International.
Before a crowd estimated at 100 — half wearing green — the Thundering Herd (8-6, 1-0) shot 57.6 percent to 41.7 percent for the Panthers (4-10, 0-1). Austin Loop matched Elmore’s four 3-pointers to finish with 14, and Stevie Browning had 13.
The outcome was almost never in doubt, as the Herd scored the first 12 points in just 2:54. The Panthers cut that to 19-17, but Loop answered with a 3-pointer, Christian Thieneman hit a jumper and Kyre Allison a 3-pointer to give MU a 27-17 lead.