UCF 77, Marshall 63

2/6/2008 8:14 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -Jermaine Taylor led three Central Florida players in double figures with a career high 34 points as the Knights pulled away in the second half to beat Marshall 77-63 in a Conference USA game Wednesday night.

Marshall (11-10, 3-5) made only one field goal in the final four minutes. UCF (12-10, 5-3), which snapped a three-game losing streak, stretched a three-point lead to eight on a three-pointer by Mike O'Donnell with 3:08 left, and the Thundering Herd never got within seven points thereafter.

UCF built a 10-point advantage in the first 2:02 of the second half, but Marshall reeled off an 11-2 run in the next two minutes to pull within 43-42.

The Knights forced Marshall into 17 turnovers. UCF had 12 steals as a team.

Mike O?Donnell finished with 13 points and five rebounds for UCF. Dave Noel scored 11 points.

Tyler Wilkerson led Marshall with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Mark Dorris finished with 15 points and Darryl Merthie had 11.

UCF led 33-29 at halftime on the strength of Taylor's 16 points.