Randy Culpepper scored 24 points and UTEP shot almost 60 percent in an 82-74 victory over Marshall on Wednesday night.
UTEP (22-8, 10-5 Conference USA) is tied with Tulsa for second place, one game behind UAB.
Two Miners had double-doubles: Julyan Stone with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Jeremy Williams with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Claude Britten and Christian Polk scored 12 points each.
Tirrell Baines' double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds paced the Thundering Herd (20-10, 8-7), whose five-game winning streak ended. DeAndre Kane added 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and Damier Pitts scored 12.
UTEP shot 59.6 percent (31 of 52) to 38.9 percent (28 of 72) for Marshall. But the Herd outrebounded UTEP 47-31.
The Miners did not trail after falling behind 11-10 with 15:28 left in the first half, but they never led by more than 12.
