Bowling Green, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - T.J. Price erupted for a game-high 25 points as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers crushed the Marshall Thundering Herd, 81-62, in Conference USA action at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Price, who shot 4-of-7 behind the 3-point line and was a perfect 5-of-5 at the charity stripe, also handed out eight assists, cleared six rebounds and collected four steals for the Hilltoppers (8-5, 1-0 C-USA) as they won for the fifth time in the last six outings. D.J. Clayton produced 15 points for WKU and George Fant a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Herd (4-10, 0-1) was paced by Ryan Taylor with 15 points, although he shot only 2-of-9 from the floor on the afternoon. Aleksa Nikolic and Austin Loop contributed 10 points apiece in the fourth straight setback for the program.

With a Taylor 3-pointer to open the game, Marshall led right out of the gate, but the advantage never moved beyond three points as the team shot only 3- of-10 behind the 3-point line through the first 20 minutes. The Hilltoppers shot slightly better from the field and knocked down 6-of-14 on the perimeter in order to take a 39-29 lead at the break.

In the second half Marshall buried itself with just 8-of-31 shooting from the field, which included a dismal 2-of-13 on the outside, clearing the way for Western Kentucky to cruise to the win.

Beaten on the glass by a 44-35 margin, the Thundering Herd also hurt themselves with 19 turnovers, which WKU converted into 15 points.