Huntington, WV -- (Sports Network) - Mark Cann threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another score in Marshall's 37-23 win over Houston in Conference-USA action.

Cann completed 15-of-25 passes for 157 yards and Darius Marshall ran for 102 yards and a TD for the Thundering Herd (4-4, 3-1 C-USA), who snapped a three- game skid and will take on East Carolina next Saturday. Marshall holds a half- game lead on the Pirates in the East standings of the conference.

Case Keenum completed 22-of-41 passes for 317 yards with a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions for the Cougars (4-4, 3-1), who lost for only the fourth time in their last 21 conference matchups and now look forward to a meeting with Tulane next Saturday.

Bryce Beall gained 68 yards on 14 carries and had a touchdown for Houston. He also caught five balls for 73 yards and a score, while Tyron Carrier had six receptions for 104 yards in a losing effort.

Marshall took immediate control of the contest by scoring the first 13 points. Craig Ratanamorn kicked a 28-yard field goal with 5:09 left in the first quarter and Cann threw nine yards to Cody Slate for a score early in the second. Ratanamorn connected from 25 yards out 3 1/2 minutes later, after Cann found Darius Passmore on a 65-yard pass.

Ben Bell's 22-yard field goal put Houston on the board, but Marshall moved the ball 67 yards just before the half with Ratanamorn connecting from 36 yards away for a 16-3 margin.

Cann threw a five-yard TD pass to Emmanuel Spann with 4:35 left in the third. On the next play, Ashton Hall picked off Keenum and brought the ball back to the three before Cann scored from a yard out on fourth down for a 30-3 cushion.

Beall caught a 14-yard TD pass from Keenum in the final minute of the third, but Marshall rumbled 22 yards to the end zone early in the fourth. Keenum hit Kierrie Johnson with a 59-yard TD pass with 12:21 left, and Beall capped the scoring on a two-yard run.

In the third quarter, Houston wide receiver Patrick Edwards reportedly fractured his right leg when he ran out of the end zone and into a band equipment cart while chasing a pass that sailed long.