BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Trailing 20-17 in the final minutes, sophomore quarterback Steven Duncan connected with sophomore receiver Jacquez Sloan for 60 yards to put the Hilltoppers within striking distance, but a Marshall forced fumble two plays later derailed a furious comeback effort as the Hilltoppers fell to the Herd on Saturday night.

Duncan threw for 263 yards on 24-of-39 passing with one touchdown - an 11-yard shovel pass to senior tight end Mik'Quan Deane - with one interception.

On a night where points were tough to come by, the Hilltopper defense produced four turnovers including three interceptions of Marshall freshman quarterback Isaiah Greene. However, WKU's inability to produce points off those turnovers proved to be the difference as just one drive was converted into a touchdown.

Freshman tailback Joshua Samuel led the team in rushing with 43 yards on 10 carries while a trio of Hilltopper receivers tallied five receptions, Lucky Jackson, Quin Jernighan, and Kyle Fourtenbary.

It was a back-and-forth affair as the Herd scored the first points of the day on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Green to Tyre Brady. Brady finished with 162 yards receiving. The Hilltoppers answered back with a 23-yard Ryan Nuss field goal and a Duncan 3-yard touchdown carry to build a 10-7 lead.

Marshall added a field goal before halftime to go into the break all tied up.

After a scoreless fourth quarter, Marshall took the lead on a 21-yard field goal before Duncan's touchdown toss to Deane.

Marshall's Green then orchestrated a 98-yard drive in the final three minutes of the game including a 32-yard strike to Brady for the game's deciding points.

WKU is off this week and returns to action at Charlotte on October 13.