HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Tarrion Adams ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns as Tulsa defeated Marshall 38-35 to clinch Conference USA's West Division on Saturday.
Adams scored from 1, 1 and 6 yards out, and Tulsa finished with 516 total yards to Marshall's 437.
Tulsa (10-2, 7-1 Conference USA) came into the game needing help to reach its second consecutive conference championship game.
The Golden Hurricane, who will make their third appearance in the conference title game, benefited from Rice knocking off Houston 56-42 and then defeated Marshall (4-8, 3-5) to earn the right to host East Carolina next week.
Tulsa's David Johnson was 21 of 33 for 313 yards and two touchdown passes.
Courtney Edmonson was on the receiving end of Brian Anderson's first career touchdown pass midway through the first quarter to give the Thundering Herd a 7-0 lead.
Anderson, who started for the injured Mark Cann, was 14 of 19 for 177 yards and three scores.
Anderson found Darius Passmore for a 42-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 21 just before halftime.
Chubb Small, Darius Marshall and Terrell Edwards combined for 237 rushing yards for Marshall. The trio also combined for two touchdowns, highlighted by a 69-yard scamper by Small to tie the score at 14 midway through the second quarter.
Tulsa took a 38-35 lead with 3:42 to play in the fourth quarter on Jarod Tracy's 22-yard field goal.
Marshall had an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but Small was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Thundering Herd's 49-yard line with 1:56 left in the game.
