Behind 259 rushing yards and a record-breaking night by Alex Gardner, FIU ran past Marshall 31-14 Saturday night at FIU Stadium in the final home game of the 2016 season. It was the Panthers first win against the Thundering Herd in five games in their series.

FIU improved to 4-7 overall and 4-3 in Conference USA play. Marshall dropped to 3-8 and 2-5 in C-USA.

Gardner ran for 119 yards to break the FIU career rushing record held by Rashod Smith, who played on the inaugural FIU football team in 2002. Smith, who played from 2002-04 at FIU, rushed for 2,195 career yards. Gardner finished the night with 2,221 career rushing yards.

Gardner surpassed Smith with an 18-yard run late in the fourth quarter to set up the final FIU touchdown. Two plays later Gardner punched it in with an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 31-14 Panthers.

The ground was the preferred method of travel for FIU Saturday. Anthony Jones rushed for a game-high 121 yards. With Gardner's 119 yards it marked the fourth time in FIU history that the Panthers had at least two 100-yard rushers in the same game. Gardner and Jones combined to accomplish the feat earlier this season against UTEP.

The other two instances when FIU had multiple 100-yard rushers in the same game was in 2003 against Jacksonville when Adam Gorman (138 yards) and Diamos Demerritt (121 yards) did it. The Panthers had three rushers go over the century mark in 2010 against Troy when Darriet Perry (186), T.Y. Hilton (158) and Darrian Mallary (118) did so.

After a 7-7 score to start the game, FIU scored 17 unanswered points to take control in the second half. Christian Alexander found A.J. Branisel for a 3-yard touchdown just before halftime to snap the tie.

The only scoring in the third quarter was a 29-yard field goal by Austin Taylor.

Jones extended the FIU lead to 24-7 when he bulled in from 8 yards out with 6:04 left in the game.

Maurice Alexander started the game at quarterback for FIU and led the Panthers to a touchdown on the opening drive of the game.

Maurice Alexander needed just three passes to get FIU into the red zone. The big play was a 48-yard strike to Stantley Thomas on the first play of the game. The pass put the ball at the Marshall 34. Maurice Alexander then connected with Darrius Scott for passes of seven yards and 13 yards before Gardner ran in a 14-yard touchdown.

Maurice Alexander was 14 of 20 for 204 yards and threw two interceptions. Christian Alexander played one series and was 4 of 5 for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Treyvon Williams led FIU with 11 tackles. Fermin Silva had two sacks. Leonard Washington had one sack. Niko Gonzalez and Isaiah Brown each intercepted one pass.

FIU limited Marshall to 78 yards rushing and 379 total yards. The Panthers amassed 516 total yards.

FIU wraps up its 2016 season at Old Dominion next Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. from Foreman Field.