RICHMOND, Ky. -- — Joshua Carter carried 31 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns to help Eastern Kentucky beat winless Utah Tech 28-17 on Saturday.

Carter has eight touchdowns in his last six games.

Maddox Marcellus returned a fumble 23 yards to give EKU a 14-3 lead at halftime. It was the first scoop-and-score for EKU since Jeremiah Bailey did it in the season finale last year against Stephen F. Austin.

Utah Tech, which entered with just three touchdowns in its last 12 quarters, went without a TD until 4:05 remaining in the third quarter to get within 21-10.

Neither team scored again until 2:27 left in the fourth when Carter ran in from the 6. Utah Tech needed just 74 seconds to answer on freshman Bronson Barben's second touchdown pass, but EKU recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Six EKU rushers combined to carry 55 times for 287 yards and three scores. Matt Morrissey threw for just 75 yards for Eastern Kentucky (4-4, 2-2 United Athletic Conference). Kicker Patrick Nations made four PATs to move within three kicking points of breaking the program’s career record of 285 set by Taylor Long from 2005-08.

Barben went 22 of 39 for 231 yards and two touchdowns for Utah Tech (0-9, 0-5). Josh Rillos caught seven passes for 72 yards.

It was coach Walt Wells' fifth straight homecoming victory with the Colonels, including a double-overtime win against Tarleton State last season.

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