UTEP 48, SMU 45, OT

9/29/2007 8:29 PM

DALLAS (AP)-Marcus Thomas rushed for 207 yards and scored on a 10-yard run in overtime to lead UTEP to a 48-45 overtime victory over Southern Methodist on Saturday.

UTEP (3-2, 1-0 Conference USA) trailed by 21 points in the first half and by 14 in the fourth quarter before rallying to force overtime.

Thomas Morstead of SMU kicked a 23-yard field goal before Thomas scored his third touchdown of the game to hand the Mustangs (1-4, 0-1) their third straight loss.

Thomas had TD runs of two, 11 and 10 yards.

The Miners tied the game with seven seconds remaining.

Trevor Vittatoe capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jake Sears to even things at 42.

Vittatoe, who passed for 255 yards and two scores, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Moturi to narrow SMU's lead to 42-35 with 9:43 left in the game.

SMU quarterback Justin Willis was 15-of-28 passing for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Willis threw a 38-yard TD pass to Zach Sledge with 14:45 left to put the Mustangs ahead 42-28.

The Mustangs seized early momentum when they scored twice in six seconds.

Cedric Dorsey had a 50-yard touchdown run with 3:01 remaining in the first half. Then Wilton McCray intercepted a Vittatoe pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown to give SMU a 28-7 advantage.

Thomas' 11-yard scoring run brought UTEP within 28-14 at halftime.

Lorne Sam had a 31-yard touchdown run to bring the Miners within a touchdown early in the second quarterback, and Sam added a 12-yard run to tie the score at 28 with 6:49 left in the third.

Sam rushed for 106 yards on just nine carries.

James Mapps, who rushed for 149 yards, put SMU ahead on its next possession with a 1-yard scoring run.