Rice 43, SMU 42

11/10/2007 6:30 PM

DALLAS (AP) -Clark Fangmeier hit a 31-yard field goal with no time left to give Rice a 43-42 win over Southern Methodist on Saturday.

Fangmeier's field goal capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive that consumed the final 2:29 of the game and helped the Owls (3-7,3-3 Conference USA) overcome a 15-point fourth quarter deficit.

Chase Clement of Rice completed 35 of 52 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 124 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns.

Clement scored on a 6-yard run to narrow SMU's lead to 42-40 with 10:01 left in the game, but the Owls failed on the two-point conversion attempt. Clement began the quarter by scoring on an 8-yard run on the first play.

SMU's Justin Willis completed 13 of 31 passes for 165 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score.

The game was the first home game for SMU (1-9, 0-6) since the school announced head coach Phil Bennett would not return following the 2007 season but would remain for the rest of the year.

The Mustangs scored 28 straight points to take a 42-27 lead after a 1-yard run by Chris Butler with 2:06 left in the third quarter.

The Owls returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half to help build a 27-21 halftime lead. Brandon King scored on a 30-yard interception return and Andrew Sendejo scored on a 31-yard return with 4:53 left in the second quarter for a 27-14 Rice lead.

Clement set a single-season school record for touchdown passes for 22 in a season after he threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes to Jarrett Dillard of 13 and 25 yards. Clement broke the previous record of 21, which he held with Tommy Kramer.

Dillard also set a school record in the game for most career receptions with 190, breaking Eric Henley's previous record of 186. Dillard finished with 13 receptions and 128 yards.

Zach Sledge caught three touchdown passes of 21, 15 and 6 yards for the Mustangs. Sledge finished with five receptions for 68 yards. SMU's DeMyron Martin led all rushers with 137 yards on 16 carries.