NCAA Game Summary - Connecticut at SMU

Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Garrett Gilbert threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns to propel the SMU Mustangs to a 38-21 victory over the Connecticut Huskies 38-21 in an American Athletic Conference tilt at Ford Stadium.

Gilbert completed 33-of-52 pass attempts for the Mustangs (4-5, 3-2 AAC). His two key targets were Keenan Holman, who made eight receptions for 88 yards a pair of scores, and Jeremy Johnson, who tallied 12 catches for 71 yards and also had two touchdown grabs. Der'rikk Thompson caught five passes for 113 yards. K.C. Nlemchi picked up 64 yards on eight carries to pace the Mustangs on the ground.

Casey Cochran threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, completing 25-of-42 pass attempts for the Huskies (0-9, 0-5 AAC) who again failed to get into the win column this season. Lyle McCombs ran for 103 yards on 17 carries and Max DeLorenzo added 62 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Geremy Davis caught six passes for 77 yards and a score.

Neither offense produced any points until the 3:35 mark of the first quarter until the Mustangs opened the scoring as Gilbert tossed a one-yard pass to Holman in the end zone to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.

SMU doubled its advantage on the scoreboard at the 11:39 mark of the second quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass from Gilbert to Johnson.

The Huskies finally posted some points on the board with just over seven minutes remaining in the opening half as DeLorenzo rushed two yards for a score

SMU responded with only 18 seconds left before the intermission as Johnson ran five yards across the goal line to give the hosts a 21-7 lead as the contest progressed into the second half.

With five minutes left in the third quarter, UConn pulled back within a touchdown as Cochran threw a one-yard pass to Sean McQuillan for six points. Chad Christen converted the ensuing extra-point try to narrow the Huskies' deficit to 21-14.

In the final minute of the third period, Holman caught a 20-yard pass from Gilbert for his second touchdown to push the Mustangs back to double-digits at 28-14.

Davis caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Cochran to bring the Huskies within striking distance again as they trailed, 28-21, with just over 10 minutes left in regulation.

Chase Hoover made it a two-possession lead for SMU as he chipped in a 27- yard field goal try with 3:50 left.

Stephon Sanders secured the win for the Mustangs by intercepting Cochran on the ensuing UConn drive and returning the pick 35 yards for a touchdown.

The Mustangs outpaced their conference foe with 460 total yards of offense to the Huskies' 385. They also intercepted Cochran twice without turning the ball over in the contest.