Miners pull away from Tulane
EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Jordan Palmer threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the second quarter, as UTEP beat Tulane 34-20 on Saturday night.
The Miners (4-2, 2-0 Conference USA) used a 21-point second quarter to pull away from the Green Wave (2-4, 1-3). Palmer, who completed 22-of-29 passes, connected with Joe Weston on a 19-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the second quarter.
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A 37-yard field goal by Tulane kicker Ross Thevenot made it a 10-3 game with 10:46 to go in the second quarter. But the Miners scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first half to put the game away.
Palmer hit tight end Jamar Hunt with a 3-yard pass to go up by two touchdowns with 3:21 left in the half. Two minutes later, Johnnie Lee Higgins returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown, putting UTEP up 24-3 at the break.
The Miners added 10 more points in the third quarter on a field goal by Reagan Schneider and a 39-yard touchdown pass from Palmer to Higgins.
Tulane outgained UTEP 481 yards to 365. But the Green Wave committed five turnovers, including three lost fumbles.
Matt Forte led Tulane with 141 yards on 16 carries. Preston Brown caught 11 passes for 98 yards.