Houston 45, UTEP 35

Published Oct. 27, 2012 10:05 p.m. ET

foxsports

Charles Sims rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns as Houston defeated UTEP 45-35 Saturday.

Sims scored on runs of 43, 6 and 1 yards as the Cougars (4-4, 3-1 Conference USA) built a 45-7 lead before UTEP (2-7, 1-4) scored the final 28 points of the game.

David Piland added 174 yards passing and two TDs while completing 16 of 30 passes for Houston.

UTEP (2-7, 1-4) got 137 yards rushing and two TDs from Nathan Jeffery. The Miners used four quarterbacks after starter Nick Lamaison went 8 for 18 with four interceptions - one a 97-yard return by Houston's D.J. Hayden for a score. UTEP also lost two fumbles and was sacked five times.

As a team, the Miners threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns while piling up 494 yards of offense - most of it coming after the game had already been decided.