Nov. 7, 2009

Final Stats |  Notes

NEW ORLEANS, La.- Donald Buckram notched his second 200+ yard rushing game of the season-while also surpassing 100 yards in receiving- but it wasn't enough as the UTEP football team fell, 45-38, in overtime against Tulane at the Louisiana Superdome Saturday afternoon.

"It's real disappointing," UTEP head coach Mike Price said. "There were some great efforts on both sides of the ball. Tulane made some great plays when it had to.

"We all had things we could have done better. I don't think the whole team played well enough. We've got to make plays and play a little bit smarter."

The Miners (3-6, 2-3 Conference USA) led 38-31 with 1:13 left to play in regulation, but the Green Wave (3-6, 1-4 C-USA) forced overtime after Andre Anderson scored off a 11-yard screen play from Ryan Griffin to cap a nine-play, 86-yard drive with only one second remaining.

Tulane possessed first in overtime, and proceeded to take its first lead since early in the second quarter (14-10) after Anderson scampered in from seven yards out.  The score pushed Anderson over 100 yards for the day, and put the Miners in need of a touchdown to force a second OT.

UTEP appeared poised to do so, after Buckram carried four straight times for 23 yards to set the Miners up with a first and goal from the Tulane two-yard line.

It was not to be, though. Jason Williams was dropped for a one-yard loss on first down. UTEP then was hit with a five-yard penalty, which was followed by an incomplete pass by Trevor Vittatoe.

Buckram, who finished with 234 rushing yards, 109 receiving yards and four touchdowns, became the first player in school history to surpass 100+yards for rushing and receiving in the same game. His last yards came on a three-yard rush on third down.

Facing fourth and goal from the five-yard line, Vittatoe dropped back to pass and almost immediately had Green Wave defenders breathing down his back. He retreated in an effort to escape the rush, but ultimately was dragged down by Alex Wacha at the Tulane 26.

UTEP will play the second of the current three-game roadtrip when it battles SMU at 1 p.m. MT on Nov. 14.