Tulsa Stays In CUSA Race

Saturday, November 3rd 2007, 11:20 pm

By: News On 6

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Paul Smith threw for three touchdowns and ran for two others to help Tulsa stay firmly in the Conference USA West Division race with a 49-25 victory over Tulane on Saturday.

Paul Smith was 18-of-27 passing for 319 yards and was intercepted once. His touchdown passes included a 52-yard strike to Brennan Marion and a 37-yarder to Trae Johnson.

Tulsa's Roy Roberts returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown late in the first half, while reserve quarterback A.J. Whitmore had a 56-yard touchdown run late in the game.

The victory for Tulsa (6-3, 4-2) sets up a pivotal home game next week against West Division-leading Houston (5-3, 4-1), which was slated to play Sunday night against SMU.

Tulane (2-7, 1-4) was as close as 21-18 after quarterback Anthony Scelfo's short touchdown run early in the second half, but Tulsa came right back with a nine-play 60-yard touchdown drive the ended with Smith's 1-yard keeper, and Golden Hurricane pulled away from there.