Tulsa 20, UTEP 0

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Eric Richardson ran for 197 yards as Tulsa ended the nation's longest current losing streak at 17 by defeating Texas-El Paso 20-0 Saturday. <br><br>Tyler Gooch added two short

Sunday, October 27th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Eric Richardson ran for 197 yards as Tulsa ended the nation's longest current losing streak at 17 by defeating Texas-El Paso 20-0 Saturday.

Tyler Gooch added two short TD passes for Tulsa (1-7, 1-3 Western Athletic Conference). The Golden Hurricane won for the first time since opening last season with a victory over Division I-AA Indiana State.

The Miners (2-6, 1-3) had just 210 total yards. Quarterback Omar Duarte threw three interceptions, and UTEP lost two of its four fumbles.

Army now has the longest losing streak in major college football, eight games. Army lost to UAB 29-26 Saturday.

After the homecoming victory, Tulsa students streamed onto the field and tore down the goal posts in the north end zone. Pieces were last seen heading out of Skelly Stadium and onto 11th Street.

Tulsa used a time-consuming drive and a UTEP fumble to take a 10-0 halftime lead. On their first possession, the Golden Hurricane needed 12 plays to go 41 yards in a drive that consumed more than seven minutes. Kicker Brad DeVault completed the possession with a 39-yard field goal.

Following a holding penalty on the kickoff, UTEP took over at its own 13. Three plays later, Duarte, UTEP's third starter this season, fumbled while faking a handoff. Josh Walker recovered for Tulsa at the 11.

Gooch passed to fullback Mark Holata over the middle for the touchdown, and the extra point made it 10-0.