Final Score: SMU 27, Rice 24

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Rishad Wimbley ran for 115 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the SMU Mustangs to a 27-24 victory over the Rice Owls in a Conference USA tussle at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Jared Williams added 80 yards and a score on the ground as well in the win for SMU (7-5, 5-3 C-USA), while Darius Johnson caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Signal-caller J.J. McDermott completed 16-of-25 for 179 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs as they snapped a two-game slide.

Nick Fanuzzi threw for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the way for Rice (4-8, 3-5), which compiled just 250 total yards in the losing effort.

SMU earned a 7-0 lead early in the opening frame following a 45-yard toss from McDermott to Johnson. A 52-yard Williams scamper early in the second period of play gave the Mustangs a 14-0 advantage.

The Owls responded late in the frame with a 13-yard scoring toss from Fanuzzi to Donte Moore.

Cameron Rice recovered a Williams fumble early in the third quarter, resulting in a 21-yard touchdown return that tied the contest at 14-14.

The Owls then took a 17-14 lead late in the stanza with a 49-yard Chris Boswell field goal.

The Mustangs reclaimed the lead early in the final period of play following a one-yard Wimbley plunge, while a 39-yard scoring scamper from Wimbley just minutes later gave SMU a 27-17 advantage.

A two-yard strike from Fanuzzi to Jordan Taylor with just over two minutes remaining pulled the Owls to within 27-24, but the Mustangs were able to hang on for the three-point win.

11/26 17:00:39 ET