Final Score: SMU 45, East Carolina 38 (OT)

Greenville, NC (Sports Network) - Zach Line's one-yard touchdown run in overtime proved to be the game-winner as the SMU Mustangs slipped by East Carolina, 45-38, in Conference USA action at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Wrapping up the victory for the Mustangs (7-5, 6-2 CUSA) was Richard Crawford who picked off a pass in the overtime session to push the visitors into the Conference USA Championship game. Line finished the afternoon with two touchdowns and 123 yards on 30 carries, while quarterback Kyle Padron converted 21-of-34 passes for 331 yards and three TDs.

The Pirates (6-6, 5-3) were paced by Dominique Davis who hit on 33-of-45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked twice and threw the critical interception to end the game.

ECU moved out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a pair of two-yard touchdown runs by Jon Williams.

After that the Mustangs ripped off 24 straight points, beginning with a 28- yard field goal by Matt Szymanski, followed by a 15-yard TD pass between Padron and Keenan Holman to make the score 14-10 at the break.

Padron then hooked up with Cole Beasley on a six-yard TD strike and Ja'Gared Davis scooped up a fumble and returned it 33 yards for a TD to give the Mustangs a 24-14 advantage in the third stanza.

Pirates kicker Mike Barbour's 33-yard field goal cut into the deficit as it capped a seven-play, 77-yard drive, but before the third quarter could end Padron and the Mustangs struck again, this time as the QB combined with Aldrick Robinson on a 53-yard effort to make the score 31-17 heading into the final period.

Davis threw his first TD of the day at the 13:54 mark of the fourth quarter, hitting Lance Lewis with a five-yard effort.

Line's first TD run of the game, a five-yard effort at the 9:10 mark of the fourth quarter, moved the advantage back to a couple of touchdowns for the Mustangs at 38-24.

Four minutes later Davis ran into the end zone from nine yards out and, with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation, tied the game when he hit Lewis with a seven-yard TD pass to finish off an 11-play, 62-yard drive that used up less than two and a half minutes.

SMU fumbled the ball three times on the day, but lost possession only once. The squad also played well under pressure by converting 12-of-17 on third down.