Brandon Crossley ended the first overtime possession with an interception and Chris Naggar made a 34-yard field goal to give No. 17 SMU a 37-34 victory over Tulane on Friday night.
Crossley intercepted Tulane freshman Michael Pratt’s pass to put the Mustangs (5-0, 3-0 American Athletic) into position to win with the field goal.
The Green Wave rallied to force overtime on Merek Glover’s 27-yard field goal with 1:30 left.
After Tulane took a 31-27 lead early in the fourth quarter on Pratt's 7-yard touchdown, the Mustangs pulled ahead 34-31 lead on Shane Buechele's 10-yard pass to Danny Gray.
Buechele completed 23 of 37 passes for 384 yards and two touchdowns. He entered the game second nationally in passing yards.
Rashee Rice had seven receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown, and Gray added five catches for 133 yards and a touchdown and had a 32-yard scoring run. Ulysses Bentley ran for 94 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Tulane scored on its first possession of the game on Pratt's 31-yard pass to Mykel Jones, and its first possession of the second half on Stephon Huderson's 22-yard run
SPARSE CROWD
Only family members of players and the Tulane staff were allowed to attend the game at Yulman Stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic.
STALEMATE BROKEN
Southern Methodist took a 14-13 series lead.
FIRST DRIVE
Having caught only one pass in the first four games, Green Wave receiver Mykel Jones had three receptions for 40 yards on the first drive, the last the 31-yard scoring play.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
With so many big-time matchups between ranked teams Saturday, it’s too early to tell whether or not the Mustangs will make a significant jump.
UP NEXT
Southern Methodist: Hosts Cincinnati next Saturday.
Tulane: At Central Florida next Saturday.
