EL PASO, Texas (Ticker) -- Paul Smith rushed for a season-high 187 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns as Texas El Paso snapped a two-game losing streak with a 54-23 triumph over previously unbeaten New Mexico State.

Smith scored the final three touchdowns of the contest in the fourth quarter on runs of 44, two and one yards for UTEP (2-2), who won for the second time in as many contests at the Sun Bowl. He moved into ninth place on the Miners' all-time rushing list with 1,769 yards.

UTEP, which leads the all-time series 45-32-2, opened a 30-16 lead in the third quarter when Lee Mays corraled a 25-yard touchdown pass from Rocky Perez.

Mays finished with three catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns for the Miners, who outgained the Aggies, 505-260.

Perez came on in relief of Jay Stuckey, who passed for 178 yards and three touchdowns.

New Mexico State (3-1) got within seven points with 5:47 left in the third when quarterback K.C. Enzminger scored on a one-yard touchdown run to pull the Aggies within 30-23. They ended last season with a five-game skid.

Ezminger finished with 130 yards passing on 10-of-19 attempts.