LAFAYETTE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Michael Mitchell rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns and Pat Dennis returned a punt 47 yards for a score as Louisiana-Monroe posted a 31-7 victory over intra-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette.

With his team leading 10-7 in the second quarter, Mitchell broke open the game on a pair of third-quarter two-yard touchdown runs. Dennis' punt return early in the fourth period sealed the win, which snapped a three-game losing streak for the Indians.

Quarterback Andy Chance gave Monroe a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run. The Indians extended their lead to 10-0 less than four minutes later on a 40-yard field goal by Justin Mink.

Darren Brister cut Monroe's lead to three on a four-yard touchdown run with 8:23 left in the second quarter.

Chance completed 12-of-22 passes for 113 yards and added 55 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Monroe (3-5) allowed only 120 yards of total offense in improving to 18-17 all-time against Lafayette. The Indians have won the last three meetings.

Brister entered today's game with back-to-back 100-yard games, but was held to 62 yards on 13 carries. Derek Dyer struggled all day, completing only 5-of-21 passes for 33 yards.

Lafayette (1-7) suffered its fourth straight defeat in "the Battle of Louisiana."