SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Mike Anderson rushed for a career-high 204 yards, Steve Smith returned two punts for touchdowns and Utah coach Ron McBride put the debate over his job security on hold.

Smith scored on punt returns of 70 and 52 yards and T.D. Croshaw threw for four touchdowns as Utah beat New Mexico 52-7 on Saturday, giving McBride a much-needed victory after two weeks of criticism from frustrated fans.

The Utes (7-3, 4-2 Mountain West) led 21-7 after the first quarter and 35-7 at halftime to rebound from consecutive losses to Colorado State and Wyoming, defeats that raised questions about McBride's leadership.

The Lobos (3-6, 2-3) suffered their worst loss since a 94-17 defeat to Fresno State in 1991. They couldn't stop Smith, who struck twice on punt returns over a span of 1:18 at the end of the first quarter and the start of the second.

First, Smith caught Cort Moffitt's punt at the Utes 30, dodged a tackler and sprinted untouched down the right sideline for a 21-7 lead.

Utah forced another punt on the ensuing possession. Smith made the catch at midfield, spun out of a cluster of tacklers at New Mexico's 40 and ran to the end zone, again untouched, for a 28-7 lead.

After that, Moffitt angled most of his punts out of bounds. However, Smith added a 40-yard return in the fourth quarter, setting up a 3-yard TD run by Omar Bacon that made it 52-7.

Meanwhile, Anderson was piling up yardage in chunks. He went over the 100-yard mark with a 13-yard burst early in the second quarter. Usually running off tackle, Anderson had 82 yards in the first quarter and 122 by halftime.

Croshaw made his third start and completed 12-of-21 for 182 yards with three interceptions. Darnell Arceneaux, hospitalized after suffering a concussion last week against Wyoming, watched from the sidelines.

There were few highlights for the Lobos, who capped their first possession with a 5-yard TD run by Jarrod Baxter to tie it at 7-7.

Safety Brian Urlacher, one of the nation's best defensive players and a top NFL prospect, had a career-high 21 tackles. But several of his tackles came after Anderson or Smith were deep downfield.

Holmon Wiggins rushed for 131 yards for New Mexico but the Lobos allowed a season-high 469 yards. Baxter had 47 yards against the Utes one week after going for 131 in a 36-22 loss to Colorado State.