The New Mexico Bowl was bereft of big plays, but Kent Myers accounted for two of them as Utah State grinded out a 21-6 victory over UTEP on Saturday.
Myers ran for a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter and set up a Nick Vigil TD run in the third with a 46-yard pass to JoJo Natson.
The Aggies were otherwise stagnant on offense, but so were the Miners, who converted 5-of-20 third-down tries and managed just 149 rushing yards, well below their season average of 212.
Utah State (10-4) reached double-digit wins for the second time in school history and posted its third straight postseason victory.
The Miners (7-6) were hoping to end their campaign the way they started -- with a win at University Stadium in Albuquerque. They upended New Mexico there in the season opener behind Aaron Jones' 237 yards and three TDs on the ground, but Jones was limited to 88 yards on 25 carries in the finale.
Jameill Showers completed 13-of-24 passes for 126 yards and an interception in defeat.
[SportsNetwork.com]
