RUSTON, La., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Luke McCown tossed three touchdown passes and Joe Smith ran for three more scores Saturday as Lousiana Tech snapped a four-game losing streak with a wild 50-47 triumph over Western Athletic Conference foe Nevada.
In a contest featuring eight lead changes and 1,001 yards of combined offense, Lousiana Tech (3-5, 2-2 WAC) went ahead for good, 37-34, on a 14-yard pass from McCown to D.J. Curry with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter.
After Corey Brazil returned an interception of Zac Threadgill 49 yards for a touchdown to extend the Bulldogs' advantage to 44-34 with 1:28 to go in the period, Nevada (3-5, 2-2) got no closer than three points thereafter.
McCown completed 20 of 28 passes for 376 yards and no interceptions and Smith gained 111 yards on 18 carries for Louisiana Tech, the defending WAC champion.
Threadgill was 31 of 40 for 338 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The Wolf Pack also wasted a stellar performance by Matt Milton, who rushed for 141 yards and four scores.
Nevada outgained Louisiana Tech, 533 yards to 468. All three meetings between the teams have been exciting with the Wolf Pack winning here in 1995, 49-45, and the Bulldogs posting a 45-42 triumph on the last play of the game a year ago.
