The SMU Mustangs lead UTEP 17-0 at halftime on Saturday night in El Paso, Texas.
SMU took a 3-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter when Chase Hover's 19-yard field goal capped a 14-play, 64-yard drive by the Mustangs. After the teams traded punts to start the second quarter, quarterback Garrett Gilbert finished a 65-yard touchdown drive with a 40-yard yard touchdown pass to Darius Johnson to give SMU a 10-0 lead over UTEP.
The Mustangs took a 17-0 lead late in the half when Ja'Gared Davis returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.
Gilbert, the former University of Texas quarterback, was 13-of-28 for 154 yards an interception and a touchdown in the first half. Zach Line led the Mustang rushing attack with 53 yards on 15 carries.
The Mustang defense was the big story of the first half, however, holding the Miners to just 128 total yards and five first downs in the half. UTEP was 1-for-7 on third down and turned the ball over twice, including the inception thrown by Nick Lamaison in the second quarter.