Recap: Texas-El Paso vs. New Mexico St

El Paso, TX (Sports Network) - Nick Lamaison threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns as he guided the Miners of Texas-El Paso to a 41-28 victory over the New Mexico State Aggies in non-conference action at Sun Bowl Stadium.

Lamaison completed 21-of-32 passes for the Miners (1-2) as they snapped a four-game slide going back to last season. Jordan Leslie caught seven balls for 147 yards and a score and Josh Bell added a couple of TDs on the ground as he carried the ball nine times for 30 yards.

The Aggies (1-2) were paced by Andrew Manley who converted 20-of-47 passing for 290 yards and three TDs, but he was also picked off once and sacked three times on the night. Austin Franklin, ranked second in the nation in receiving yards per game (154.0) heading into the week, finished with seven catches for 107 yards and two TDs in the setback.

UTEP raced out to a 27-0 lead and never looked back. The squad began with a one-yard TD run by Bell, although the first PAT of the evening was blocked.

Lamaison then tossed TD passes to Kevin Perry and Leslie of four and 32 yards, respectively, followed by a three-yard TD run by Bell early in the second quarter.

The Aggies finally responded at the 3:05 mark of the second frame when Manley combined with Franklin on a 37-yard TD pass play to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive and make the score 27-7 at the break.

Tiger Powell's one-yard TD run in the third quarter narrowed the gap again for NMSU, but still the visitors trailed by 13 points.

Two more touchdown passes from Lamaison, a 17-yard effort to Craig Wenrick and a 36-yard connection with Michael Edwards, boosted the score to 41-14 with 9:11 to play in regulation.

The Aggies again took a bite out of UTEP's lead as Manley hooked up with Kemonte Bateman on a 25-yard TD pass play and then linked with Franklin on an 11-yard TD, but it was too little, too late as the Miners secured the 13-point triumph.

The Miners captured the win despite being flagged for 12 penalties, amounting to 129 yards.