EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Cristian Solano threw two touchdown passes to Elijah Cooks, Kelton Moore ran for two fourth-quarter scores, and Nevada beat UTEP 37-21 on Saturday night.
Solano was 13-of-19 passes for 182 yards with an interception and added 100 yards rushing on 10 carries.
UTEP (1-1) opened the second half with a 17-play, 75-yard drive that lasted nine minutes, 59 seconds and was capped by Kai Locksley's 1-yard touchdown run to make it 21-21 but the Miners never again crossed midfield. Brandon Talton made a 27-yard field goal with 1:49 left in the third quarter before Moore scored on runs of 5 yards and 1 yard in the fourth quarter.
Solano hit Cooks for a 28-yard touchdown to cap a nine-play, 75-yard that made it 14-all with 3:02 left in the first half. On UTEP's next play from scrimmage, Tyson Williams picked off a pass and, three plays later, Solano and Cooks connected for a 20-yard TD.
Treyvon Hughes had 17 carries for 80 yards and scored two first-half touchdowns for UTEP.
Toa Taua had 43 yards rushing and a score on 10 carries for Nevada (3-1).
Nevada begins Mountain West play this weekend and hosts Hawaii on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
