SMU pulls away in 4th quarter to beat UConn 49-28

DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Delano Robinson #24 of SMU celebrates after recovering a fumble against Connecticut during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

DALLAS (AP) - Ben Hicks passed for 280 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday and SMU pulled away with three fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Connecticut 49-28.

The Mustangs (4-1, 1-0 American) took the lead for good at 35-28 on Hicks' 34-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton with 11:46 left. SMU's Ryan Becker blocked Brett Graham's punt on UConn's next possession and Ke'Mon Freeman's 3-yard run made it 42-28. The Huskies (1-3, 0-2) then turned it over on downs deep in their own territory and Braeden West's 25-yard run capped the scoring on the next play.

Trey Quinn caught 15 passes for 116 yards and two TDs and Sutton finished with seven catches for 112 yards and two scores for SMU.

UConn trailed 21-10 at halftime but cut the deficit to one with 10-straight third-quarter points and tied it at 28 early in the fourth.

Bryant Shirreffs passed for 408 yards and two TDs for the Huskies but was sacked eight times.

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