SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark completed a school-record 30 passes and logged his 10^th career 300-yard game to help Missouri State to a 38-24 homecoming win over visiting UTEP here Saturday.
 
Clark finished with 330 yards through the air and four touchdowns, including two scoring passes to freshman tight end Jaron Askren, with 10 different MoState receivers getting into the action.
 
Shomari Lawrence also logged a career-high 25 carries to pace the Missouri State ground attack, collecting 109 yards and a score. It marked the second time this season he has reached the century mark in rushing yardage.
 
The Bears (7-3, 5-1 CUSA) never trailed and shrugged a 17-point third quarter by the visitors with a great finish of their own to record their fifth consecutive victory. It also marked the ninth consecutive game the Bears have held their opponent under 30 points.
 
After MSU led 24-7 at the half, the Miners (2-8, 1-5 CUSA) capitalized on a 41-yard punt return by Nik Henry to set the visitors up at the Bears 36-yard line on their first drive of the third quarter. Nine plays later, UTEP settled for a 26-yard field goal by Tanner Cragun to make it a 24-10 game.
 
That big special teams play seemed to ignite the Miners who forced two more Bears punts later in the quarter and rallied to tie the game up. A four-yard rush by quarterback Skyler Locklear got UTEP within seven, and then a blocked punt recovered in the end zone by Ekow Taylor tied the game, 24-24, with 2:15 left in the third.
 
But just like last week's game at Liberty, Missouri State saved its best for the final quarter. A Clark-led 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive ensued and returned the lead to the Bears who never looked back. The go-ahead march included three clutch third-down conversions – a nine-yard completion to Jmariyae Robinson, a 19-yard strike to Connor Lair to the UTEP 12, and then a 12-yard TD strike to Tristian Gardner to squelch a Miners blitz and make it a 31-24 game.
 
The MSU defense then forced UTEP into a three-and-out on their next possession with Jared Lloyd breaking up a pass on third down to halt the Miners in their tracks.
 
Clark and the Bears then went to work to put the game on ice. Helped by a defensive holding penalty at the MSU 34, the home side used Askren again with a key 26-yard completion to get MoState to the UTEP 29. Lawrence later added a 13-yard rush to move the Bears to the two-yard line before Clark connected with Dash Luke for the touchdown with just 3:12 left in the game.
 
The seven-minute scoring drive was Missouri State's longest of the season and made it a 38-24 game.
 
Five plays later, UTEP turned the ball over on downs, and the Bears ultimately ran out the clock to secure their fifth straight homecoming victory.
 
The Bears racked up 27 first downs and 436 yards of total offense with more than 37 minutes of possession time.
 
Kanye Young (8) and DJ Wesolak (7) led Missouri State's defense in total tackles with Wesolak logging 2.5 sacks. Jalen Brooks also pitched in 6 stops for the maroon side.
 
UTEP collected just 240 total yards with Locklear completing 14-of-29 passes for 125 yards while leading his team on the ground with 56 yards on 16 carries.
 
The Bears scored on all four possessions in the first half to take a 24-7 lead at the intermission. Clark was 18-for-23 through the air for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
Lawrence broke the ice with a 10-yard rush midway through the first quarter to put the Bears up 7-0 before Yousef Obeid's 29-yard field goal five minutes later made it 10-0.
 
Clark then hit Askren for two scores in the second quarter, first a nine-yarder that made it 17-0 and later on a two-yarder with 43 seconds left in the half that made it a 24-7 contest.
 
Clark and the Bears accounted for 269 first-half yards to go with 15 first downs and 3-of-3 on fourth-down conversions.
 
Missouri State resumes CUSA play next week with its first-ever trip to Kennesaw State (1 p.m. CT, ESPN+). The Bears conclude their inaugural FBS season at home on Saturday, Nov. 29 against Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m.
 
Tickets for the LA Tech game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or by visiting the Athletics Box Office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.
    
 
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