Houston, TX -- (Sports Network) - Paul Smith threw for 441 yards and five touchdowns, as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane clinched the Conference USA West Division title with a 48-43 road win over the Rice Owls.

Brennan Marion was on the receiving end for the majority of Smith's passes, as he finished with 244 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. Trae Johnson also had a big day for the Tulsa (9-3, 6-2 C-USA) receiving corps, with five catches for 85 yards and two TDs. Tarrion Adams ran for 146 yards on 24 carries.

Chase Clement threw for 541 yards and three touchdowns for Rice (3-9, 3-5). James Casey had 11 catches for 110 yards, while Joel Armstrong caught five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.

The Owls marched down the field on their opening possession, with Clement tossing a 24-yard scoring strike to Chance Talbert.

The Golden Hurricane got the ball and scored on their very first play, as Smith hooked up with Marion for a 49-yard touchdown. But Jarod Tracy's extra point was blocked, and Rice's Brandon King returned it the other way for two points.

Smith and Marion connected for another touchdown at the 9:23 mark of the opening quarter, this time covering 31 yards.

The Golden Hurricane made it a 20-9 game with 3:02 to play in the first quarter, on Smith's 29-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.

Smith expanded Tulsa's lead to 27-9 with a two-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.

But Rice answered back with two touchdowns to close out the half; the first on a 12-yard run by C.J. Ugokwe and the second, a 25-yard pass from Clement to Jarett Dillard.

Tulsa drew first blood in the second half, as Smith found Cody Madison in the end zone for a two-yard touchdown with 3:05 to play in the third quarter.

Rice's Justin Hill answered with a five-yard touchdown run two minutes later, narrowing the deficit to 34-29.

The see-saw battle continued in the fourth quarter, as Tulsa's Jamad Williams reached the end zone on a 13-yard scamper.

Rice again answered, this time on a six-yard touchdown run by Ugokwe with 7:51 to play.

Tulsa made it a 48-36 game with 5:43 to play, thanks to Smith's second touchdown pass to Johnson.

Rice responded with a 36-yard scoring strike from Clement to Armstrong with 1:44 remaining, but Tulsa would recover the on-side kick.

Tulsa faces UCF in Orlando next week for the Conference USA championship game. UCF already owns a 21-point win over Tulsa last month. With his performance, Smith set Conference USA single-season marks for total offense, touchdown passes and passing yards. The Golden Hurricane won despite Rice racking up 38 first downs and 700 yards of total offense.