New Orleans, LA -- (Sports Network) - Matt Forte ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Tulane Green Wave to a 34-19 triumph over the Texas- El Paso Miners in Conference USA action at the Louisiana Superdome.

Forte, who entered the game as the leading rusher in the nation with 1,642 yards, carried the ball 38 times to help Tulane (3-7, 2-4 CUSA) snap a two-game slide. Anthony Scelfo and Kevin Moore both saw time under center and they combined for 277 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-21 pass attempts. Jeremy Williams was the recipient of both touchdown passes and finished the game with eight catches for 188 yards.

Marcus Thomas paced UTEP (4-6, 2-4) by rushing for 124 yards and a score on just 11 carries. He also posted a team-high seven catches for 68 yards, as the Miners dropped their fourth game in a row. Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe had a decent game as well, completing 28-of-43 pass attempts for 308 yards and one touchdown.

Less than five minutes into the game, Williams pulled down a 43-yard touchdown pass from Scelfo to give Tulane the early lead.

Ross Thevenot nailed a 36-yard field goal with just over a minute to go in the first period and the Wave held a 10-0 advantage.

It took Tulane just three minutes to strike in the second quarter, as Moore threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Williams.

UTEP, though, countered just over a minute later, courtesy of a 59-yard touchdown run by Thomas.

Jose Martinez hit a 42-yard field goal later in the second quarter and the Miners trailed just 17-10 at the half.

Late in the third quarter, Forte scored on a one-yard run to extend Tulane's lead to 24-10.

With just four second left in the third quarter, Martinez connected on a 21- yard field goal try for UTEP.

The Wave jumped out quickly in the final period, as Forte scored on a four-yard run just over two minutes into the quarter.

The Miners responded less than four minutes later behind a Vittatoe 12-yard touchdown pass to Moturi.

Thevenot hit a 20-yard field goal late in the game and that sealed the 34-19 victory for Tulane.

The Wave racked up 208 rushing yards in the game, while the Miners gained 104 yards on the ground.