Tucson, Ariz. • New Mexico State beat Utah State in another bowl game, 57 years later.

Larry Rose III’s 21-yard run in overtime gave NMSU a 26-20 victory Friday in the Arizona Bowl.

USU’s overtime possession had ended with a missed field goal.

NMSU tied the game at 20-20 with 6:31 remaining in regulation on Tyler Rogers’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Jaleel Scott. The NMSU Aggies beat the USU Aggies 20-13 in the 1960 Sun Bowl, the school’s most recent bowl appearance.

The Arizona Bowl went into the fourth quarter before an offensive player scored a touchdown for either team, as LaJuan Hunt’s 1-yard run gave USU a 20-13 lead.

NMSU had opened the scoring with field goal on its first drive, and then USU’s Savon Scarver (96 yards) and NMSU’s Jason Huntley (100 yards) produced touchdowns on consecutive kickoff returns in the game’s first five minutes.

USU’s Dominik Eberle kicked two field goals (and missed a 44-yard attempt), pulling his team into a 13-13 tie as the first half ended. The successful field goals came after an interception by David Woodward and a fumble recovery by Chase Christiansen.

USU failed to score after having a first-and-goal opportunity during a wild sequence midway through the third quarter. USU safety Dallin Leavitt’s interception off a deflection and return to the NMSU 42 led to a 41-yard completion from Love to Ron’quavion Tarver. But on the next play, NMSU’s Terrill Hanks batted down Love’s option pitch and recovered the fumble.

Aaron Dalton’s three punts in the third quarter went to the NMSU 4-, 9- and 4-yard lines. The last kick was a game-changing play, because after yet another three-and-out sequence, NMSU punter Payton Theisler’s shank went for 13 yards. USU took the lead with a 24-yard touchdown drive, ending with Hunt’s short run.

USU missed a chance to take command on its next drive, starting with Hunt’s 58-yard run. After a penalty, Eberle missed for the third time – from 48 yards.

NMSU then drove for a tying touchdown with 6:31 remaining, via Rogers’ 11-yard pass to Scott. The drive included a fourth-down conversion on Rogers’ pass to Johnathan Boone.

This story will be updated.

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