DALLAS (AP) — Zach Line ran for 202 yards and a touchdown and Kyle Padron threw two TD passes and ran for a score as Southern Methodist defeated Marshall 31-17 Saturday to become bowl eligible.

Line rushed 30 times and Padron was 17 of 30 for 230 yards for the Mustangs (6-5, 5-2 Conference USA), who can clinch a spot in the conference championship game with a victory Friday against East Carolina.

Brian Anderson was 24 of 42 for 277 yards and a touchdown but also threw three interceptions for the Thundering Herd (4-7, 3-4), who fell to 0-7 all-time in Texas.

Padron threw both his TD passes in the first half, including a 41-yarder to Aldrick Robinson, to help SMU to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Marshall was held to 50 rushing yards and had its three-game losing streak snapped.

The loss virtually ended Marshall’s hopes of a postseason bowl. The Herd had to win its final two games to finish 6-6 and become bowl eligible under first-year head coach Doc Holliday.

SMU 31, MARSHALL 17

Marshall 0 0 10 7 — 17

SMU 7 17 7 0 — 31

First Quarter

SMU—Haynes 8 pass from Padron (Sada kick), 10:53.

Second Quarter

SMU—A.Robinson 41 pass from Padron (Sada kick), 13:33.

SMU—Padron 1 run (Sada kick), 9:20.

SMU—FG Sada 20, :00.

Third Quarter

Mar—FG Warner 22, 13:02.

Mar—Crawford 32 pass from Anderson (Warner kick), 8:56.

SMU—Line 4 run (Sada kick), :22.

Fourth Quarter

Mar—Taliaferro 11 run (Warner kick), 13:29.

A—17,513.

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Mar SMU

First downs 19 20

Rushes-yards 25-50 36-185

Passing 277 230

Comp-Att-Int 24-42-3 17-32-2

Return Yards 48 66

Punts-Avg. 6-44.7 6-43.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 2-20 4-25

Time of Possession 26:40 33:20

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Marshall, Taliaferro 8-32, Dobson 1-17, Booker 4-15, Ward 3-4, T.Evans 2-(minus 2), Sullivan 1-(minus 3), Anderson 6-(minus 13). SMU, Line 30-202, Team 1-(minus 1), Padron 5-(minus 16).

PASSING—Marshall, Anderson 24-42-3-277. SMU, Padron 17-30-2-230, Team 0-2-0-0.

RECEIVING—Marshall, Dobson 6-57, Edmonson 4-53, Walker 3-38, T.Evans 3-36, Smith 2-16, Taliaferro 2-7, D.Evans 2-6, Booker 1-32, Crawford 1-32. SMU, Beasley 8-99, D.Johnson 3-32, A.Robinson 2-59, Line 2-26, Haynes 2-14.