Dallas, TX -- (Sports Network) - Curtis Steele ran for 123 yards and a touchdown to lead the Memphis Tigers to a 31-26 victory over the SMU Mustangs in a Conference USA clash at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Brandon Ross added 111 yards and a score of his own on the ground in the win, while signal-caller Brett Toney paced Memphis (5-5, 3-3 CUSA) with 130 yards and two scores through the air. Carlos Singleton grabbed three passes for 71 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.

Logan Turner, replacing an injured Bo Levi Mitchell in the second quarter, completed 19-of-31 for 228 yards and two scores to lead SMU (1-9, 0-6), while Emmanuel Sanders tallied five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort. Cole Beasley grabbed six passes for 66 yards and two scores for the Mustangs.

The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the first period of play courtesy of a two-yard touchdown run by Steele. Ross then gave Memphis a 14-0 advantage late in the frame following a 10-yard scoring run.

SMU responded less than a minute later, pulling to within seven following a 53-yard toss from Mitchell to Sanders. The Mustangs added kicks of 40 and 38 yards from Thomas Morstead during the second frame to pull within 14-13.

A four-yard pass from Toney to Steven Black gave the Tigers a 21-13 lead midway through the third quarter.

The Mustangs responded with a 21-yard toss from Turner to Beasley late in the frame.

Toney kept Memphis ahead early in the final quarter with an 18-yard toss to Singleton.

A Matt Reagan 24-yard field goal with under two minutes remaining in the contest gave the Tigers a 31-20 advantage.

SMU tacked on a touchdown with under a minute to go, an eight-yard toss from Turner to Beasley that accounted for the final score of the game.

SMU finished the contest with a mere 38 yards on 16 attempts, compared to an astonishing 306 yards on 55 carries on the afternoon.