In improving to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the Western Athletic Conference, the Warriors did not call a running play until 11:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. All of UH's previous rushes came on Brennan scrambles.

The Aggies fell to 0-7 and 0-3. They are in their first year in the WAC and under head coach Hal Mumme.

Brennan completed 38 of 53 passes for 515 yards. He fell one scoring pass of tying the school's single-game record set by Nick Rolovich in 2001. Rolovich also holds the single-game passing yardage record with 543.

New Mexico State quarterback Royal Gill finished 34 of 56 for 356 yards and two touchdowns.

The Warriors raced to a 35-21 halftime lead, then moved out reach on Brennan's scoring passes of 2 yards to Grice-Mullen in the third quarter and 44 yards to Chad Mock with 10:44 to play. It was Mock's first career TD.

The Warriors switched defensive schemes to hold down the Aggies in the second half. Borrowing a strategy from last week's opponent, Louisiana Tech, the Warriors aligned safeties Lono Manners and Landon Kafentzis in a deep zone, taking away the deep routes and allowing the four linebackers and two cornerbacks to cover the flats and screen passes. The Aggies' most consistently successful plays were passes off fake punts.

The Warriors scored touchdowns on five of their six first-half possessions to seize a 35-21 lead.

Brennan threw five first-half scoring passes, including three to Grice-Mullen, who set the school record for most TD receptions in a half.

The Warriors entered without their top two running backs — Bryan Maneafaiga (pulled left hamstring) and Nate Ilaoa (sprained right big toe). But David Farmer, a walk-on, served as a short-yardage receiver and extra pass blocker, opening the way for the Warriors' rejuvenated passing attack.

Most of this season, the Warriors had been reluctant to attack the defensive secondary with deep passes. But in the first half, Brennan threw six passes that traveled at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage. With the Aggies retreating to cover the deep routes and their defensive linemen providing little pressure, Brennan was able to buy time until hitting criss-crossing receivers.

In the first half, Brennan completed 24 of 31 passes for 296 yards.

The Warriors took control of the momentum shortly after the coin toss when A.J. Martinez, a defensive back who is not listed on the depth chart, received the opening kickoff and raced 67 yards. Six plays later, Brennan hit Ross Dickerson in the end zone at the end of a post pattern.

UH extended its lead to 14-0 on Grice-Mullen's 15-yard scoring catch.

The Aggies closed to 14-7 when Justine Buries scored on a 12-yard run — the first of his two first-half touchdown runs. Buries entered as the WAC's second-leading rusher. He did not participate in the Aggies' spring practice nor in the season opener. But after impressing coaches with his work on scout team, Buries was elevated into the playing rotation.

Buries, who finished with 99 yards on 23 attempts, and scored twice, faced a UH defense that was without its two best players — end Melila Purcell III and safety Leonard Peters.