MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Riley Ferguson threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns as Memphis held off upset-minded Southern Illinois for a 44-31 win at LIberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday.

The Tigers, who had defeated No. 25 UCLA last week, were unable to pull away from the Salukis until late in the fourth quarter. Ferguson completed 22 of 36 passes and found nine different receivers on the day, while Southern Illinois signal-caller Sam Straub was 30-of-48 for 290 yards and four touchdowns.

The difference in the game proved to be a first-quarter interception that led to a Memphis touchdown and Tony Pollard's 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter after Southern Illinois had closed to within three.

Pollard's return, his second touchdown of the season on a kickoff, gave Memphis a 34-24 lead with five seconds left in the third quarter. The Tigers added a Spencer Smith field goal with 10:31 left in the fourth to build a 37-24 cushion.

SIU had an answer with 4:51 to play as Straub's 1-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Graham capped a 13-play drive. But the Tigers iced it with 1:21 to play on Patrick Taylor's six-yard rushing touchdown.

Taylor finished with a game-high 77 yards on 16 carries, while Darrell Henderson had 12 rushes for 71 yards and a TD.