HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Tulsa held off a Sam Houston rally in the final minutes, winning 23-17 on Saturday at Bowers Stadium to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Trequan Jones led Tulsa's rushing attack, breaking off an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and finishing with 125 yards on nine carries. Tristan Lawyer added a 56-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down attempt, part of a third quarter in which Tulsa outscored Sam Houston 13-3.

Baylor Hayes completed 16 of 29 passes for 126 yards with no touchdowns, but Tulsa's rushing attack gained 241 yards on 40 carries.

Sam Houston, behind quarterback Landyn Locke's 316 yards and two touchdown passes — including a 94-yard completion to Jerrian Parker — cut the deficit to 23-17 on a Samuel Carpenter field goal with just over a minute left in the third quarter. Tulsa's defense forced a turnover on downs on Sam Houston's final possession after Kyran Duhon sacked Locke and forced a fumble recovered by Jaylen George.

Tulsa converted 4 of 6 fourth-down attempts, and its defense recorded five sacks. Tulsa won the turnover battle and held the ball for over 30 minutes of possession time.