Memphis, TN -- (Sports Network) - Matt Reagan's 32-yard field goal in the third overtime period proved to be the game winner as the Memphis Tigers outlasted the SMU Mustangs in a 55-52 contest in Conference USA play at the Liberty Bowl.

The Tigers (7-5, 6-2 CUSA) were paced by Martin Hankins who converted 30-of-59 passing for 336 yards and four touchdowns on the afternoon, while Will Hudgens converted both of his pass attempts for seven yards and a score as well as the squad closed out the regular season with three straight victories and five in the last six contests overall.

The Mustangs (1-11, 0-8), losers of 10 in a row since beating North Texas (45-31) for their only win of 2007, were led by Justin Willis who hit on 35- of-48 for 375 yards and four scores, but he was also sacked three times and intercepted twice.

SMU began the scoring barrage in the first quarter when Willis connected with Zack Sledge on a 16-yard TD pass at the 12:33 mark of the frame.

Memphis responded quickly with a pair of touchdowns, the first being a one-yard run by Hudgens and the other a six-yard pass from Hudgens to Earnest Williams to push the home team out front, 14-7.

The Mustangs battled back as DeMyron Martin hit the end zone from six yards out and Willis combined with Emmanuel Sanders on a four-yard scoring pass to make the score 21-14 in favor of the visitors.

Less than two minutes later the Tigers locked up the score yet again at 21-21 as Hankins hit Carlos Singleton with a 20-yard TD strike. However, with just seven seconds remaining in the half it was Willis and Sanders who combined yet again for a score, this time from 26 yards away, to give the Mustangs a 28-21 lead at the break.

In the third quarter the Tigers put up three touchdowns, the first on an 11- yard reception by Singleton, the next a 25-yard run by T.J. Pitts and the last a 40-yard TD grab by Singleton. In between SMU slipped in a 48-yard TD run by Willis to make the score 42-35 at the end of three.

At the 4:43 mark of the fourth Willis and Sanders matched up for a 10-yard TD pass to knot the score at 42-42 and send it into the first of three overtime periods.

The squads exchanged field goals in the first bonus frame, with SMU's Thomas Morstead knocking through a 20-yard effort and Reagan making good on a 33-yard try.

Memphis surged ahead by a score of 52-45 in the second overtime when Greg Hinds collected a six-yard TD pass from Hankins. Needing eight plays, the Mustangs again knotted the score at 52-52 when Chris Butler crossed the goal line from a yard out, setting up the eventual game winner by Reagan.

Memphis, which finished with 35 first downs on the day, rolled up 539 yards of total offense on 108 offensive plays.

This was the final game for SMU head coach Phil Bennett who finished his tenure at the school with a record of 18-52 between 2002-07.