Kevin Galbreath rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown to earn MVP honors as North Texas defeated Cincinnati, 24-19, in the second annual New Orleans Bowl.

After Cincinnati took an early 7-0 lead on a six-yard pass from Gino Guidugli to Tye Keith, North Texas ran off 24 straight points to build a 24-7 advantage.

Patrick Cobbs put the Mean Green ahead for good, 10-7, when he broke free for a 27-yard TD run with 10:53 left in the half. UNT extended the lead to 17-3 at the intermission when Jeremy Pearl returned a Guidugli interception 20 yards for a TD.

Galbreath finished the UNT scoring when he broke loose for a 35-yard TD run on the opening drive of the second half.

The Bearcats rallied as Jonathan Ruffin connected on field goals of 29 and 33 yards, the second allowing him to break his own school record with 13 straight field goals made. Franklin Callicott pulled UC to within 24-19 when he stripped Cobbs of the ball in the backfield and raced 43 yards for a touchdown with 5:15 left. Guidugli's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Cincinnati would not get the chance to come any closer as North Texas used a time-consuming ground game to key an 11-play drive to run out the clock.

Guidugli led the UC offense by completing 19-of-34 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown but the sophomore threw a career-high five interceptions.

DeMarco McCleskey rushed 23 times for 85 yards to set the UC season rushing record with 1,361 yards. Jon Olinger's four catches for 107 yards raised his season receiving total to 1,114 yards, allowed the senior to break Jim O'Brien's 34-year old record of 1,107 receiving yards.

First Quarter
CIN - Keith 6-yd pass from Guidugli (Ruffin kick), 8:36
UNT - FG Bazaldua 30-yds. 0:58

Second Quarter
UNT - Cobbs 27-yd run (Bazaldua kick), 10:53
UNT - Pearl 20-yd interception return (Bazaldua kick), 2:46

Third Quarter
UNT - Galbreath 35-yd run (Bazaldua kick)
CIN - FG Ruffin 29-yds, 9:27
CIN - FG Ruffin 33-yds, 5:02

Fourth Quarter
CIN - Callicott 43-yd fumble return (pass failed)

Attendance: 19,024

Rushing-- Cincinnati: McCleskey 23-85; Hall 2-7; B. Vann 1-1; Guidugli 3-(-8). North Texas: Galbreath 28-130, 1; Cobs 4-29, 1; Hickmon 3-22; Smith 5-8; Branch 2-4; Howard 1-(-1).
Passing-- Cincinnati: Guidugli 34-19-5, 224, 1. North Texas: Smith 22-9-1, 126, 0.
Receiving-- Cincinnati: Olinger 4-107; Keith 4-44, 1; Hart 3-21; Hall 30-20; McCleskey 3-16; B. Vann 1-16; L. Vann 1-0. North Texas: Howard 5-78; Branch 3-27; Marshall 1-21.