SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) _ Adam Benge ran for a touchdown and Ryan Helming threw for another as Northern Iowa defeated Southwest Missouri State 29-17 in a battle for third place in the Gateway Conference Saturday.

Benge rushed for 165 yards on 30 carries and Helming completed 21 of 34 passing attempts for 246 yards with no interceptions.

Southwest Missouri State (3-3 overall, 1-2 Gateway Conference) got 257 yards and a touchdown pass from Jay Rodgers, who also ran for a score. However, the Bears were limited to 56 yards rushing.

It was a 10-10 tie at the half, but Northern Iowa (6-1, 2-1) scored the next 19 points. Benge ran four yards for a touchdown and Jerome Peterson returned an interception 81 yards for another to go with two field goals by Brian Stegall.

Southwest Missouri State closed out the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Sean Adams with 4:33 left. The two teams each carried 1-1 conference records into the contest.