CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) _ Rod Smart ran for 258 yards and three touchdowns Saturday in leading Western Kentucky to a 38-15 victory over Eastern Illinois.

The Western Hilltoppers (5-4, 4-3 Ohio Valley) tied the game at 7-7 in the first period on a 1-yard run by Curtis Hamilton. They then went ahead to stay in the second quarter on a 35-yard run by Smart, who carried the ball 25 times and averaged 10.3 yards per rush.

Smart also had TD runs of 53 and 13 yards.

The Panthers (1-8, 1-4), who lost their fifth straight, got a 307-yard passing performance from Anthony Buich, who was 22-of-35 with one TD, one interception and four sacks. He hooked up with Rahsaan Smith on a 49-yard scoring pass in the final quarter.

Eastern's J.R. Taylor had eight catches for 121 yards. He also scored the Panthers' first touchdown on a 1-yard run.